Lost in Translation
You deal with dialects everyday. But what exactly are they? It is sometimes impossible to determine what makes the difference between a dialect of a particular language or a what constitutes a whole separate language. Commonly, a dialect is defined by variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar of a standard language. A dialect is not the same as an accent; it may have a recognizable accent but an accent is just a variation of pronunciation. Dialects are found everywhere; from brownstones of Boston to the islands of Indonesia. There are hundreds of dialects in every language; there are at least 26 recognized dialects of American English alone.
“A language is a dialect with an army and navy” – Max Weinreich
Despite these dialects, most often your translation request will include what is considered the “standard” form of any given language. However, there are some standardly accepted language dialects you can request; French Canadian and Mexican Spanish are a couple of well-known examples. Even though this is the norm it doesn’t mean that any one dialect is more proper than another. What is proper is using the right dialect for the right audience. When translating any document it is important to know where the translations will be used and understand the nuances these dialects create within your audience. Machine translation tools can’t capture the nuances of these variations.
True localization can only happen when you use truly local translators. In-country, native language speakers are your most effective tool for great translations. As your translation partner, Verbatim Solutions provides you with a global team of translators built around these principles of true localization and a dedicated team of project managers who understand the nuances and can help you navigate your way to success.
