Dominique Robidoux, English-French translator

Finance and insurance in French Canada vs French Europe

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It's perfectly acceptable to ask a client to pay for a translation in advance. In fact, when it comes to individual clients or brand-new clients, I highly encourage it! To piggyback off Corinne McKay's post yesterday about asking for prepayment for official document translations, here are a few solid reasons to have clients pay upfront for their translations: 1- Cashflow management: The money lands in your bank account immediately, instead of next week, next month, or... gasp... never! This lets you cover your regular expenses with ease and ensures financial stability. 2- Risk reduction: Eliminates the hassle/potential nightmare of a non-payment after the work is completed, especially with a client who is an unknown quantity. Ask anyone who has ever ended up in small-claims court. (Yup... me. This person right here.) 3- Time management: When you're paid in advance for a project, you can make it a priority in your calendar, knowing the client is serious about their project. You won't be worried the client is going to ghost you or that you'll be left hanging. 4- Professional image: Unlike what many people believe, asking for prepayment conveys that you are a professional who knows your worth and the quality of your work. There are many, many payment options out there, and they vary from country to country. Since I work almost exclusively with Canadian clients, my go-to method is Interac e-Transfer, which is almost instantaneous. For the rare international request I get, I use PayPal. If you're still reluctant to ask for payment in advance, ask yourself this: Would a luxury car dealer let you drive a fancy vehicle off their lot with nothing but a jaunty wave and a "thanks, I got your bill"? I think not. Have you been reluctant to charge clients in advance? Let's talk about why in the comments! ⏬⏬

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⚜️ LET'S TALK ABOUT QUÉBEC, TSÉ ⚜️ Most translation companies struggle to find French (CA) translators. Let me shed some light into why: ❌ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦: 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.  When most companies ask for French (CA) translators they don't know this means people from Québec. Yes, all Canadians are bilingual (at least on paper). However, the reality is that Québec is the only province where French is the first language. ✅ 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Your chances of finding a native French speaker increase substantially if you focus your recruiting efforts in Québec. ❌ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦: 𝘈 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴.  Oddly, I say this while working in the translation industry. But yes, it happens all the time, companies do not respect the fact that culture IS IMPORTANT. Native speakers in Québec are very protective. 90% of the country is on the English side, they feel a strong need to work hard to keep their culture and language alive. ✅ 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: If you want to connect with native French speakers in Québec, communicate with them in French, write your emails in French, and have someone who speaks their language manage their recruitment process. They understand English, of course they do, but introducing to them in English doesn't show respect for what their language means to them. ❌ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦: 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.  Not everybody is on LinkedIn or Proz. Actually, Canada is quite out of LinkedIn, depending on the niche you are working on. ✅ 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Some linguistic communities have their own ways and platforms, it's their way of being protective of their language and their business. Do some research because that's the situation for Canadian French. ❌ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦: 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.  Companies ask for translators experienced in fields that have never been relevant in a specific region, as in Québec. You won't find people ready to cope with the business demands. ✅ 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Invest in their talent. This is especially important for Canadian French. There is a fight for these linguists, literally. Be the first to engage with these potential candidates and train them, show them your ways, and invest in their talent and you will be the first one to have a strong and loyal workforce for this language. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭. #quebec #canadianfrench #quebecois #translationissues #translationcompanies #careers #recruiters #jobsearching #jobsearch #recruitmenttips #litranslators #localizationrecruitment

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As I was going through job offers online, I noticed that many companies prefer candidates who are ATIO The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario or Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) members. Now because I am currently based in #Ottawa, I believe that automatically disqualifies me from being an OTTIAQ member, so I am currently looking into ATIO. All in all, it seems interesting and is definitely a long-term goal, but is it really worth it as a newcomer resident/translator/interpreter looking to get started in the #Canadian #translation market? let me know your thoughts! #Translator, #Interpreter, #Canada, #Quebec, #Ottawa

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Many of us can attest to the increase in requests for revising AI-generated content. It’s been said many times but bears repeating: this shift should not entail low-rate post-edition work. In most cases, revising AI-generated texts takes even more time for translators, given their responsibility to research and confirm appropriate terminology. Translators will remain invaluable for years to come, as many of the innate problems with AI—such as issues with accuracy and respecting cultural sensitivities—are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Translators play an indispensable role in delivering a polished, accurate final product and should be compensated accordingly for the value they bring. Unfortunately, a recent article from Belgium highlights ongoing challenges, such as providers offering lower pay for “pre-translated AI texts,” forcing some translation companies to downsize to stay afloat. It’s an interesting and thought-provoking read, especially for translators working globally. https://lnkd.in/ee8G3Cf7 #Translation #Localization #LanguageServices #TranslationIndustry #MachineTranslation #ArtificialIntelligence

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Context is a vital component of accurate and effective translation. Here's why it matters: 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Words and phrases can have multiple meanings depending on the context. Understanding the broader context ensures that translators choose the right interpretation and convey the intended message. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁: Cultural references, idioms, and metaphors often require adaptation to resonate with the target audience. Translators must consider cultural nuances to avoid misunderstandings and ensure relevance. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 : Context helps maintain consistency in terminology and style throughout the translation. This is particularly important in technical, legal, and medical documents where precision is crucial. A thorough understanding of context enables translators to produce translations that are not only accurate but also meaningful and culturally appropriate. #ContextInTranslation #CulturalNuance #Accuracy #TranslationQuality #LanguageServices

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Even the best translators aren’t immune to a little slip-up, and throughout history, translation errors have led to some pretty amusing, and sometimes impactful, results. For some Friday Fun, here are a few of our favorites: Cinderella’s Slippers: Did you know that in the original French version, Cinderella wasn’t meant to be wearing glass slippers? The word ‘vair’ (meaning fur) was mistranslated as ‘verre’ (meaning glass). Imagine dancing in furry slippers instead of glass ones. Moses with Horns: Michelangelo’s statue of Moses shows him with horns on his head. This came from a mistranslation of the Hebrew word ‘keren,’ which can mean both ‘horns’ and ‘rays of light.’ Moses was supposed to have a radiant glow, not goat-like horns. Pepsi in China: When Pepsi launched in China, their slogan ‘Pepsi brings you back to life’ was mistranslated as ‘Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.’ Not quite the intended message—though it certainly grabbed attention! 'Got Milk?' Gone Wrong: The popular American ad campaign slogan 'Got Milk?' didn’t translate well into Spanish. Instead of asking people if they had milk, it asked, ‘Are you lactating?’ Not exactly the best way to sell milk. Parker Pens in Mexico: Parker Pens once advertised their pens as being so reliable they wouldn’t leak in your pocket and ‘embarrass you.’ However, in Spanish, this was mistranslated as 'won’t leak and make you pregnant.' Talk about a mistranslation gone wrong. Translation isn’t always easy. One wrong word can lead to a completely different meaning. At TrueLanguage and our partner Powerling - you can be confident that your content will always convey its intended meaning. #translationfails #lostintranslation #globalmarketing #culturalmixups

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Yes, another “I’m back” after a long summer absence. ☀️ Hi, I’m Catherine, a Montréal-based lawyer turned legal and financial translator for French, English, and German. What I’m here for: ✅ New ideas ✅ Constructive feedback ✅ Respectful exchange ✅ Funny anecdotes & pictures ✅ Teaching moments ✅ International exposure What I’m not here for: 🛑 Gotcha moments 🛑 Revenge posts & comments 🛑 Lynch mob mentality 🛑 Overfamiliarity 🛑 Denial of systemic issues / tone policing 🛑 Toxic positivity & cynicism - they’re both anti-progress What are you here for / not here for? #lawyer #compliance #internationalbusiness

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Numerous translation organizations develop language-specific style guides for their translators, ranging from straightforward instructions to comprehensive reference manuals covering grammar and style.    Translators commonly develop glossaries, necessitating robust terminology management. Supplying reference materials like dictionaries, glossaries, and terminology lists, including those in the source language, proves beneficial. Leveraging previously translated text for term identification aids in maintaining consistency.    For effective translation, it is advisable to involve subject matter experts (SMEs) early on, seeking their input on terminology queries. This proactive approach minimizes the need for later corrections and expedites the translation process. Professional organizations often maintain official dictionaries.    Sharing such resources with your translation provided aids translators in producing accurate translations of your materials. Emphasizing the importance of a project glossary, even with an existing bilingual list, ensures a valuable resource for future projects.    Ensuring access to shared terminology lists and promoting communication within the translation team and with stakeholders is crucial. Establishing a standardized organizational glossary, actively maintained and updated by a designated team member, enhances consistency. Incorporating the final glossary into project deliverables is essential.    Proactive support is vital for a smooth translation process, with effective communication among team members, clear guidelines, project planning, and robust documentation. Actively involving SMEs, maintaining glossaries, and providing relevant reference materials contribute to consistency and high-quality translations.    #terminologymanagement #translation #localization

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Do you use inclusive language in your translation projects? Check out this recent article by Traductions nexus on how it promotes clarity and fairness in French and English legal writing!

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(Warning...Snarky post ahead) 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿: We hate it when you translators charge us per every single request we send just because you happen to be done with your work. It's like everything is just a transactional exchange to you. Where's the "partnership"? Where's the "nuance"? Where's the understanding of the big picture here and future business you may get if you are more lenient and just, you know, look the other way sometimes? 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: Okay, let's talk about this. So, when you realize you have additional documents that need translation...Or you have changes to previous documents, when we're 80% done translating the original versions...Or you want to add other languages...You don't want to be billed additionally? 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿: Exactly! Why are we getting these pesky invoices every week for work you've delivered, when meanwhile we're still miles away from realizing our corporate vision internally? 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: You mean, we should wait...And check in with you every few months to see if you've executed and achieved all milestones of your corporate vision? And only then invoice you for several months of past work? 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿: YES! Duh. Now you're finally getting it. That way, EVERYONE will be done at the same time. Then we can all move on, and pay you in a few months after that (or whenever). 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: Hmmm...I see. But wouldn't that kind of be like when you go to the grocery store 3-4 times, because you keep forgetting a handful of items for a very important meal, and have to go back? Yet, annoyingly, the grocery store kind of insists that you pay for each return trip's items every time, instead of being billed at the end of the month or quarter so you can execute your dinnertime vision? 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿: Absolutely, just like that for sure! …Wait, what?

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#Hiring: 🇨🇦 Calling All Canadian French Language Nerds! 🗣️ My team needs your linguistic superpowers for an awesome contract gig. This is not a full- or part-time position, it is freelance only. You will: • Use your French knowledge to review security awareness content for Canada • Mostly perform linguistic QA and in-context testing • Ensure the content is culturally on-point and makes perfect sense to the Canadian French audience What you'll need: • Canadian French as your mother tongue or equivalent (familiarity with nuances between FRFR and FRCA) • A laser-sharp eye for detail and a deep love for linguistics • Experience in linguistic review or similar tasks is a bonus The gig: • Remote contract position with flexible (and variable) hours • Workload will vary based on project needs If you fit the bill and have a keen eye for quality — or know someone who does — leave a comment or contact me via DM so we can chat. #canadianfrench #translation #localization #l10n #freelance

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Clients We Don’t Need (and no one does) 😣   👎 Those who keep messaging on WhatsApp, even after we’ve requested email communication (WhatsApp only for emergencies, please). 👎 Those who always have urgent #translation requests, but when it comes to payment, it’s never a priority. 👎Those who seem to keep "losing" invoices or have processes where invoices mysteriously keep falling through the cracks. 👎 Those with endless bureaucracy just to process our invoices. 👎 "Clients" who ask multiple providers for quotes and simply choose the lowest bidder.   What types of clients do you think are the toughest to work with? The TR Company 📩 info@thetrcompany.com 📲 54.11.3263.8637 #ProfessionalTranslation #LegalTranslation #CertifiedTranslators #CynthiaFarberOnLinkedIn #LItranslators

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What Clients Say vs. What We Understand: A Translator's Perspective ➡️ What the client says: "First thing in the morning." 🥇 What I understand: "No later than 9 a.m.—actually, 8 a.m. would be even better." ➡️ What the client says: "By the end of the week." 🥇 What I understand: "Friday would be fine, but Thursday would be even better." ➡️ What the client says: "We need to cut down on costs—can you use machine translation?" 🥇What I understand: "Use the best approach to balance efficiency, quality, and budget." Got any other examples to add? The TR Company 📩 info@thetrcompany.com 📲 54.11.3263.8637 #ProfessionalTranslation #LegalTranslation #CertifiedTranslators #CynthiaFarberOnLinkedIn

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“Do this at your peril, lists” for freelance translators?   Here’s mine. 1.     Forget placing a buffer in the delivery schedule you give to Client A. An urgent (and much higher-paying) job will inevitably arrive from Client B, but you will have no time for it   You’ll still do a decent job for Client A, but the loss of a better payday will stick in your craw. Even as you spend the money you get for the job, you’ll hate the very thing you buy with it. Better to donate that money to charity.   2.     Promise to do a tiny rush job for Client X and then forget about it. It slipped your mind because your subconscious told you it really wasn’t worth your time.  It might only be 250 words and worth less than the price of 3 fancy burgers and fries for your middle kid and his 2 best pals, but to Client X it’s about making End Customer A* happy as hell as they head off into the weekend.   You don’t file those 250 words and Client X is about to become an X Client. Tell your subconscious to behave and get the job done.   3.     Client T phones with an emergency. She needs an Azeri to Uzbek translator ASAP. She asks if you know one. You hear the near panic.   Say, “Don’t worry, I’ll find one for you”. You’re not some linguistic superhero who solves other people’s niche language demands at the drop of a dictionary. You’ll waste hours with no result.   Time that would be better spent watching your young son draw an evil sheep/dog/cloud with legs.   Instead refer your client to one of the various translator directories you have stored on your “I-am-not-a-linguistic-superhero” folder on your One Drive.   So you’ve helped Client T towards what they need, while distancing yourself from trouble – i,e. making promises you can’t keep.   4.     100% trust your CAT tool to always save your precious work automatically. Configure the “Save project” function to launch regularly, and also save your stuff manually every time you take a break. CAT tools are prone to crashing within 2 hours before deadline (fact!), and then you’ll find yourself talking to the support trying a multitude of workarounds to save your docs. You’ll sit there hoping the agent can work some magic, all the time thinking that Matt Damon’s rescue from Mars was a cinch. 5.     While still moving into your new house, allow your kid to play Tetris on your computer in your garage/office, where boxes of your worldly possessions stand precipitously stacked on top of one another.   A young boy can fashion a Heath Robinson Contraption out of anything, and ultimately cause your road bike to come crashing down off its wall hanger and onto your brand new monitor.   6.     Even you hate figures, always try to do your own accounts. The self-loathing at your own ineptitude will be like a cloying smell. Don't get an accountant who knows what she’s doing.   7.    Always ignore “Don’t do lists”.   Do you have a don't do list?

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Game localization is all fun and games... until you realize how many things you need to have in mind (and at your disposal)! 💡 Need help adapting your game to the French market, but not sure how to do your part? Here is a quick guideline to put you on the right track! 😊 #LITranslators #l10n #localization #gameloc

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I presented at APTIS yesterday on Reality Check: preparing for the real world of work. I presented in my capacity as a mentor of new and established linguists looking for business skills support and business savoir faire. The unconference has been a first for me as the majority of other attendees are TLS academics, albeit a few also translate and/ or do some interpreting from time to time. I think that it has been a useful exchange of information. I have had a lot of conversations about how much support students need when they leave college from practitioners like myself and the need (in my opinion) for a safety net. I have also had some thought provoking insights into how TLS lecturers view their roles - should they just be educating or are they also supposed to be equipping students for the real world of work?

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Translators and "their" project managers: both working hard, both under pressure. And misunderstanding each other: - They want everything ASAP. - We are not robots. - They don't respond to my emails. Whose words are these? You might be surprised. #litranslators #translators #translation  #projectmanagement  #localization https://lnkd.in/ebv5MruN

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