Category Translation
Delay ≠ délai; délai ≠ delay
In keeping with a promise I made to share some common Gallicisms with you, here’s one I constantly see in French copy and English translations: délai = delay, and vice-versa. As I was consulting my Facebook news feed this morning, I read the following French message in form of a camera shot (underlining is mine): « Madame, […]
América ≠ America
The original Spanish and Portuguese texts read as follows (bold print is mine): En la actualidad, con muy contadas excepciones, cualquier estudio universitario puede ser cursado en Andalucía. Todas las universidades participan en los diversos programas de la CE, tanto de investigación como de movilidad estudiantil, y sostienen amplias relaciones internacionales con especial proyección en […]
Editors, anyone?
The following excerpts read: « … à des milieux de travail différents, à des besoins différents, à des clientèles différentes… » « Je désire remercier X… pour son invitation à participer à ce projet… qui nous a permis de vivre une expérience… Nous exprimons une vive reconnaissance à X qui nous a permis de vous offrir cette […]
Work, Collaborations…
I just realized that it has been three weeks since I haven’t posted anything on my blog. I tell you no lies: I have been really busy with many projects this month—so busy that I haven’t had much time to write texts. Considering that this may well be the last blog entry for this month, […]
“Do not put statements in the negative form.”
This was one of many writing techniques rules I learned a few years ago. Why should writers avoid putting statements in the negative form? According to KwizNet’s website,[1] putting statements in the affirmative form “tells or asks about what is.”[2] It is important to tell readers what they want or need to know, not what […]
Translation from Spanish: Experiences
For the second time in over a year, I received a Spanish>English project from a Sherbrooke-based client this week. Though I clearly mention in my professional title that I am a Spanish>English freelance translator, the truth is that I rarely receive work in this language combination. At any rate, the Spanish translation experience was just […]
Futebol & Fútbol = Football?
From June 12 to July 13, 2014, Brazil will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Sports fans will gather together to cheer their favourite teams on, hoping one of them will ultimately be declared the world’s champion. Sports fans won’t be the only ones watching this Cup. I bet some of my language professional colleagues […]
Soccer Time!
As you know, the 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s World Cup is now underway. I hope some of you have taken some time out of your schedule to take part in the action. With the help of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s sister station, the Société Radio-Canada (SRC), and the federal government’s Translation Bureau, it […]
Because, Owing, Due to…
I have taken a leaf from André Racicot and have decided to consecrate this blog entry to a specific English grammar concept. Since I have recently been fascinated by the use of because, owing to, and due to in English writing, I thought about writing something on the subject. How many times have you seen […]
All about translation and editing
On September 11th, the Quebec City chapter of Quebec’s association of self-employed workers and small businesses in language services, the ATAMESL, held a workshop for translators and editors at the Café Krieghoff, located in the city’s Upper Town. It’s a part of the city that bustles with residents and tourists alike. The activity, mainly focused […]
Dwain Richardson 