Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Do you translate from English to French or from French to English? For which language pair(s) are you ATA certified?
Both. I’m a native French speaker and I’ve lived in the US for over 30 years. I have studied biology in both languages (undergraduate school in French and graduate school in English) and worked for 20 years as a cancer researcher in academia in the US. I’m also an ATA-certified translator for both language pairs (atanet.org/verify #486792).
As a rule, professional translators work into their native language, so my target language is more often French than English. However, for your highly technical, into-English life sciences documents where in-depth understanding of the material is critical, you might find that I’m a safer bet than a less specialized native English speaker. In that case, I will be happy to put you in touch with a native speaker colleague for proofreading or editing.
Can you notarize a translation? Do you translate birth certificates, diplomas, etc.?
No, I do not handle legal translations or personal documents. I specialize in oncology for research institutions and companies only. This allows me to offer translation services in areas where I have first-hand experience, for the best possible quality.
I need a certified translation and found you in the ATA Directory. Can you certify my personal documents?
No, I specialize in oncology for research institutions and companies and do not translate personal documents. I am an ATA-certified translator, but that does not mean that my translations are certified in the legal sense. In the United States, anyone can certify a translation. For more information, see this note from the American Translators Association: What is a Certified Translation?
Do you outsource translations?
No, I don’t outsource translations. Unless otherwise requested, I handle translation and proofreading on my own. If I’m not available or if we find that I’m not a good fit for your project, I can recommend a trusted colleague to assist you with your translation needs.
What are your rates? How are they calculated?
Rates depend on several factors, including the project type, language combination, technical complexity, deadline, and availability of reference materials. As such, I cannot quote a flat rate before reviewing the documents. Translation rates are calculated based on the number of words in the source document and include proofreading.
Additional fees may apply for other services such as in-depth pre-translation review of the materials to be translated, glossary/style guide preparation, quality assurance of the final document in its customer-ready format to make sure no information was lost or altered during DTP, etc. These additional services are typically charged by the hour. Contact me to request a quote. I will get back to you by email as soon as I can.
Do your rates include proofreading, editing or layout/DTP?
I proofread my translations carefully before returning them. If the translation needs an extra proofreading or editing step by another linguist, I can put you in touch with a colleague who will handle it independently. I don’t offer desktop publishing (DTP) services at this time but upon request, and for an hourly fee, I can verify the final document in its customer-ready format to make sure no information was lost or altered during DTP.
What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but on this site, proofreading refers to checking the translation only for any target language errors, whereas editing involves comparing source and target texts to make sure nothing was “lost in translation,” so to speak.
How long will it take you to translate my documents?
Turnaround time depends on the length and complexity of the source text, but in general I can handle around 2,500-3,000 words per day in my specialization areas. Please keep in mind that the turnaround time will also depend on my availability at the time of inquiry and on any additional services requested, besides translation.
How do you define translation?
If you are a biochemist or cell biologist, chances are the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “translation” is the process of protein synthesis. Perhaps my logo looked vaguely familiar to you? It’s a stylized representation of tRNA, a key adaptor molecule that “reads” codons on messenger RNA and brings the corresponding amino acid to the nascent peptide chain on the ribosome.
Throughout most of this website, however, “translation” refers to conveying the ideas of a written text from one language into another. Ideally, this is done in a way that is both faithful to the source and sounds natural in the target language. There is more to it than just word substitutions, and it typically takes years of study and practice for a bilingual person to become truly proficient at translation. (This is why it’s a good idea to check your translator’s credentials and certifications.)
Clinicians will, of course, understand “translational” research as the rapid application of basic science discoveries into clinical practice - a concept also known as “bench to bedside.”
