Not sure how to go about this................................ ??

[Gino]

Just had a customer ask me about making some signs. I think there will be 20 signs all saying the same thing, but then 20 signs in spanish and 20 signs in french. They are going to supply me with the spanish translation, but can't do it for the french.

First, is there just one french translation, unlike spanish which has many translations ??
Next, is there anyone here who could translate it for me, once I have how it will read ??


Gino

 

[Notarealsignguy]

I will gladly translate it for you as long as you tell me what the customer thinks of it

 

[RandyDe]

Most French is similar mind you there are differences in some wording which is usually Geographically determined. (ie, Parisian French vs Montreal French).

 

[Stacey K]

I took French in high school. I can only help you if they want to the sign to say "I play tennis" or "pants". I remember nothing else. Hope that helps! LOL

 

[Zoogee World]

As mentioned above, for French the wording is mainly the same, however it can differ slightly depending where it's going, if it's only for the North American market, you should be fine sticking to one version, the hurdle will be if going to Europe.

 

[Gino]

I just talked with the customer. They are for canadian truck drivers coming down with deliveries here in southeast PA.

 

[Zoogee World]

Then the one version will be fine, as even those from Quebec can understand standard Canadian French. Just don't use google translate by itself if you go that route, have a French speaker / reader proof read for you. It frustrates me some times when I read something in French that I know was just quickly translated and done poorly and I wonder why the "H" they used those words.

 

[netsol]

i took 4 years of high school german
i know how to ask for directions to the library, and when watching "stalag 17" i had no problem following the pithy banter between the guards

seriously, though, you can generally understand when you overhear someone else's conversation, but you will never reach the point where you ""think in" that language unless you live in the country for a while

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Maybe this will help you?

 

[Zoogee World]

Maybe this will help you?

Lol, I do say sorry too much and love maple syrup.

 

[Gino]

So, is there anyone on this forum, that if I give you the english version, you can write it in french ??

 

[RandyDe]

So, is there anyone on this forum, that if I give you the english version, you can write it in french ??

Notarealsignguy Said they'd translate for you. If that doesn't work out pass it along to me and I'll have my wife do it for you.

 

[Baptiste repro]

I'm french so if you want to send me the sentences, I can translate for you

 

[Gino]

Thank you all. When I get the wording, I'll pass it along to you.

As for notareal..... he barely speaks english. He cannot speak or write french.

 

[petepaz]

 

[JBurton]

I took French in high school. I can only help you if they want to the sign to say "I play tennis" or "pants". I remember nothing else. Hope that helps! LOL

Mootard! Omelet du fromage!
But really, I'd punch this into google translate, send it to the customer for approval, and be upfront that google did this for you. They'll likely tell you "it looks good from my house," or perhaps they'll do the right thing and send it to a french canadian trucker for verification...

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Google translate is terrible at giving road instructions. It's readable but it'd be like you rolling up to a stop sign that says DONT GO, or a Speed limit sign saying maximum velocity

 

[bob]

Not your problem. Don't ever, as in ever, write copy. Including doing translations. Tell the client that this isn't a service you can provide, that you do signs, the client writes the copy. Creating copy is almost guaranteed to bite you in the a$$.

 

[White Haus]

I just talked with the customer. They are for canadian truck drivers coming down with deliveries here in southeast PA.

I'll tell you right now, probably only 1% of our truck drivers speak French, or English for that matter.......

Sounds like you've gotten some offers already. I'd offer to translate for you, but proper French isn't my forté, despite half my family being French and having attended French school my whole life.

 

[White Haus]

Most French is similar mind you there are differences in some wording which is usually Geographically determined. (ie, Parisian French vs Montreal French).

Don't forget Franco-Manitobain, which is probably somewhere in the middle of Parisien and Québécois.