Introduction: Navigating the World of Translation

Welcome! Translation is about much more than just swapping words from one language to another. Think of it like being a bridge builder: you need to make sure the "feeling" and the "timing" of the message cross over safely. In your AQA AS Spanish (7691) course, this involves making smart choices about tense (when things happen), mood (the speaker’s attitude), and register (how formal or informal the tone is).

Whether you are working on the Paper 1 translation into English or the Paper 2 translation into Spanish, getting these choices right is the difference between a clunky sentence and one that sounds like a native speaker wrote it. Let’s break down how to make these choices with confidence!


1. Tense Choices: Getting the Timing Right

Tense tells your reader when an action happened. In Spanish, we have a few more past tenses than in English, so we have to be specific. For your AS exams, you are expected to master tenses like the present, preterite, imperfect, and perfect.

The Past Tense Duel: Preterite vs. Imperfect

This is often the trickiest part of translation. A helpful way to remember the difference is the "Photo vs. Video" analogy:

The Preterite (The Photo): Use this for completed actions that happened at a specific moment.
Example: "Ayer compré un móvil nuevo." (Yesterday I bought a new phone - context of El ciberespacio).

The Imperfect (The Video): Use this for descriptions, ongoing actions, or habits in the past.
Example: "Antes, la gente iba a misa todos los domingos." (Before, people used to go to mass every Sunday - context of Los valores tradicionales).

Compound Tenses

Don't forget the Perfect Tense (e.g., he hablado) for things that have happened recently, and the Pluperfect (e.g., había hablado) for the "past of the past" (things that had happened).

Quick Tip: If the English sentence uses "used to" or "was -ing," your best bet for the Spanish translation is usually the Imperfect.


2. Mood Choices: Expressing the "Vibe"

In Spanish, Mood refers to the Indicative (facts) or the Subjunctive (wishes, doubts, emotions, or possibilities). Your syllabus requires you to use the Subjunctive after specific "triggers."

Common Translation Triggers

When translating into Spanish on Paper 2, look out for these phrases that "trigger" the Subjunctive mood:

Wishes and Influence: "I want you to..." or "The government recommends that..."
Example: "El gobierno quiere que los jóvenes usen internet de forma segura."

Conjunctions of Purpose: Always use the Subjunctive after para que (so that) and sin que (without).
Example: "Trabaja mucho para que su familia tenga una vida mejor."

Doubt and Denial: If a sentence says "I don't think that..." (No creo que...) or "It's possible that..." (Es posible que...), you must switch to the Subjunctive mood.

Key Takeaway: The Subjunctive isn't a tense; it’s a way of showing that the action is subjective or hasn't happened yet. Always look for the "que" and the feeling of the sentence!


3. Register: Finding the Right Tone

Register is all about who you are talking to. Using the wrong register in a translation can make a text sound rude or strangely formal.

Formal vs. Informal (Tú vs. Usted)

In the AQA 7691 specification, you need to be able to distinguish between:

Informal (Tú): Used for friends, family, or children. This is common in social media contexts (Las redes sociales).

Formal (Usted): Used for strangers, older people, or in business/official contexts. You might see this in texts about El patrimonio cultural or traditional values.

How to spot Register in a source text:

1. Look at the Verbs: Does it end in -as/-es (Tú) or -a/-e (Usted)?
2. Look at the Pronouns: Does it use te/ti (Informal) or le/usted (Formal)?
3. Check the Context: Is it a speech by a politician or a chat between two siblings?

Did you know? While you might see vos in texts from Latin America (receptive knowledge only), for your own writing in Paper 2, it is usually safest to stick to tú or usted depending on the prompt.


4. Common Translation Pitfalls to Avoid

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; even top students make these mistakes! Keep an eye out for:

The "Ing" Trap: In English, we use "-ing" for everything (I am eating, I like dancing). In Spanish, dancing as a noun is the infinitive (me gusta bailar), not the gerund (bailando).

False Tense Friends: "I have been living here for a year" sounds like a past tense, but in Spanish, because you are still living there, we use the Present Tense with desde hace: "Vivo aquí desde hace un año."

Overusing the Passive: English loves the passive voice ("The law was passed"). Spanish prefers the Reflexive Passive ("Se aprobó la ley") or using "They" ("Aprobaron la ley").


Summary Checklist for Success

Before you finish your translation task, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Time Check: Did I use the right past tense? (Photo vs. Video).
2. Mood Check: Are there any triggers (like para que) that need the Subjunctive?
3. Tone Check: Am I being consistent with Tú or Usted throughout the whole passage?

Note: For more specific advice on the mechanics of each exam paper, see the chapters "Translation into English (Paper 1)" and "Translation into Spanish (Paper 2)".