French Translation Services

French is truly a global language. It is the first or official language of over 200 million people worldwide and is the spoken language of more than 301 million people in Europe, Africa, North America, South America and the Carribean, the Near and Middle East, Asia and Oceania. It is one of six official languages used by the United Nations and its agencies. And it is one of two official languages used by the International Olympic Committee in all its official documents and at events.

This enormous number of Francophone speakers and countries indicates the huge economic value of the language for companies interested in international markets. Fluent communications in French can also undoubtedly attract numerous potential consumers in a rapidly growing global market; and individuals and NGOs working in the domain of international development, or businesses and contractors involved in international sporting events.

In Canada, French is one of 2 official languages, and this means that by law, all government and many corporate and consumer documents have to be available in 2 languages. 

French is also considered one of the critical languages for doing business in Canada, developing markets in French-speaking Africa and the Carribean. It is prevalent in mass media and management, where communications with the growing number of Francophone communities and employees are of great importance to business. The importance of French in business and NGOs has been increasing for many years due to the significant production of raw materials and industrial and agricultural products in Francophone countries, development and humanitarian work around the globe, and the importance of France within the European Union. We can observe the immense international evolution and recognition of the French language within the globalized market.

Although French is a widespread international language, there are local variations with cultural nuances depending on the region. Providing a translation into localized French can be challenging. For instance, while language structure may adhere to traditional French grammatical rules around the world, there can be real differences in vocabulary at the local level. There is no greater example of this than the difference between French Canadian and European French. While the French have absorbed over recent decades a liberal attitude in adopting many English terms – particularly, from the tech sector – French Canadian has tended to shy away from Franglais, being protective of its French heritage. Many francophone African countries also have their own slang and influence of local African dialects. For this reason, it is important to use a translator who knows the local terms and expressions and can translate your text into a language that resonates with the audience the translation is targeting.