Al Gallo has been an independent Spanish Translator for over 20 years, accumulating a wealth of experience in dealing with a wide variety of subjects. His freelance and independent modality of work allows a direct contact with translation clients and reduced costs achieved by the absence of overheads. All quotes on Spanish to English translations include proofreading by Jo Wall de Gallo, daughter of the late Tim Wall, a Master at St Peter’s College in Adelaide and an outstanding Australian Test cricketer during the early thirties. Jo has a background as Commercial Secretary to international companies in Australia, as well as formerly to one of the present cabinet ministers of the Queensland State Government.


The art of Spanish translation as well as English translation is no different from the art of Spanish and English writing. Both, translation and writing skills go hand in hand and they are not simply the product of academic study, but of a long period of deep immersion into the cultures these languages represent.

There is a long way between the translation knowledge acquired at schools and universities and the point at which a translator reaches a level of complete familiarity with the undertones that pervade the speaking and writing expression of two different tongues. Some of the obstacles a young translator faces are not easily overcome, regardless of the availability of dictionaries, glossaries and help from other colleagues who volunteer to give them a hand but may also be themselves inexperienced.

The translation industry, whether it deals with Spanish translation or translation to and from any other language, assumes that a person who regularly translates into his/her own native language will certainly turn out a perfectly acceptable result. This assumption ignores the fact that being able to correctly express ideas into the translator's native language does not in itself ensure that the translator has completely understood each aspect related to usage of idioms and colloquial expressions that are intrinsic components of any language or culture and specifically related to Spanish and English.

I would suggest that the best credentials for a Spanish/English translator are built from an equal number of years embedded to an intimate level within both cultural worlds. The application of the secrets of professional writing adds icing to the cake, to show that right meaning and good style are both part and parcel of a quality translation job.

This is precisely what my clients can expect.