Need expert Tagalog translation services? Green Crescent has been delivering professional English to Tagalog translation services since 2003. We cater to industries like business, healthcare, and legal, providing precise and culturally relevant translations. Request your Tagalog translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Tagalog Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Tagalog translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to both formal and regional variations of the Tagalog language, including:
- Standard Tagalog (used in formal settings and official documents)
- Filipino (the national language, incorporating Tagalog and other regional languages)
- Regional Tagalog (spoken with dialectal variations across different parts of the Philippines)
We specialize in both English to Tagalog and Tagalog to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Tagalog language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Tagalog 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 Tagalog text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Tagalog 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 Tagalog communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Tagalog 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 Tagalog translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Tagalog Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Tagalog language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Tagalog, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Tagalog. 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 Tagalog and Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Tagalog translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects such as "Luzon Tagalog," "Visayan," and "Mindanao Tagalog." Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Tagalog dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Tagalog
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Tagalog localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Tagalog-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Tagalog, 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 Tagalog-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Tagalog-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 Tagalog/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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog 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 Tagalog to English or English to Tagalog 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 Tagalog- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Tagalog Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Tagalog-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 Tagalog, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Tagalog-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 Tagalog and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine translation is completed, a highly skilled linguist revises the content for accuracy, fluency, and coherence, taking into consideration cultural nuances and context. This service is ideal for business-critical documents where a polished and professional output is essential. While the initial translation may have been generated by AI, our linguists apply their expertise to enhance the text, making it suitable for publication or formal use in both Tagalog and English.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is designed for more informal documents where the primary goal is basic comprehension of content. In this service, a linguist reviews a machine-translated text between Tagalog and English to ensure the basic meaning is conveyed without aiming for a fully polished output. This service is well-suited for internal documents, personal communication, or preliminary drafts where exact wording is less critical. While the machine-generated translation may have its limitations, our linguists focus on clarifying any ambiguities, ensuring that the essential message is retained for Tagalog-speaking audiences.
Additional Language Services and Options for Tagalog
Certified Translation
Green Crescent offers certified translations for a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and more, in both Tagalog and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. Clients can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to their home or business.
Rush Service
For clients requiring expedited service, Green Crescent can often accommodate such requests. However, please be aware that rushing translations may come with trade-offs, potentially affecting both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details on this service.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and non-profit organizations, charities, NGOs, and government entities.
Minimum Fee
We maintain 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 provides a variety of other Tagalog language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Tagalog Language
Tagalog, one of the official languages of the Philippines, is spoken by over 28 million people as a first language and more than 80 million as a second language. Its rich heritage reflects a fusion of indigenous roots and influences from Spanish, English, and other languages, creating a dynamic and expressive cultural identity.
The Cultural Context and Linguistic Features of Tagalog
Tagalog is known for its linguistic versatility, employing affixes to modify verb tense and meaning. For instance, the root word "sulat" (write) becomes "sumulat" (wrote) through the use of affixes. This flexibility is a distinctive feature, making cultural knowledge crucial for translation accuracy. The language is highly contextual, with subtle nuances conveyed through word choice, structure, and tone, reflecting the cultural richness of the Filipino experience.
Spanish colonization left a lasting impact on Tagalog, contributing many loanwords. Common terms like "mesa" (table) and "silya" (chair) are everyday examples of this influence. Effective translation into or from Tagalog requires understanding these historical layers, ensuring meaning and intent are properly conveyed.
As a vital means of cultural expression, Tagalog captures the heart of Filipino traditions, customs, and arts—from traditional music to contemporary film. The language plays an essential role in embodying Filipino identity, unifying both local and national narratives.
The Writing System: Tradition Meets Modernity
Tagalog is written using the Latin alphabet, introduced during Spanish rule. This system is adapted to suit the phonetic structure of Tagalog:
Latin Alphabet:
The Tagalog alphabet consists of 28 letters, integrating special characters and digraphs that represent unique sounds in the language. This phonetic approach makes Tagalog accessible to learners while maintaining linguistic clarity.
Tagalog: Standard Dialect and Regional Variations
Standard Tagalog, based on the Manila dialect, is widely spoken throughout the Philippines. However, regional dialects, such as Batangueño and Caviteño, contribute to the richness of the language, each offering distinct vocabulary and pronunciation. These regional variations are crucial for preserving local culture and identity, and translations may need to account for these differences depending on the target audience.
Tagalog vs. Filipino: Understanding the Differences
One of the most common sources of confusion when discussing the languages of the Philippines is the distinction between Tagalog and Filipino. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not exactly the same, and understanding the difference is crucial for accurate translation and localization efforts.
Tagalog: The Language of the Region
Tagalog is a regional language native to the Tagalog-speaking areas of the Philippines, particularly in southern Luzon. It has deep historical roots and serves as the mother tongue for millions of Filipinos. It is the foundation upon which the national language, Filipino, was developed. Before the establishment of Filipino as the official language, Tagalog was already widely spoken and used in literature, media, and everyday communication in many parts of the country.
Filipino: The National Language
Filipino, on the other hand, is the official national language of the Philippines. While it is based primarily on Tagalog, Filipino is a standardized form that incorporates elements from other Philippine languages, as well as foreign languages like Spanish and English. This broader linguistic scope is meant to unify the country’s diverse linguistic groups and reflect the multicultural identity of the Philippines. Filipino continues to evolve, integrating loanwords from various sources to accommodate modern communication needs.
Key Differences and Overlap
Although Tagalog and Filipino share many similarities, they differ in terms of vocabulary, pronunciation, and scope. For instance, while Tagalog remains largely regional in usage, Filipino is designed to be more inclusive and widely accepted throughout the country. Filipino also incorporates more loanwords from English and Spanish, reflecting the country's colonial history and modern influences. For example, the Tagalog word for "teacher" is "guro," while the more commonly used Filipino term is "titser," borrowed from English.
In practice, however, most Filipinos speak a hybrid of Tagalog and Filipino, often code-switching between the two, along with English, in daily conversations. This blending of languages can make it challenging to differentiate between them in informal settings, but for formal translation and communication, it’s important to recognize the distinction.
Implications for Translation
For businesses and individuals seeking translation services, it is essential to clarify whether the content should be translated into Tagalog or Filipino. Filipino may be the better choice for nationwide communications, as it is more widely understood across the country. However, for localized or regional content, Tagalog may be more appropriate. At Green Crescent, we ensure that our translation services are tailored to your specific needs, taking into account the nuances between these two languages to provide clear, culturally relevant communication.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Tagalog and English for Translation
Translating between Tagalog and English requires a deep understanding of the unique linguistic structures and cultural context of each language. Key differences include:
Sentence Structure:
Tagalog typically follows a Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) order, whereas English uses Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). For instance, "I eat rice" in English becomes "Kumakain ako ng kanin" in Tagalog, illustrating a different grammatical structure that must be accurately adapted in translation.
Focus System:
Tagalog’s focus system highlights either the subject or object of a sentence, impacting verb forms. For example, "Kumakain ang bata ng saging" (The child is eating a banana) emphasizes the child, while "Kinakain ng bata ang saging" (The banana is being eaten by the child) shifts focus to the banana.
Contextual Nuances:
Tagalog often omits subjects or objects when context provides clarity, which can lead to ambiguity in English translations. For example, "Kumain" (ate) can stand alone in Tagalog but may need a subject or object in English for clear understanding.
Loanwords and Code-Switching:
Tagalog frequently incorporates loanwords from English, especially in modern contexts. Terms like "kompyuter" (computer) demonstrate how English words are phonetically adapted. Translators must be aware of such linguistic borrowing to ensure proper usage and avoid misinterpretations.
By acknowledging and addressing these linguistic differences, Green Crescent ensures that our Tagalog translation services are culturally relevant and linguistically accurate. Whether for general or specialized content, our expert translators are committed to helping you connect with your Tagalog-speaking audience with clarity and precision.
An Insight into Tagalog Wisdom and Perseverance
This proverb is widely known in Filipino culture, offering a reflection on the value of hard work and patience.
- Tagalog: "Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga."
- English Translation: "If you persevere, you will have something to eat."