How Do You Say Banana In Spanish? - LinkedIn

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How do you say banana in Spanish?

Actually, some countries say banana. Bananas and plantains are used synonymously in my family, although there are differences. If you were to ask me a few years ago, how do you say banana in Spanish, I'd say; plátano aka plantain. Now, having formal training I would say, 'that depends'. Those two words are commonly uttered by a translator or someone who tends to analyze the world of words. The words translator and interpreter are often used synonymously, however there is a distinct difference between the two. A translator translates what is on paper and an interpreter interprets speech. However, the two in my book are equally important.

I am both; I am a translator and interpreter so I am a bit biased when I say that they are extremely important to society. Besides, what is society without communication? It has never been easier to translate a word from a different language into English, vice versa with the help of the internet.

Good old Google Translate; I honestly can’t say I have never relied on Translate. I graduated from MSU Denver with a Bachelor’s in Modern Languages, with a focus on Spanish/ English translation & grammar. During my first few courses, I would procrastinate like any other freshman and go out with friends. I would rush home, plug everything into Google Translate and hope for the best. What happened? My professors would call me out for using Google. Yes, it has gotten better but it is still not the best. Sure, it can help in an instant if you’re looking for a word or 2, a sentence or a phrase; but I believe that it is best to have a translator in mind if you are looking for quality work.

To get the message across; there is a ton of thinking involved. You are describing a painting to a blind person. You have to find a way around. Imagine thinking of a different way of saying things.

Here’s a quick exercise, say the following in a different way but in English.

For example; say “Would you like a banana?” in other words you can be equally asking the person, “Do you want a banana?,” “Do you want to eat a banana?,” “Have some fruit. Banana.” etc. It all means the same thing, except you are trying to eliminate all other choices and sticking to the one closest to the original statement.

Try this, say “there is a coffee shop around the corner to the left” in a different way. This is all done in the matter of seconds when interpreting. In translation; you have a bit more leeway but keeping in mind that you must do it as fast as possible. This is generally upheld by the honor system. How much work did you put into this and how much time did you spend on it? However, in general, translation is commonly paid for by the word.

That is what translation/ interpretation is like. You have to think on a dime and be on your toes as you have to work in idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, etc. It’s not necessarily just learning the language and how to say a few things, but it is also thinking around certain situations, ideas, concepts, and making your words flow.

Now, there are other aspects of life where an interpreter would be useful and/ or important, or should just be standard. Think of a hospital; unfortunately, where a professional is not available many times a family member is used as an interpreter. Intuitively, this is problematic. Fortunately, as time passes, I feel that interpreters are being hired in places like hospitals and emergency rooms. This is comforting in the fact that children are no longer relied on when talking about their parents/ family members’ health. There is also a cultural link that an interpreter establishes.

We could talk all day about the life and times of an interpreter; but the point I am trying to make is that; yes, you can access a library of words and phrases online however a trained interpreter/ translator is often necessary and the best choice if you are trying to make a multilingual connection. A translator’s job is to mainly change your document, from one language to another; however a good translator makes a cultural connection too. Next time you want to post an advertisement for your product or service, consider bouncing it off of a professional translator or a person with formal training, and remember that there is more than one way to offer a banana.

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Tag » How To Say Banana In Spanish