Facts to go
A language that always sounds harmonious – who you can reach with a French translation.
From Europe, through North America, to Africa – French is one of the most important languages in the world and is spoken by more than 300 million people. It is the official language of France, Belgium, Canada and numerous African countries, such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Senegal. People also speak French in some parts of the Caribbean, in Switzerland, in Monaco and in parts of South-east Asia.
French is referred to as the language of love. Many people perceive it as a synonym for elegance and style. It is known for its unique pronunciation rules and the fine nuances of its grammar and vocabulary. These intricacies are precisely the biggest challenge when it comes to translating into or from French. Only if you strike the right tone will your translations be able to reach and captivate your readers – and there is still no (free) online tool that can do that reliably. With a
professional translation, you can be sure that your text will make the right impact in any language.
Where French translations are in particularly high demand – and what you need to consider
French translations are needed in various forms and in all sorts of areas, especially in the business context. Quality and reliability are what matters here. If you have to have a
contract translated or need a (certified) translation of business documents, you would be well advised to give this job to the professionals. Because careless translation errors in documents of this sort can sometimes lead to problems.
The sectors and specialist areas in which French is used are varied. International lawyers regularly need
translations of legal documents such as court decisions and rulings for their work, while global pharmaceutical companies rely on
medical translations. For these and other specialist translations, translators need not only an extremely good understanding of grammar but also a command of the technical terminology and the ability to use it precisely in the translation. Only in this way does a French translation become an excellent French translation.
Gender distinctions in French – if you are going to make them, this is the best way
In German it is already in use in many places, in English it is not (really) a problem: gender-neutral language. So far, the use of gender-neutral linguistic forms has been controversial in French. Nevertheless, there are already some approaches and ideas about what gender-neutral language might look like in French. One option is to use so-called écriture inclusive. This attempts to use gender-neutral formulations by including both genders or using gender-neutral pronouns. This is how it would look, for example: les étudiant·e·s (the students) or les professeur·e·s (the teachers).
Whether gender distinctions are made or not plays an important part in
marketing texts, among other areas. No business wants to discriminate against (potential) customers in advertising or when making direct contact – no matter what the language. Many people are therefore already ensuring that translations into French use gender-neutral language. One thing is crucial: a very good feel for the language is required to ensure that all target groups are included and no one is left out. And that’s usually what native-speaker translators at a professional
translation agency have to offer.
