+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Use of passive voice in translation English to Spanish

 
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    1
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Use of passive voice in translation English to Spanish

    Hello there! I'm new in this forum and I'm having problems with the overuse of passive voice in the translation of manuals from English to Spanish, my question is; when is it appropriate to use it in translation?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Cotty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Caracas, Venezuela
    Age
    63
    Posts
    728
    Rep Power
    489

    Default Re: Use of passive voice in translation English to Spanish

    Your question is very broad, hence general, hence vague Some specific context would be nice.

    As you know passive voice (PV) focuses on the action and not the agent of the action. So it makes sense that all the information in a manual would be in PV since there isn't anyone actually doing anything but it is rather in the procedures, steps or actions that the attention need to be centered in.


    As I said, if you provide an example, it can be explained in a more precise way.

  3. #3
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Buenos Aires
    Posts
    154
    Rep Power
    196

    Default Re: Use of passive voice in translation English to Spanish

    I agree with Cotty.
    In technical translation, it is more common to use more PV, as well as less connectors. However, if you don't want to use the PV, you can use structures with "se" (se indica, se realiza la acción), which are usually preferred over passive voice. Other possibilities are structures with "usted" and "uno". It depends on the context, of course.

    Hope it helps!

    Ro

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    763
    Rep Power
    801

    Default Re: Use of passive voice in translation English to Spanish

    Estoy de acuerdo con Cotty, en manuales siempre se usarà passive voice aunque se crea que es "overused"

    CUANDO SE TRATA DE : (SE INDICA, SE REALIZA) ETC, ESTO TAMBIÉN ES VOZ PASIVA.

    SALUDOS
    DIEGO

  5. #5
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Buenos Aires
    Posts
    154
    Rep Power
    196

    Default Re: Use of passive voice in translation English to Spanish

    Diego, tenés razón, es voz pasiva de segundo grado. Lo que pasa es que también hay construcciones impersonales con el "se" y son igual de válidas.

    Suerte!

    Ro

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. hi, can anyone tell me if this translation from Spanish to English is ok? thanx!
    By alejandrovig in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-30-2014, 01:05 AM
  2. Passive voice
    By CiroIngles in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-24-2014, 10:10 PM
  3. Spanish To English Translation Help - Please :)
    By alley90 in forum General Spanish to English Translation
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-06-2009, 10:13 PM
  4. English to Spanish and Spanish to English Translation
    By yourspanishtranslation in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-10-2007, 01:37 PM
  5. English to Spanish and Spanish to English Translation
    By yourspanishtranslation in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-10-2007, 01:36 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •