A financial text can be very technical and still be clear.
Simplifying doesn’t mean eliminating specialized terminology, but rather preventing language from making an already complex concept even more difficult.
Where does the balance lie?
Accuracy and clarity are not opposites
In finance, there are terms that have a specific meaning and should not be replaced by more general words just to make the text seem simpler.
Assets, liabilities, provisions, impairment, profitability, or cash flow are all good examples.
If the concept is necessary, so is the term.
Excessively long sentences, unnatural constructions, or the use of more technical words than necessary are a different matter. It is there that we can lose clarity without gaining any accuracy.
The IFRS conceptual framework itself points out that a clear, concise presentation makes it easier to understand financial information, although it recognizes that some concepts are complex by their very nature.
Should financial jargon be eliminated altogether?
Clearly not.
For a CFO, an analyst, or a financial manager, many terms are part of their everyday working language. Replacing them with overly general expressions can actually make the text less accurate.
A useful question would be: is this term necessary to express the concept or does it just make the text sound more complicated?
Not all specialized language is jargon.
When the translation makes the text more difficult than the original.
There is where one risk may emerge.
Relatively clear financial content can end up being turned into a rigid translation, with phrases copied from the source language or structures that don’t sound natural in Spanish.
The result? The meaning may be correct, but it is more difficult to understand.
A professional financial translation should maintain the technical level of the original without adding complexity that wasn’t there.
Should an analyst be spoken to in the same way as a client?
Never.
A presentation aimed at analysts may assume knowledge that would not make sense to demand of a client or a more general audience.
So, clarity does not mean always writing in the simplest way possible. It means using the appropriate level of specialization for the person who will be reading the content.
In a technical report, it may be logical to leave certain concepts unexplained. In content aimed at a less specialized audience, it may be necessary to provide some additional context.
What should a good financial translation achieve?
Mainly three things:
- maintain the technical meaning of the original;
- use appropriate terminology in the target language;
- make the text sound natural and understandable to the reader.
This balance is especially important in the translation of financial documents that combine specialized concepts with explanations intended for readers with different levels of knowledge.
Professional financial translation at blarlo
At blarlo, we work with professional native translators specialized according to the sector, the type of document, and the target language.
As an agency specializing in financial translation, we approach each project taking into account the terminology, the type of content, and the target audience.
Because a financial text doesn’t have to stop being technical to be easily understood. It needs to be accurate without being unnecessarily complicated.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, when the concepts so require. Clarity does not involve eliminating financial terminology, but using it correctly.
Financial terminology identifies specific concepts within the sector. Jargon appears when language becomes more complex or closed than necessary to convey information.
It can be made clearer and more natural, as long as the technical meaning is not altered and relevant information is not removed.
Because we cannot assume the same level of financial knowledge in an analyst, an investor, a client, or a general reader.
It must combine terminological knowledge, accuracy, and a natural use of the target language, adapted to the type of content and its reader.
Do you need an accurate, clear, natural-sounding financial translation? Request a quote for professional financial translation with blarlo.
blarlo · agency, ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified professional translation · blarlo.com
About the author
Laura González Toré, Marketing and Communications Director at blarlo
Specialized in content strategy, digital communication and internationalization, she works on blarlo’s positioning and adapting professional translation to companies’ needs.
