Overcome Spanish Localization Challenges To Reach More Local Audiences

Spanish is the third most used language on the internet, right behind English and Chinese. The demand for Spanish localization is become increasingly important for businesses due to expanding globalization. This has greatly increased the potential for Spanish localization and translation services.

This blog will offer insights into Spanish translation, the common Spanish translation difficulties that businesses may encounter, and how to overcome them.

The Spanish language is complex for Spanish localization

Spanish utilizes gendered nouns that have different requirements for verb and adjective agreement as well as gender variations based on the speaker, the noun, and the plural.

The placement of verbs and adjectives, the overall structure of sentences, and the distinction between questions and statements are all different in Spanish from English and other languages. Context is crucial when translating and it must be kept in mind. To translate a page or piece of material more accurately, your team needs to be aware of the page’s purpose, the goals for the page, and any vital notes on the graphics, layout, design, etc.

A content brief, a snapshot of the user interface, or more comprehensive strategic information on the brand and tone of voice should all be included when submitting your request for a Spanish localization provider with comments on how terms and phrases will be utilized. Moreover, you should choose native Spanish translators or professional translation providers who have experience in the industry in assisting you with your Spanish localization and translation services. If you work with a translation provider, you can request to see your Spanish translator’s CV to know if they can handle your Spanish localization and translation projects effectively and accurately.

Spanish expanded text

Text will typically be longer in a foreign language like Spanish than in English. If you translate a document from English into Spanish, it will be expanded by around 25%.  Before using professional Spanish localization and translation services, make sure your website and application are fully internationalized due to the variable lengths of words, phrases, and sentences. The term “internationalization” refers to the work that developers conduct in the background to support localization, including the handling of currency values, extra characters and accents, and changes to text length.

This is why it’s crucial to put Spanish localization and translations right into the design process. It’s important not only to avoid pushing a button to grow over many lines, but you also don’t want to mislead Spanish-speaking visitors to your website. The same is true when translating documents with character limitations, such as flyers, slideshows, and commercials. When creating materials for a worldwide audience, be flexible so you don’t have to spend more time fixing bugs or re-translating content because the Spanish translation needs more lines of text.

To deal with Spanish expanded text, you should go a further step by using Desktop publishing services (DPT) to have your text and layout edited in the right position.

Various Spanish nuances

You will undoubtedly experience cultural customs that do not translate while translating from your source language to a foreign language. When translating from another language to Spanish, the same remains true. Puns and pop-culture connections should be double-checked to ensure that they make sense. If you decide to maintain them, give your Spanish translation team the authority to replace them with culturally suitable alternatives.

In other instances, it may be fundamental aspects of how people relate to the outside world, such as their relationships with their families, nations, and times, that are subject to market changes.

Always keep in mind that Spanish localization isn’t just about literal translations. It is also important to consider the cultural nuances needed to make your material seem real and local, which is why at GTE Localize, we collaborate with knowledgeable native Spanish speakers from all around the world who know and understand Spanish nuances to bring the most accurately-culture Spanish localization and translation for your business.

Multiple Spanish variations and dialects

Understanding the specific types of Spanish speakers in your target market is crucial if you plan to translate your material into Spanish. There are several different “Spanishes” that have developed over time as a result of historical, cultural, and linguistic changes.

Spanish is an incredible example of how localization goes beyond translation into certain languages. You need to know more about your target market than just “Spanish,” including cultural subtleties, unique vocabulary, dialects, and idioms. Consider the terms like “Mmhmm,” “OK,” or “Alright” that you frequently hear in languages when spoken amongst casual friends. That might sound like “Vale” in Spain, “Dale” in Argentina, or “Sale” in Mexico when said in Spanish.

Depending on the market, different dialects should be taken into account, such as Catalan in Spain. To get the quality Spanish localization and translation in the right variation and dialects that you want, you should make sure about your target variations and dialects and then make a detailed guideline about them before sending the document to translation providers.

Different levels of formality

Like other romance languages, Spanish puts a focus on the formality. Being formal involves more than just calling them “sir” or “ma’am” as we would in the United States; it also involves selecting the appropriate address based on your relationship with them. As opposed to a close friend or spouse, you might address a doctor or your manager differently.

Depending on who you’re speaking to, their gender, and whether you’re speaking to one or more people, there are four ways to say “you” in Spanish. The use of “t” vs. “vos” adds another layer of complication. In regions like Argentina, “vos” is most frequently substituted for “t.”

The voice’s general tone also varies in that way. English tends to be more energetic and less formal culturally than Spanish, especially in marketing materials. The formality that makes sense for a Spanish audience and the overall tone of your brand must be adjusted by skilled native translators.

It’s vital to keep in mind that Spanish localization isn’t only about the literal translation but also about how your brand is perceived through the cultural filter of that market. You may already have a fixed tone of voice or guidelines for formality in source languages.

Spanish gender  

Each word in Spanish has its own article (el or la), followed by either the masculine or feminine gender. The fundamental rule is that feminine words end in -a and masculine words end in -o. There are other exceptions, like “la mano” and “el mapa” (the map, in the masculine) (the hand, feminine).

You need to notice these special details to have quality Spanish localization and translation. Or you can rely on professional Spanish localization providers that have native Spanish translators who will know and understand all the differences in the Spanish language to give you the most high-quality and natural translation output.

You also may want to read more about Spanish translation services:

• The Importance of a Spanish Translation Company For The U.S. Market
• Expand Your Reach To Spanish-Speaking Clients With Professional Spanish Translation Services
• 5 Tips to Successfully Boost Your Spanish Website Translation

Pick accurate Spanish localization & translation services 

Spanish is a language that is valued globally, and there is a stronger need for Spanish-speaking translators. GTE Localize offers seamless end-to-end Spanish localization and translation solutions for companies of all sizes. To maintain high standards for quality, we are quite selective in the native Spanish translators we choose. As a recommended company by GoodFirms and an ISO-certified Spanish localization company, we can translate and localize all aspects of your project such as images, videos, layouts, law requirements, etc. effectively and accurately.

Here are some outstanding advantages of our Spanish localization solutions:

• Lifetime warranty for all Spanish localization
• Native Spanish translators with at least 5 years of experience in Spanish translation & localization
• Cost-saving rates without any hidden cost
• Subject-matter experts
• One-stop language solutions: Spanish translation, localization, subtitle, transcription, etc.

We would be the finest choice if you’re looking for professional Spanish localization and translation services and reasonable solutions. Get in touch with our team for further details or a quick free quotation for your Spanish localization project right away.

If you want to learn more about localization strategy for SMEs, you can download our white paper here.