Measure units - English Spanish Translator Org: Translation Forum � Translators Forums

Veronica · 02-01-2007, 08:16 AM

I was wondering, when you translate a text into Spanish and you don't have any specific instructions, do you always convert the inches into meters, and other units? Like gallons, and pounds.
I was thinking maybe the best way is to write the English and the Spanish in brackets like XX inches (XX cm).

In-House · 02-16-2007, 03:58 AM

Hi Veronica!
If absolutely no instructions are given, I would do what you said, place the English next to the Spanish in parenthesis. But, I think it's always very important to ask the client what's the target audience. If by chance they are US Hispanics, then, they stay the same.
Best to you!

Hebe · 02-16-2007, 09:12 AM

Hi veronica �.. I would do exactly what you suggested in case of free translations. Yet, in the case of legal certified translations (which are normally subject to stricter rules of accuracy) I would just use the unit originally indicated in the text, without stating any equivalency, since the inclusion of an equivalent unit may lead to the wrong interpretation that both units appear in the original text.
Regards

Julio Jaubert · 02-16-2007, 01:59 PM

I agree with In-House: always ask to the client at the beginning of the translation. You must take a look on the translation before start it. If you have the problem now, and you can't ask to the client, you can use the solution you propose.

Anyway, there are some kind of translations in wich you obviously must proceed in certain way by default.

For example, in a technical translation about machinery, you must let "tuerca de 3 pulgadas"... never translate "tuerca de 7.62 cm"!

If the translation is related to meteorology and you know the text is directed to Latin America, you must say "el hurac�n se encuentra a x kil�metros", because it is more clear for the readers.

And so on, if you can't ask, you must take decisions, but always taking into account the public.

Veronica · 02-21-2007, 08:20 AM

Thanks everyone! You've been so helpful! :-)

02-01-2007, 08:16 AM	#1
Veronica Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 542 Rep Power: 205	Measure units I was wondering, when you translate a text into Spanish and you don't have any specific instructions, do you always convert the inches into meters, and other units? Like gallons, and pounds. I was thinking maybe the best way is to write the English and the Spanish in brackets like XX inches (XX cm). __________________ mmm...chocolate.

02-16-2007, 09:12 AM	#3
Hebe Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Caracas- Venezuela Posts: 816 Rep Power: 1440	Hi veronica �.. I would do exactly what you suggested in case of free translations. Yet, in the case of legal certified translations (which are normally subject to stricter rules of accuracy) I would just use the unit originally indicated in the text, without stating any equivalency, since the inclusion of an equivalent unit may lead to the wrong interpretation that both units appear in the original text. Regards __________________ Hebe ♥ ♫ "*To him whose elastic and vigorous thought keeps pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual morning". Henry David Thrreau"*

02-16-2007, 01:59 PM	#4
Julio Jaubert Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mexico Age: 40 Posts: 209 Rep Power: 287	I agree with In-House: always ask to the client at the beginning of the translation. You must take a look on the translation before start it. If you have the problem now, and you can't ask to the client, you can use the solution you propose. Anyway, there are some kind of translations in wich you obviously must proceed in certain way by default. For example, in a technical translation about machinery, you must let "tuerca de 3 pulgadas"... never translate "tuerca de 7.62 cm"! If the translation is related to meteorology and you know the text is directed to Latin America, you must say "el hurac�n se encuentra a x kil�metros", because it is more clear for the readers. And so on, if you can't ask, you must take decisions, but always taking into account the public. __________________ Julio Arturo Torres Jaubert English-Spanish and French-Spanish translator

02-21-2007, 08:20 AM	#5
Veronica Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Argentina Posts: 542 Rep Power: 205	Thanks everyone! You've been so helpful! :-) __________________ mmm...chocolate.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-16-2007, 03:58 AM	#2
In-House Administrator Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 164 Rep Power: 100	Hi Veronica! If absolutely no instructions are given, I would do what you said, place the English next to the Spanish in parenthesis. But, I think it's always very important to ask the client what's the target audience. If by chance they are US Hispanics, then, they stay the same. Best to you!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)