UnifiedCastilian.com

Welcome to UnifiedCastilian.com. I created this page to answer frequently asked questions from clients who come to me to do a translation, localization, or transcreation to Castilian. Those readers who are still under the mistaken impression that the Castilian language should be called “Spanish” (in an exclusive way, as if there were only one Spanish language) should visit TruthAboutSpanish.com to learn the Castilian reality.
Allan Tépper

Clients often ask me:

Do I need to be concerned about different versions according to the target group?

The answer depends on the particular content, purpose of the communication, and the situation.

If you are subtitling a technical video (or adapting the menus of a professional computer program), then it is not necessary to create regional versions for Castilian variations in different areas of Spain and Latin America, just as you don’t need to do it with the various varieties of English spoken in different parts of the UK, different parts of the USA (i.e colloquial English is quite different in Boston, Georgia, or Texas), or for Australian English, Bahamas English, or Jamaican English. Just as educated people from all of those places understand you when you speak (or when they read what you write), educated people throughout Spain and Latin America will understand what I call a UC (Unified Castilian) presentation, whether it be printed text, dubbing, or subtitling. Certainly, there are technical terms that vary regionally, and when making an international translation/localization/transcreation, I use the most widely understood terms, which are not necessarily the most popular. One example is the word speaker, i.e. the speaker in your computer or in your stereo system. Another example is the word tripod, which is different in México than in any other Castilian-speaking country. However, educated Mexicans will understand the Unified Castilian term for tripod, even though it is not the common term used there. The same applies to the Unified Castilian term for speaker. Just like these, there are several others, and fortunately I am familiar with them. If your technical project is global, then you’ll want to use Unified Castilian. If your project is for a very specific group, then it may be appropriate to do it specific for that group, and I can do that too.

On the other hand, if your project involves advertising and/or a dramatic piece, especially with different characters, then you may want to adjust or emphasize regionalisms on purpose, and fortunately I am prepared to do that too if that is the case. It is also recommended to use a specific regional Castilian if your project involves fruit, vegetables, or other types of food… or if it involves transportation terminology, like modes of transportation (cars, trucks), the individual components of a car (car window, hood, license plate, steering wheel, trunk).

For more information, contact me.