Facts to go
People speak Portuguese from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro
Portuguese is a Romance language that has its origin in Portugal. It is the official language of several countries in the world, the two largest and most familiar of which are (of course) Portugal and Brazil. But Portuguese is also the official language of some smaller states in Africa and Asia. These include Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cap Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and Macau. A total of 250 million people speak and understand Portuguese in various dialects and linguistic versions. As the language has some similarities with Spanish, French and Italian, Portuguese is also understood in other countries – such as Spain, France, Italy ...
The different variants of the Portuguese language is one reason why translation into or from Portuguese can be more challenging than many people think. Grammar, syntax and form of expression have the same basis everywhere, but may differ according to region. The cultural significance of certain words can also be a challenge for translation. If the translation is wrong or not sufficiently precise in these cases, misunderstandings can quickly occur.
Portuguese v. Brazilian – what distinguishes the two languages
The most important point first: Brazilian does not really exist. The correct term is Brazilian Portuguese. Although Portuguese is spoken in both countries – Portugal and Brazil – the two languages do not always correspond in terms of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and form of expression.
Pronunciation is one of the main differences between the two variants. The s in Brazilian is often pronounced sh, whereas in Portugal it sounds more like ss; and Brazilians often pronounce an r as a soft h, while in Portugal it tends to be rolled. Some grammatical changes have also been introduced in Brazilian, such as the use of the personal pronoun você (similar to an informal you) – while in Portugal, the form tu tends to be used. In addition, Portuguese vocabulary is characterised by several words that come from French and Arabic. In Brazilian, on the other hand, several terms are used that originate from the indigenous languages.
These are just a few examples of the differences between the two versions of the language. And this makes it clear that a Portuguese translation can only be good and even comprehensible if it takes account of all the peculiarities relating to grammar, terminology and culture and is translated appropriately for its audience. Native speakers, ideally living in the country of the target language, are the best at getting these things right. They will provide you with professional translations with the right form of address, and you can find them through a translation service.
Portuguese specialist translations: when you need them and what to consider
You usually need a specialist translation for texts that are written for a specific target audience and in which complex topics are addressed using specific terminology. In these cases, translators not only have to consider every linguistic and grammatical detail, they should also have the necessary expertise in the area in question. If this is not the case, careless errors can entail serious consequences in the worst case.
For example, careful translation of medical documents requires the translator to have sound medical knowledge. Poor translations can have serious impacts on patient health. Technical translations of operating instructions or technical manuals, for example, are similar. If errors creep in here, they can result in accidents and injuries. The same applies to all specialist areas and industries.
So: consider what type of text you want to have translated into (or from) Portuguese and the language that your target audience uses. Then you will find the best solution and have translations that are accurate and reach their target.
