If you’re researching Bolivian or Latin American genealogy, you don’t want to go it alone. You need support from professionals, especially when it comes to translating your sources.
A specialized genealogical translator is a wise investment because genealogical translation differs significantly from other translation specializations. A good genealogical translator will have the following skills:
Knowledge of handwritten language and paleography.
Have you ever tried to decipher the medieval-looking writing on a fancy college diploma? If so, you’ve had a taste of paleography, the study of historical writing systems. Paleography is a central concern for genealogists and genealogical translators, as this page on genealogical translation from the American Translators Association explains.
In Latin American genealogy, colonial documents present the greatest paleographic challenges. (Take the example of this household inventory from Santo Domingo in 1556.) However, even more recent handwriting, as in this 1828 letter by Simón Bolívar, often requires a patient and practiced eye to decipher.
What’s more, handwriting is absolutely ubiquitous in genealogy. In our digital age, it’s easy to forget that even the most standard documents, like birth and marriage records, were written partly or entirely by hand until just a few decades ago. A translator not accustomed to working with such writing will quickly become overwhelmed.
Familiarity with old, colloquial, and formal language.
Think back to your English classes in high school. Did you struggle to understand Shakespeare? All languages evolve, and Spanish is no exception. Spellings change, vocabulary falls in and out of favor, and turns of phrase come and go. This is especially the case for informal, conversational Spanish and the highly formal prose often found in official documents.
Compounding this reality is the fact that scores of people throughout Latin American history could not claim the national language as their mother tongue. This is particularly true in places with large indigenous populations, such as Bolivia and Mexico.
Your ancestors may have grown up speaking Quechua or Nahuatl, not learned Spanish until compelled to do so in school, and never arrived at a native level of fluency. Maybe the clerk who recorded their births or the priest who officiated their wedding was in a similar situation. Will your translator be able to account for the influence of indigenous languages on their writing?
Grounding in the local historical context.
Historical documents frequently make reference to the events of the day. Say your great-grandfather wrote a letter discussing the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay. Will your translator know when that conflict took place, what its significance was for Bolivian society, and how to translate the letter appropriately?
Sometimes the records we translate even mention events that took place hundreds of years before they were produced. For instance, nineteenth century Catholic marriage documents often contain references to the Council of Trent. Is your translator clued in about what that is and why it’s important?
You’re in good hands.
I am an ATA-certified translator specializing in Bolivian and Latin American genealogy. I’m also a trained historian with a PhD from Georgetown University. Bolivian and Latin American genealogy is both my profession and my passion.
I know the history of Latin America and especially Bolivia inside and out. Having spent months combing through boxes of dusty old documents in Bolivian archives, I am used to reading historical handwriting and colloquial Spanish with indigenous influences. These experiences also made me familiar with the archives themselves, so I can provide direction on where to look for sources.
If you’re ready to hire a professional translator and a seasoned researcher to handle your Bolivian and Latin American genealogical records, drop me a line today to discuss your project.