Technical and scientific translation from English and French to Spanish

Technical-scientific translation deals with texts that include terminology specific to fields such as engineering, science or technology. It requires linguistic knowledge and in-depth understanding of the sector.

In addition to translation, a scientific translator should ideally have studied their science discipline in depth, which enables them to correctly interpret technical and scientific concepts.

Most technical translators have obtained their knowledge only through the texts they translate.

I have a science degree and have worked in laboratories, factories and cleanrooms in different sectors. In addition, during my career I have drafted procedures and technical . This experience gives me an in-depth understanding of your products and sector and enables me to deliver a translation that is clear and professional.

With regard to my way of working with my clients, I rigorously adhere to the style and terminology of other documents they have had translated into Spanish, I always take their needs into account, and I inform them of any important decisions I make.

La mayoría de los traductores técnicos solo han adquirido sus conocimientos a partir de los textos que traducen.

Yo he estudiado una carrera científica y he trabajado en laboratorios, fábricas y salas blancas de diversos sectores. Además, a lo largo de mi carrera profesional he redactado multitud de procedimientos e informes técnicos, lo que se nota también a la hora de redactar sus traducciones. Esta experiencia me permite entender en profundidad sus productos y su sector, y generar una traducción clara y profesional.

En cuanto a mi forma de colaborar con mis clientes, sigo meticulosamente el estilo y la terminología de otros documentos que ya hayan traducido al español, tengo siempre presentes sus necesidades y les mantengo informados de cualquier decisión relevante.

Being a freelance translator, I would work directly with you. This means more efficient communication and a flexibility that is difficult to achieve with an agency. Direct collaboration helps me better understand your priorities and allows me to ask questions where necessary, thus ensuring a higher-quality outcome. A freelance translator also tends to be more involved in your project (as I would be, of course).

And I would always be the person translating your texts, which improves uniformity and quality. I do not outsource any of my translation work.

All my translations have a significant technical or scientific component. I translate ‘pure’ technical or scientific texts (like manuals and textbooks), but also marketing texts with technical content (e.g. websites, brochures, press releases and explanatory videos), as well as international relations documents with a high technical component.

I am Spanish and speak European Spanish. However, ‘international Spanish’ (a Spanish that is understood and reads well in most Spanish-speaking countries) currently accounts for 70% of my translations.

The reason for this is that, despite the many differences between the variants of Spanish in everyday spoken language, in technical and scientific translations, especially with regard to formal documents, these differences are less evident.

I also follow specific strategies so that the text is understandable and as natural as possible in the different Spanish-speaking countries. In some cases, my clients provide me with style guides with the vocabulary they want to use.

Currently, 30% of my translations are into European Spanish, and 7the variant used by the United Nations and the International Baccalaureate.

What helps me enormously is my own knowledge, which enables me to know which terms are actually used in the sector.

Depending on the project, I might also consult specialised glossaries, the term bases of official bodies, scientific articles, explanatory videos for similar products, and the documentation of other companies in the sector. I also adhere to the terminology my client is already using, to ensure uniformity in all their documents.

To make sure I use the terminology uniformly and respect my clients’ style guides and instructions, I follow specific quality control procedures for each project.

My clients are technical companies, education institutions, international organisations and publishers of technical books.

I have been working with most of my clients for years and, in general, I prefer long-term collaborations. But, of course, I also accept one-off projects (of at least 5,000 words).

The document will need to be editable. My clients usually send me documents in Word or IDML (a file format compatible with InDesign). I have also translated documents written in LaTeX code. If you need to translate a document in a different file format, please ask.

The speed at which I can work depends a lot on the type of document. If the text is very ‘dense’ in terms of technical or scientific terminology, I will usually need more time for research. Marketing materials, such as brochures or websites, also need more time. But to give you an idea, I can translate an average of 1,500 words a day.

For regular clients, I accept and prioritise urgent jobs when necessary. However, I never accept urgent jobs from new clients, as the first translation will always require much more time that subsequent translations.

I would need one contact person to whom I can ask questions if necessary. I would try to limit the number of questions as much as possible, and group them together, to avoid taking up too much of their time. However, especially for the initial projects, I would most likely send them questions about your products or services to ensure the quality of my translation.

If the text includes non-editable images, I usually request that the text is extracted and made editable. Formatted documents, such as brochures, may need to re-formatted after translation. However, I can handle this stage too if you wish, working with a desktop publishing specialist.

Many of the documents I translate are confidential. If necessary, I can sign a confidentiality agreement.

1. I will first need to see the full document to be able to give you a precise quote and delivery date.
2. To confirm the order, I will ask you to sign the quote. And, depending on the total cost of the project, I may also request part-payment in advance.
3. To respect your terminology, product names, etc., I will read the documents already translated by your company and will create a glossary. If you have a style guide or other document you wish me to use as reference, this is the time to send it.
4. I will research your field and your products to make sure I fully understand the text and use the vocabulary expected by your customers or stakeholders. This involves watching videos related to your products or similar products, looking at your website content and sometimes that of your competitors, and reading scientific and explanatory articles and information written by experts, etc. I might then send you any questions I have.
5. When I have finished the translation, I will re-read it many times, comparing it against the original version, line by line, to make sure the translation is correct and complete. After letting the translation ‘rest’ for at least a day, I will re-read it only in Spanish to make sure it is clear and reads naturally.
6. I then carry out the final quality control, which consists mainly of checking terminology, style, format, figures, orthography and grammar.
7. If you are doing the formatting yourself, you can send me the final document to review, at no additional cost, just to make sure no words have been cut off, etc. (as reviewing might be difficult if you don’t speak Spanish).

The price will vary according to the length, complexity and urgency of the text. Below I give you some estimated costs, though I would need to see the document in question to be able to give you a precise quote.