Services

I provide translations of French text into English. Below, you’ll find out more about my services as well as answers to some frequently asked questions. If you can’t find the answer to your question, please contact me.

If you have never purchased a translation before, you may be interested in reading this guide, published by the American Translators Association.

  1. What languages do you translate?
  2. Do you offer interpretation services?
  3. Where are you based?
  4. What do you translate?
  5. How does translation work?
  6. Do you offer other services besides translation?
  7. How fast can you deliver my translated file?
  8. How much does translation cost?
  9. What type of payment do you accept?

1. What languages do you translate?

I translate from French into American English.

2. Do you offer interpretation services?

No. I only work with the written word. However, I may be able to put you in contact with an interpretor. Please contact me.

3. Where are you based?

I am a French to English translator based in Guadeloupe (GMT-4), an overseas département of France located in the Eastern Caribbean. I offer English translations for Guadeloupe, and the rest of the French West Indies, including Martinique, St. Barth, and St. Martin. I also work with clients and agencies in the United States and Europe.

4. What do you translate?

I specialize in business/commercial and political economy translations, with an interest in maritime translations. I also have good experience translating technical documents and advertising/marketing materials. Some recent projects include:

I translate a variety of documents. Here are some examples:
  • advertising/marketing materials
  • birth certificates
  • call for proposals
  • diplomas
  • financial statements
  • food product labels
  • instruction booklets
  • legal contracts/agreements
  • market analysis
  • material safety data sheets
  • press releases
  • progress reports
  • sales presentations
  • survey reports
  • technical specifications
  • travel brochures
  • websites

5. How does translation work?

It’s easy to integrate translation into your workflow. Here are the two most common methods:

image of translation in two-column table formAt the most basic, you send me the text and I deliver a translation in a MS Word document with a two-columned table: the original text in one column, and the translation in the other.

image of translation as document to documentWhen the format of the original document must be maintained in the translation, you simply send me the document(s), and I deliver a translation in the exact same format.

6. Do you offer other services besides translation?

Yes! I also offer English editing, proofreading, and copywriting services.

Editing
Correcting and revising texts written in English to ensure correct grammatical and lexical use, consistency, and to remove “Frenchisms.” Elements of style are addressed.

Proofreading
Correcting and revising texts written in English to remove simple typos or “false friends.” Ensuring integrity of the translation in relation to the original document.

Copywriting
Writing original texts, rather than creating a translation. For example, advertising texts, which often employ highly figurative language to convey a certain feeling or evoke a certain image in a specific audience, should be rewritten instead of translated.

If your project requires something not listed here, please contact me.

7. How fast can you deliver my translated file?

Three factors determine delivery times:

The number of words in the text
Volume is usually the main factor in determining turnaround time. Generally, I can translate 1,500-2,500 words per day and edit 1,000-3,000 words per day.

The difficulty of the text
Texts with highly specialized vocabulary or terminology will increase the turnaround time. Texts that require significant target audience adaptation - such as in advertising or marketing - may also increase the turnaround time. Texts that are precisely-written and clear facilitate the translation process.

The form of the text
A fully editable document - a MSWord document or an HTML file - will require less time to translate since software can automatically handle page formatting or tags in the original document. Non-editable documents - an Adobe PDF file, a scanned hard copy - will require more time to translate since formatting must be produced manually.

Whatever the job, you can be sure that I’ll work hard to help you meet your deadlines.

8. How much does translation cost?

I offer competitive rates for my services. Work is charged by the word or by the hour, depending on the type of service. While I can’t give you an estimate without seeing your project, here is what you can expect:

Contact me to receive a free quote.

9. What type of payment do you accept?

I accept payment by bank transfer, check, and PayPal.

Do you have a question not listed here?

Please contact me.