An Adventure in Words: Recent trip to France

An Adventure in Words: Recent trip to France: Happy 2013! I recently went to France for a 4 day jaunt and boy did it feel great!  Just being around the language 24/7 was so inspiring a...

Recent trip to France

Happy 2013!

I recently went to France for a 4 day jaunt and boy did it feel great!  Just being around the language 24/7 was so inspiring again.  I went with my boyfriend who had never been and it was just an amazing trip all around.  With my job the grueling day to day telephone jabber in French is not at all exciting and I forget why I even love the language sometimes. I thankfully have a French friend there with whom I speak to on break and talk about anything BUT capaitors and relays!

This trip really made me realize what a true talent I do have in being bilingual and revived the passion of the language inside me.

Standing out from the rest

What do I bring to translations that others may not? 

This question should be asked.  Translation I think is kind of similar to ballet which I studied for years.  There is always a point that a serious dancer reaches where they are just as technically trained and "good" as the next.  It is often that extra something that pushes a dancer forward to climb the ranks from "corps de ballet" to "soloist" to "principal dancer". 

Translation can be veiwed like this.  There are many, many great translators out there.  What differentiates one from the others?  How do you push to the top tier of translators?  Experience obviously counts for alot but, as with dance, style and personal touches play an essential role as well.

Finding you style is just as important as finding your niche in the translation world.

My website

My website is up and running again.  Apparently I let my domain name expire. I noticed this after trying to edit my website last week.  Although it did have 105 hits which obviously in the scope of the Internet and all of the translation sites out there is nothing but I'm proud of it. 

If I deleted any members I am sorry.  Become members again!!

I do like my website.  I like the colors and the layout.  It might be too wordy though (and as a translator we like to try to be as concise as possible), shouldn't this reflect in our marketing?  And I definately need a new picture.  Something more professional.  

Pretty packaging that reflects my work.

Québecois vs Français

OK.  Yes, in essence they are both the same language. They can be understood by one another. One thing I have learned in my job however is that there are truly some major differences!  For starters the difference in accent is amazing!!  I find myself at times having to ask clients to repeat themselves as I sometimes, admittedly, cannot understand over the telephone what they are saying.  I have written up several key questions if I encounter this to help me understand my customer's needs and it seems to work.  I'm sure I have an accent as well when I speak to them.

I'm assuming it is similar to Mexican Spanish vs. Spanish spoken in Spain.  I'm sure the two can understand each other as well, however, when it comes to translating documents is it very different?  Is there anyone that translates from the same languages but as spoken in different parts of the world?  I'd be interested in hearing some of the challenges.