Frequently asked questions

• What types of documents do you translate?

For the time being, my curiosity and my will to discover multiple fields make me remain quite versatile regarding the types of projects I accept to translate. Of course, I am especially interested in certain subjects: international development, environment and ecology, tourism and travels, marketing and communication, as well as journalism and book translation.

Moreover, I studied medical and legal translation, and I worked in the banking sector. Though these are highly-technical fields in which I do not consider myself as a specialist, I do have good bases enabling me to translate some types of documents related to them.

In any case, whatever your needs, do not hesitate to contact me. If your request falls under the scope of my skills, I will be pleased to help you. Otherwise, if I can, I will recommend a colleague qualified in the concerned field.

• Do you also translate from French into English or Spanish? 

No, I only translate into French, my mother tongue. Indeed, most of the professional translators exclusively translate into their mother tongue, for the simple reason that the fact of speaking a foreign language does not mean that you know all its subtleties and idiomatic expressions that are essential for a high-quality translation. Being able to speak, understand and make yourself understand in a foreign language does not always allow you to translate a written message with perfect accuracy.

Besides, this rule is part of the different codes of ethics of translators, that I am committed to respect in the context of my professional activity.

• Can you also translate orally, for example during a conference?

Although I studied and practiced interpretation (or oral translation) at university, I do not offer this service. Indeed, even if they have in common the need to master at least two languages, translation and interpretation are two different activities that require distinct skills. As I feel more comfortable in writing than orally, I decided to focus on translation (exclusively written). In order to find a French interpreter, you can for example search on the SFT website (Société Française des Traducteurs). 

• Do you accept to take an unpaid test?

In the translation world, undergoing an interview to demonstrate one's skills is (very) rare. However, what is quite common is to take a small test, that consists in translating a short text (maximum 300 words) selected and sent by the client. I am conscious that it is important, for the latter, to have some guarantee regarding the skills of the translator they choose to work with. That is why I obviously accept to take this kind of unpaid test, as long as it does not exceed the indicated length and is of course in my working languages (English / Spanish -> French).