Invest In Spanish-Language Translation Services

Feb Sat 2021 By Admin

The World’s Spanish-speaking Population is Increasing

According to the global non-profit organization, Instituto Cervantes (Cervantes Institute), the world is now home to approximately 580 million Spanish speakers, 480 million of whom call Spanish their first language. In fact, “Spanish is the second mother tongue in the world by the number of speakers, only behind Mandarin Chinese.” 1 With three Spanish-speaking countries in Europe (Spain, Andorra, and Gibraltar), one in Africa (Equatorial Guinea), and 19 Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas and the Caribbean (in addition to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), 7.6 percent of the global population now speaks Spanish. Based on the Cervantes Institute forecast, Spanish-speaking communities will continue to grow worldwide “to reach 756 million people in 2050.” 2

 

US Spanish-speaking Population

Home to roughly 53 million Spanish speakers, the United States is now recognized as the fifth largest Spanish-speaking country, falling behind Argentina, Colombia, Spain, and Mexico. And although the highest populations of Spanish speakers reside in the south and southwest, there are Spanish-speaking communities throughout the country. The US Spanish-speaking population is also increasing. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, by 2060,”29 percent of the United States is projected to be Hispanic – more than one-quarter of the total population.” 3 With an expected 115 percent population increase in its Spanish-speaking residents (between 2014 and 2060), the United States is poised to become the world’s second-largest Spanish-speaking country, second only to Mexico.

 

Spending Power of Spanish-speaking Markets

The 2018 World Bank and the OECD national accounts data files include Spanish-speaking countries in six of the top 50 global economies with a combined GDP (nominal) of over USD 4 trillion. When we factor in the United States (whose Spanish-speaking residents currently account for 17 percent of the total population), the combined GDP increases to 25.4 trillion, or roughly 30 percent of the total global GDP – and that spells serious purchasing power. As the Spanish-speaking market continues to strengthen its spending power worldwide, a growing number of language services providers (LSPs) have experienced an increased demand in their Spanish translation services. However, depending on the translation request that project managers (PMs) receive, the translation and localization processes can become quite diverse and complex.

 

What Type Of Spanish Translation Do You Require?

LSPs are often asked which Spanish-speaking “region” they specialize in. Some end clients, for instance, are interested in increasing their visibility among Spanish-speaking consumers in Europe while others want to concentrate on the United States or in the Latin American and Caribbean communities. And while it is true that in each Spanish-speaking region of the world, there are linguistic and cultural variations, there are also a great many similarities. To that end, it isn’t really the “region” that will dictate the Spanish-language translation your clients require so much as it is the type of content and the specific industry that requires the translation.

 

Informal, Personalized Content

Effective communication ranks as one of the key aspects of any successful business. And, in today’s digital world, email messages have become quite commonplace for both internal and external communication. Not only is email fast and economical, but it is also quite user-friendly. However, email messages tend to be written in a less formal, more relaxed style. In the same vein, business letters often require a more personalized written tone of voice. When translating less formal messages into Spanish, it is wise to partner with native-speaking professional translators well-versed in both linguistic and cultural nuances. When you partner with experienced linguists, you’ll ensure your message resonates closely with your target audience.

 

Formal, Structured Content

However, for many industries, the need for localized versions of their Spanish translation is less of an issue. In these instances, “universal” Spanish translation (also referred to as neutral or global Spanish translation) is often preferred. By removing the colloquialisms from the translation and ensuring that the phrases and terminology used are free from cultural bias, universal Spanish translation facilitates effective communication among most Spanish speakers. Universal Spanish translation is also commonly used when businesses wish to target a broader Spanish-speaking audience. The real challenge, however, is in finding ideal translation partners who can handle all your Spanish translations, regardless of the level of complexity or the volume.

 

Common Spanish Translation Challenges

For LSPs If you are a project manager, chances are you’ve been faced with many of the same challenges when it comes to complex Spanish translation projects. From a lack of resources that slow down the translation process to a limited number of subject matter experts (SMEs) specialized in Spanish-language translation, many LSPs struggle to keep up with the demand. Another common challenge for PMs is in managing a large base of localization vendors and translators, while also meeting the continuous demand for on-time delivery. And, even if you find that “one” partner with advanced resources and the required subject matter expertise, will they be able to effectively communicate at a moment’s notice? Will they complete your projects on time? The bottom line for every successful LSP is your commitment to your end clients. And that means delivering the highest quality of work with the quickest turnaround times – a task often easier said than done.

 

D&M Has The Answers

D&M Language Services offers more than 14 years’ experience partnering with LSPs that cater to the global Spanish-speaking market. Over the years, we have built and maintained strong relationships with our clients. D&M Language Services is known in the industry for being highly responsive to our partners, answering questions within an hour or less and delivering our projects on time, every time. Our team of in-country linguists, coupled with our standardized translation processes, is ready to handle any Spanish-language translation project no matter the size or level of complexity. But that’s not all. We’re always pleased to go that extra mile when you need us. If your end client requires further explanation or specialized assistance to accommodate their needs, our project managers will be happy to jump right in.

 

When it comes to your Spanish translation and localization projects, place your trust in D&M Language Services. We’re ready for your call.

 

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