Objective:

Spanish U.S. variants and their impact on translation and linguistic validation are important considerations for U.S. studies employing COAs. Several issues contribute to the need to recognize these variants as unique linguistic entities. Formal education is typically given in one variant; terminology preferences within a variant are shaped by its country of origin and geographic location of speakers within the U.S. Contact with English can influence patient comprehension and strategies for revising COA translations during cognitive debriefing. Understanding the intricacies of U.S. Spanish and usage differences are vital to successful translation and linguistic validation of COAs.

Background:

Spanish U.S. variants include Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Central American, Salvadoran, Nicaraguan, Guatemalan, and Honduran Spanish, older dialects in New Mexico, Colorado, and Louisiana, and mixtures resulting from exposure to English and other variants. The 2011 U.S Census Bureau Language Use report indicates about 12.9% (55 million) of the U.S. population speaks Spanish. A related report projects Spanish speakers in the U.S. will increase by between 39 million and 43 million by 2020. There are currently 12 states where at least 10% of households are Spanish-speaking, with Texas highest at 29.5% (7.37 million). Within the U.S, one’s years of education may not reflect years of formal Spanish education. Heritage speakers in the U.S. may lack formal Spanish education. Formal Spanish education is typically given in a single variant, and variants differ enough that literacy in one does not guarantee literacy in another.

Conclusions:

Across U.S. Spanish variants exist geographic differences in usage, discrepancies in formal education, and varying impact from contact with English. These factors should inform decisions made regarding patient interview recruitment, patient interview data review, and translated measures revision when carrying out translation and linguistic validation of COAs for Spanish U.S. patients.