There is no doubt that there is tremendous demand for translators who can convert documents from English to French. French is the second universal language after English. Many educational institutions offer courses that allow the participants to learn preliminary, advanced and professional French. There are several individuals, who can speak French. These individuals may necessarily not be ideal candidates for English to French translation. Globalization and changing business dynamics have created an intense need for multilingual websites. Consumers prefer to know about the products and services in their native language before making a purchase. Here, are few basic tips that can help in translating from English to French.
1. Use a professional French dictionary: French is remarkably different from English in terms of sentence construction and grammar. French is more rhetoric in nature as compared to English. Translators have a wide range of options to choose from in French vocabulary. It is essential that one selects an appropriate word while converting the document. Experts recommend the use of a professional French dictionary for translation. Using words from professional and approved French dictionaries will ensure that the translation meets the local needs.
2. Computer-assisted translation: Several translators feel that electronic translation is not appropriate for translating different texts. One must understand that computer-assisted translation can help in the basic conversion of different documents. Translators can then improvise on the converted text and make it more appealing to the audience. Translation companies use a hybrid of computer-assisted translation and human translation to achieve better results.
3. Understand the text: One must steer clear from translating the document in “as-is” format. Brilliant translators always read the document and understand the message that has to be sent across to the target audience. Based on their understanding, one should convert the text in the target language. One must ensure that the meaning or the essence of the text remains unchanged after the translation.
4. Colloquial terms: One must make a list of French colloquial terms for translation purposes. These colloquial terms can help in creating an impact while converting the document. Colloquial terms play a vital role in financial translation and legal translation. Consumers instantly identify the colloquial terms and respond to them. One can always refer to various translation forums for clarifications and suggestions.
Last but not the least, always get the converted text peer-reviewed by a native French speaker before submitting it to the client. Above mentioned, basic tips will ensure flawless translation from English to French.