French Translations – Why Getting It Right Is So Important

Organisations and businesses planning to expand their operations into foreign nations encounter the requirement to source translation services for the conversion of their texts, documents, marketing and other communications into the native tongue of the country in question. Finding a reputable and experienced company that specialises in translation services is one of the key aspects of expanding business globally. Ensuring that your documents and communications are translated accurately into the foreign language in question can be one of the defining points regarding the successful expansion of business operations internationally.

For many businesses, the need for translation services will be temporary. The idea of employing full time staff to complete this function can be expensive, and with the availability of professional companies specialising in translations services, unnecessary. The best option for most organisations, both large and small, is to utilise the services of a professional translation company with extensive experience in translating a range of document types, and in a range of languages.

For French translations, it is vital that the individual or company responsible for the conversion is extremely fluent in the language, with a thorough understanding of the local and cultural influences. In respect of French translations, the language and culture are very closely interconnected, influencing one another. If one does not understand the culture, the French translations may not communicate the specific meaning the context of the message.

With the individual who is responsible for the process of French translation, it is essential that they understand the context and meaning, both of the original messages and how it will be accurately interpreted when converted into the French language. The translator must have a comprehension of the culture as well as the language. This enables the content and meaning to be converted accurately, with the cultural interpretation of the original text, along with any nuances and cultural aspects being highlighted and effectively converted to create the same impact in the French language.

There are commonly two approaches to conversion of English content into French, namely formal and dynamic. Formal equivalence works to find the closest lexical equivalent to the term or word being used. However, this technique gives no acknowledgement to the cultural interpretation or perception of how the words or messages are conveyed. In a dynamic approach to French translation, the focus is on understanding how the message will be interpreted and attempting to match the feelings, connotations and context created in the original communication for the original audience.