Join this webinar as we delve into the intricacies of translating Spanish corporate documents. We’ll explore 10 common pitfalls, shed light on the nuances of business terminology in Spanish-speaking countries, and discuss how it relates to the terminology used in Anglo-American jurisdictions.

Focusing on 10 pitfalls often encountered when translating Spanish corporate documents, this webinar begins with a brief overview of the major features of five main forms of doing business in Spanish-speaking countries, showing how they match up (or don’t) with sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations in Anglo-American jurisdictions. “The Basics” examines common terms such as sociedad, socio, and societario, for which the appropriate translation is not always obvious and depends on the specific corporate form that each entity adopts. Attention then turns to exploring frequently found invented and all-too-literal translations that are generally to be avoided, as well as reviewing false friends and common ellipses that often puzzle translators. Sections on “weird stuff” and tricky expressions address aspects of corporate documents that may prove confusing, such as cryptic phrases and stylistic differences that, if overlooked, can render English translations awkward. To conclude, we examine some of the significant variations in corporate terminology as used in the U.S. and the U.K. that may eventually prompt miscues in translation.

In this webinar, you will:

1. Gain insight into the main difficulties of translating corporate documents.
2. Learn the appropriate terminology for each type of corporate enterprise.
3. Distinguish between invented or overly-literal translations and more appropriate ones.
4. Learn about false friends, cryptic expressions, and stylistic variations that may pose translation problems.

About the Presenter

Rebecca Jowers is a Spanish>English freelance legal translator based in Madrid, Spain. She taught legal English for 20 years in the LL.M. program “Máster en Asesoría Jurídica de Empresas” at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Law School, having previously worked five years as an in-house legal translator for the Elzaburu intellectual property law firm. She is the author of two reference works for translators, interpreters, and legal professionals (Léxico temático de terminología jurídica español- inglés and Diccionario de términos y conceptos jurídicos español-ingles), as well as a 300-entry blog on legal terminology at https://rebeccajowers.com. Her freelance translation work includes academic articles for Spanish law professors, Tribunal Constitucional, Centro de Estudios Constitucionales, Ministerio de Justicia, Grupo Prisa, Uría Menéndez Abogados, and the World Bank. She has a PhD from Michigan State University, a “doctorado” from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, an MA from New York University, and a BA from Stetson University.