Natural and authentic translation is all-important in any kind of translation work to reach a new audience. Like any language, English to French Canadian translation must contain all the nuances and subtleties of the language for a genuine and organic translation.
If you prefer to watch a video, click here:
This post was updated on March 2021.
The Work of a Translator
Regardless of the language, a translator has a job to do, and he or she must do it well for the right outcome. A simple explanation of this job comes from CareerExplorer.com which reads, A translator is someone who converts the written word from one language to another… the most important requirement is that they be fluent in English and at least one other language.
For instance, a translator who works from English to French Canadian needs to be fully fluent in both languages. The more natural and organic the language is, the better the translation will be. It’s not enough to be comfortable in both languages, but the translator should understand the subtle nuances and figurative use of words, too.
Translators usually translate into their native language. So keeping with the English to French Canadian example, the translator’s native language would more than likely be French Canadian. Even if it’s not their first language, they should be able to work in it as if it was. This way they can maintain those subtleties that will make the translation sound natural. The goal is to have the translation sound as if it was originally in that language.
Translators work on all kinds of projects, from writing to audio work. Some examples are audiobooks, corporate material, eLearning, and scriptwriting.
Here’s a corporate material example – Imagine a business is based in the United States and also has offices in French-speaking Canada. The company may hire an English to French Canadian translator who can translate their material from one language to the other to make sure all this material is accessible in both languages.
Many translators do this full-time. Others work at translating as a part-time job or a great side hustle. Some work on their own or for a translation service. There are a few types of translation services and knowing these will help in the hiring of a translator.
How to Find an English to French Canadian Translator
There are two main ways to work with a translator. You can either hire a freelancer or work with a translation service. Both have pros and cons, and the ultimate decision will depend on your translation needs.
Freelance translators
Freelance translators are self-employed. They often work for many clients at once and have an array of projects they can work on and skills to incorporate. According to our article, “Life and Work of a Freelance Translator”, a freelancer will either be represented by an agency of some sort, or will be affiliated to a professional association or website, or, what is most likely, will acquire clients and work independently.
Often a freelance translator will work with a service like Bunny Studio, to help get work.
Sometimes they will work completely on their own, and if this is the case, they are usually quite adept at marketing themselves, negotiating with clients, and in time management, along with their language skills.
If you choose to hire a freelancer, make sure to check their experience and skill set, as you want to make sure you are working with a reputable translator. As far as the language goes, you can ask to have a small piece translated from English to French Canadian. They also may have a sample of past work they can share with you.
People often like to work with freelancers as they can get more for their budget and work directly with the translator. If you choose this route, know that you will be the one negotiating, giving feedback, and working with the translator until it’s right.
A Translation Service
If you choose to go with a translation service, you will get a translator who is professional and reputable. The service vets the translators and checks past work. You also don’t have to worry about negotiations with price as these are already set. Many people choose this as it takes a lot of the work away from you. Services get your project translated in a professional manner.
The more you know about your project when contacting a service the smoother your process can go. It will also help you get the best translator for your needs. For instance, the article, Translation Service – What to Look For,? shares the different types of translations.
- Interpretation, including simultaneous and consecutive interpretation
- Document translation, consisting of technical, scientific, financial, legal, judicial, juridical, certified, and literary translations
- Website translation and localization
Any of these translations can go from one language to another, including English to French Canadian.
Whichever way you decide to hire your translator, make sure that your work will be personally translated and that neither uses programs or machine translations. This can cause mistakes, changes in meanings, and unnatural translations. And it shouldn’t be what you’re paying for.
What is the Importance of English to French Canadian Translations?
If you are in the United States you probably want to expand your business, whatever it may be, to Canada. Because a large percentage of Canadians speak French Canadian, it’s beneficial to have your work translated. Take a look at these statistics from Translation Services USA:
- The total number of French Canadian speakers is 7.3 million people, 2 million people speak it as a second language.
- There are two subtypes of French Canadian: Joual and Chiac.
- In some provinces of Canada, there are native French-speaking communities.
More people in Canada speak French than those in America speaks Spanish. If you are looking to do business with Canadians, it will be rewarding to have your work translated into French Canadian. And the more natural your translations are, the better they will be received with a more positive impact. This goes for anything, from a book to a blog to a website or corporate learning piece.
Different French Canadian Dialects and Nuances of the Language
French Canadian is a unique language as it has its roots in French, but differs greatly from European French. As far as translation goes, it’s imperative that you work with a French Canadian translator as opposed to a French translator.
French Canadians use a more informal way of speaking than European French. The order of words can differ as well, and while these differences are small, they play a big part in understanding.
Vocabulary also differs, so certain words will have different meanings in the two forms of French. Slang is different, too, and in translation, it’s essential to get slang right or it just sounds awkward, uncomfortable, and out of place.
Throughout the country, some of the dialects will differ. It’s important to know the region you are targeting to make sure your work is translated with the proper dialect. All of these subtleties can make a huge difference when your audience reads or hears the work. It can be the factor determining whether it’s a believable, trustworthy piece, or something fake and bogus.
The Skills of a Good Translator
Now you know as much as you can about the type of translation you need. So let’s talk about the translator. With all of this investment – your time, your money, and your heart in the work – you want your piece translated into the best possible form it can be, as close to the original as possible. This is the translator’s job. You should be aware of the important skills a translator should have.
We’ve talked about language skills. In this case, your translator should be fluent in French Canadian, preferably as a first language. It’s not enough to be able to read and understand it; all of those subtleties and nuances will come into play. Your translator should be able to take everything from your original and put it into the new piece. Your voice should be in the French Canadian version as much as the English.
A translator should also have cultural knowledge of the area, in this case, French Canada. Not only do you want to avoid important components getting lost in translation with your English to French Canadian translation, but you don’t want to include anything that could be offensive or inappropriate in the translation. This could destroy your project.
Things like professionalism and time management are important skills as well. You don’t want your translator to flake on you in the middle of the project. Whether you are working with an individual or a service, they should be accessible to you if you have concerns or needs during the project. And you should be aware of protocol if you need more work to get your piece exactly as you want it. Sometimes this is easier to get with a service than a freelancer.
The nice thing is that if you find a service or an individual who you love, you don’t have to repeat this search for your next project. You’ll have someone who you can go straight to and be assured the work will be just what you want.
When you hire a freelancer in Bunny Studio, we take care of everything. Quality control, peace of mind, speed, ready-to-use translations, own the full rights and satisfaction guarantee.
To Sum Up English to French Candian Translation
You’ve got some great material and you are ready to widen your target audience base. Think about our northern neighbors and how you could reach out to them. With a good French Canadian translation, you can reach more people and your brand can grow.
Whether you have a book, a product, or are working internally in your business, an English to French Canadian translation can help you grow and reach a wider audience.
Make sure your translator is skilled, trustworthy, and competent. You want your translated work to be just as good as your original, with the same vibe, material, and tone. And then who knows what your next language might be!
