Looking for expert Catalan translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and Catalan to clients globally. We specialize in various industries, including legal, cultural, business, and educational sectors. Our team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Catalan translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Catalan Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Catalan translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. Our translations are based on the standard dialect of Catalan, which is known as Central Catalan and widely used in Barcelona and surrounding regions.
We specialize in both English to Catalan and Catalan to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Catalan language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Catalan translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Catalan text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Catalan Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Catalan communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Catalan Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Catalan translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Catalan Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Catalan language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Catalan, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Catalan. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Catalan and Catalan to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Catalan and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Catalan and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Catalan medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Catalan language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Catalan translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of Catalan, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of Catalan, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Catalan
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Catalan localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Catalan-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Catalan, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Catalan-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Catalan-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Catalan/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Catalan or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Catalan and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Catalan and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Catalan to English or English to Catalan translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Catalan- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Catalan Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Catalan-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Catalan, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Catalan-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Catalan and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Catalan or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully polished or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Catalan
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Catalan and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Catalan language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Catalan Language
Catalan, known locally as "Català," is a Romance language spoken by approximately 10 million people, primarily in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia (where it is called "Valencian"), and the country of Andorra, where it is the official language. It is also spoken in parts of France and Italy. Catalan has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly as a symbol of Catalonian identity, and has maintained its vitality despite periods of political suppression.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Catalan
Catalan has deep historical roots, emerging as a distinct language in the medieval period from the Latin spoken in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula. By the 13th century, Catalan had developed a robust literary tradition, producing influential works such as *Tirant lo Blanch*, one of the first major novels in European literature. The language has played an important role in the identity and independence movements in Catalonia, and it continues to be central to the region’s culture, arts, and politics.
Despite sharing linguistic features with both Spanish and French, Catalan is a separate language with its own grammar and vocabulary. It is closer to Occitan than to Spanish or Portuguese, and its unique phonological and syntactic features distinguish it from its Romance language relatives. Catalan experienced a revival in the 19th and 20th centuries, known as the *Renaixença*, which helped to reinvigorate the language as a medium for literature, education, and public life.
The Writing System: Latin Script
Catalan is written in the Latin script, similar to other Romance languages, with 26 letters. The orthography of Catalan is phonetic, meaning that words are spelled as they sound. However, there are specific pronunciation rules, and the use of accents and diacritical marks, such as "é" and "à," helps to distinguish word meanings and stresses.
Vowels and Consonants: Catalan has a complex vowel system with both open and closed versions of the vowels /e/ and /o/. It also has consonant clusters not found in many Romance languages, contributing to its distinct sound. Additionally, Catalan maintains the phoneme /ʎ/ (as in "ll"), which has disappeared in other Romance languages, such as Spanish.
Catalan Alphabet
The Catalan alphabet, based on the Latin script, includes the following letters:
- Vowels: A, a, E, e, I, i, O, o, U, u
- Consonants: B, b, C, c, D, d, F, f, G, g, H, h, J, j, K, k, L, l, M, m, N, n, P, p, Q, q, R, r, S, s, T, t, V, v, W, w, X, x, Y, y, Z, z
- Digraphs: LL, ll, RR, rr, NY, ny, GU, gu, QU, qu
Key Linguistic Differences Between Catalan and English for Translation
Several important linguistic factors must be considered when translating between Catalan and English to ensure both accuracy and cultural sensitivity:
Verb Conjugation: Like other Romance languages, Catalan verbs conjugate based on tense, mood, and subject. While English also conjugates verbs, Catalan has more verb forms, particularly in the subjunctive mood, which must be carefully managed in translation to maintain the nuances of meaning.
Articles and Gender: Catalan, like Spanish, has gendered nouns and articles, with nouns being either masculine or feminine. English, lacking this feature, requires careful attention in translation to ensure that gendered references are correctly interpreted.
Word Order: Catalan typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order, similar to English, but it allows more flexibility in word arrangement, especially for emphasis. This flexibility must be handled with care to ensure the intended meaning is not lost in translation.
Pronunciation and Stress: Catalan uses diacritical marks, such as accents, to indicate stress and vowel quality. Translating these into English, where stress and intonation are not marked in writing, requires attention to ensure that emphasis and meaning are conveyed accurately.
Politeness and Formality: Catalan distinguishes between formal and informal forms of address, particularly in the use of personal pronouns (such as "vostè" for formal "you"). English does not have such distinctions, so care must be taken in translations to maintain the appropriate level of formality.
By addressing these linguistic and cultural factors, Green Crescent ensures that translations between Catalan and English are accurate, culturally appropriate, and sensitive to the linguistic intricacies of the Catalan language.
An Insight into Catalan Expression
This passage is from Tirant lo Blanch by Joanot Martorell, first published in 1490. This iconic work is a cornerstone of Catalan literature, portraying themes of chivalry, love, and honor, as well as reflecting the complexities of medieval society.
- Catalan: "Qui estima, tem; i qui tem, és valent davant l'amor."
- English Translation: "He who loves, fears; and he who fears, is brave in the face of love."