French Translation Services
Translators
There are several thousand translators in the country, most associated with one of three associations, all of which have lists of translators and translation agencies:
- Translators' French Society [Societefrancaise des traducteurs] and the National Union of Professional Translators [Syndicat national des traducteurs professionnels en France (SFT)], 22 rue des Martyrs, 75009 Paris, Tel: 01 48784332, www.sft.fr.
- French Literary Translators' Association [Association des traducteurs litteraires de France (ATLF)], 99 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, Tel: 01 45492644, www.atlf.fr.
- International centre for drama translation [ Centre international de la traduction thedtrale], Maison Antoine Vitez, 2733 av. Albert Einstein, Domaine de Grammont, 34000 Montpellier, Tel: 04 67224305, www.maisonhantoinevitez.fr, contact@maisonantoinevitezfr.
Many translators and translation agencies offer specialised services, such as in law or medicine. Registered translators [traducteurs agrees] offer services approved by governmental agencies, as required in official applications.
Translation Software
Automatic translation by computer has yet to equal translation by a capable person, but today's translation software indeed will help you understand a text in a language that you don't read well. Two French software houses offer translation software that is widely used across the country:
- Softissimo offers the Collins bilingual electronic dictionaries and the Reverse translation software that may be tested free at www.reverso.net. Head office: 33 avenue Mozart, 75016 Paris, Tel: 01 56752525, www.softissimo.com.
- Systran, with many online solutions, including those powering automatic translation on Internet sites, such as Babel Fish at babelfish.altavista.com/translate.dyn, as well as desktop products; head office: Paroi Nord - La Grande Arche, 1 Parvis de la Defense, 92044 Paris La Defense Cedex, Tel: 01 825801080, www.systransoft.com.
