Portuguese is a Romance inflectional language derived from Galician-Portuguese. That is, the Romance language spoken in the north-western area of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It has approximately 260 million speakers, of which some 230 million are native speakers. It is the ninth most widely spoken language in the world and one of the 24 official languages of the European Union. Let’s look at the importance of Portuguese in translation.

BRAZIL

To begin with, Brazil is one of the world’s largest economies, the sixth largest according to the International Monetary Fund. It has become the first in Latin America and the second in the Americas. It is also among the world’s leading exporters of raw materials, mainly oil, coal and minerals. Some of the countries to which it exports are China, the United States, Japan, Germany and Spain. It is therefore to be expected that translations from Portuguese will be the order of the day. However, translations into Portuguese can also be in high demand. The reason is that there are several countries that import to Brazil. The main importers are China, the United States, and Argentina. In addition, there are several important Brazilian brands. The footwear brand Havaianas, the beer brand Brahma, and the airline LATAM stand out.

PORTUGAL

On the other hand, Portugal is a major power. It sits within three major organisations: the World Trade Organisation, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union. It is also a country with a high level of exports, mainly to Spain, Germany and France. Portugal’s economy is highly differentiated and based on the initiative of many companies. These range from multinationals to small businesses. Some of these companies have established their headquarters in other countries, with Spain as the main destination. Therefore, the existence of professional Portuguese translators is key to the development of these businesses.

There are also some relevant Portuguese brands that need translation in order to expand and become known worldwide, such as Lactogal or Lanidor.

CULTURE AND OTHER INFORMATION

In the literary field, translation has been fundamental. Thanks to it, the works of great figures of Portuguese literature such as Fernando Pessoa or the Nobel Prize winner José Saramago would not have reached so many corners of the world. Nor would they be as universally acclaimed. Interpretation from Portuguese is essential. It is the working language of 12 international organisations. These include the European Union, UNESCO, MERCOSUR, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Latin Union and the Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA). It is clear that in each and every one of them the presence of an interpreter who can facilitate communication is essential. In this way, the language barrier is broken. And not only here, but also in other areas such as tourism.

The interpreters who accompany tourists on guided tours are a key part of helping them connect with and enter a new culture. Even more so in countries with so many traditions and memorable places such as Brazil or Portugal, which even have World Heritage Sites.