How to Differentiate French European and French Canadian? Apart from English, French is the only other language present on every single continent of the world. As a bilingual country, Canada is the perfect place for a translation company. At LingoStar, most of our projects involve French translation, even though we are located in English-speaking Vancouver. However, these translation projects can be in either French European or French Canadian. Among all these projects, we can differentiate between the French Canadian and French European projects, which have to be handled by different translators. We take pride in the fact that we make sure our clients are happy with their translations and recordings, and that our final French translations are accurate. French European Translations and Recordings First, let us talk about French European projects before we tackle the French Canadian ones. One thing to keep in mind is that France is not the only country to use the European version of French. You can also find it in Belgium, Switzerland or Luxembourg. Each country has different expressions and accents, but the vast majority of the language stays the same. We have dealt with a lot of French European projects recently, one of which was a translation and voice-over project. The voice-over part is interesting because you can clearly hear the difference between the two French varieties. Indeed, a French person can distinguish in seconds whether a recording comes from a French European or a French Canadian speaker. Therefore, it is extremely important to choose the right voice artist depending on the version asked by the client. What About French Canadian Translations? As...
The French Community in British Columbia The French community in British Columbia continues to grow and diversify every year. British Columbia has the fourth largest Francophone community in Canada. According to Statistics Canada in 2016, French is the mother tongue of over 70,000 British Columbians. There are more than 300,000 residents of the province who speak French in addition to English or another language. Francophones have contributed to the economic growth, intellectual pursuits, and political and cultural development of British Columbia. Structures are in place to provide several services to Francophones living in the province or thinking of moving there. It is possible to study, work and stay informed in French, as well as to access social services and health care. Many organizations are working hard to expand the Francophone and Francophile presence in B.C. One is the British Columbia Francophone Federation, the official voice of the province’s Francophone community. Their mission is to represent the Francophone community in British Columbia while preserving their linguistic and cultural heritage. Infographic: The strong French presence in British Columbia The Francophone community in B.C. is not only growing but also changing the overall Canadian population. This infographic will show you some interesting facts about the Francophonie in British Columbia: PDF Download The need for French translation services French is not only the mother tongue of many Canadians, but an integral part of the Canadian identity. If you want to successfully expand your business into the Canadian market, you need to understand the country’s linguistic variations and adapt your business to the local look and feel. By working with a trusted translation agency that is familiar...
Useful tips on how to apply if you want to immigrate to Canada. Do you want to immigrate to Canada this year? There are several things to consider when immigrating to a new country. From booking plane tickets to arriving at your new “home”, there’s nothing more important than having legal status when you immigrate. It will give you benefits similar, or very close, to the ones held by citizens. How do I know what to do? To immigrate to Canada, first, you need to decide on a Province and check on the language they speak there. There are two official languages in Canada: French and English. If you speak either, or both of them, your immigration process will be easier. You will need to take a test to prove your language skills when applying for an immigrant visa. For more information on how to immigrate to Canada check the official website of the Canadian government. Are you relocating for work or moving to Canada on your own? If you want to immigrate to Canada for work, employers usually guide workers and/or help them with the relocation process. Companies who relocate workers to branches in other countries are more familiar with the immigration process. If this is your case, contact the corresponding department in your company. If you are immigrating on your own, then you should start by checking if you’re eligible to immigrate to Canada. What kind of visa does the Canadian government offer? To immigrate to Canda, you need to check on visas first. The Canadian government offers several types. The one you need depends on which...
A Translator’s Tale Once Upon a Time… …there were translators. But they were translation students or amateur translators. We’re sure you’re familiar with that feeling of not being good enough and fearing that you won’t find work. Many of us are told during our studies that the world of translation is difficult and cold. Some professors even say that we’d be better off becoming language teachers or finding other work because it is impossible to make ends meet working as a translators. This mix of pessimism and closing doors makes amateur translators feel lost and helpless. However, opportunities exist and once you find one, you will discover that the world of translation is very rewarding. You will find wonderful colleagues who will share your interests. You’ll realize how cool it is to always keep learning through the texts you translate. This is something they don’t teach you during your translation degree. Decisions of Translators The biggest, scariest question for amateur translators or for translators who just finished a degree (or master’s degree) is “so what now?” Let’s walk in an amateur translator’s shoes for a moment. You finish your degree knowing that there are much more experienced translators than you in the labour market. Two things can happen at this point: you are determined to thrive as a professional translator from the very beginning, or you keep studying to gain more experience. Many translation students decide to complete a master’s degree, which gives them one or two more (safe) years to make up their minds on what they want to do in the future. Nonetheless, the master’s degree comes...
Interview with Matteo, Freelance Interpreter and Translator from English and French to Italian: First things first, we would love to learn more about you: why and when did you decide to become a translator/interpreter? Where did the idea come from, and have you ever considered doing anything else? My father is a French teacher. My mother an English teacher. How different is being a translator/interpreter from what you had expected? Very stressful. Excellent self-marketing skills are essential. Ability to adapt to different situations. What is, according to you, the best way to learn a foreign language? How did you learn your languages? Study abroad. Attend a good University. Take advantage of multimedia learning (DVD, mp3 etc) What are the challenges of being a translator/interpreter? What are the perks? Handle stress. Find and keep good clients. Remote working. Interesting job. Thank you very...
