Custom Search

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.