| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Translating a multilingual document into English Thread poster: Anna Aresi
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Anna Aresi
United States
Local time: 23:40
English to Italian
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Hi, I need to translate a document that is originally written in two languages, Italian and French, but was issued by Italy and I am a translator from Italian. Both the Italian and the French text say the same things, the French being a translation of the Italian. Should I leave it in French in the translation or just translate the Italian into English leaving out the repetition in French? Thanks!
| | | | MollyRose 
United States
Local time: 22:40
English to Spanish
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| language list | Dec 2, 2020 |
Without knowing the situation, I think they want it in all three languages on the same document, so that the readers may read the text in their language. So just put your translation at the end (or between Italian and French). To be sure, I suggest that you ask the client how they want it done, exactly.
| | | | Sadek_A
Local time: 07:40
English to Arabic
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Write between say, square brackets, in the middle of the page that the respective source text paragraph's content is the exact same as the previous (or, next) target text paragraph's content, but in French.
[Paragraph -- : same content as the immediate paragraph above (or, below), only delivered in French within the source document]
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In order to try to help you, could you please answer the following questions: Why was the document originally written in two languages? Was it really issued by Italy? As far as I know the only country in Europe that has French and Italian as official languages is Switzerland…
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Anna Aresi
United States
Local time: 23:40
English to Italian
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TOPIC STARTER | Document issued by Italy | Dec 2, 2020 |
Hi, thank you so much! Yes, the document was issued by Italy. they don't do it anymore but they used to have them in French as well, maybe it was a European thing or something? Anyway it is an Italian vital record which they need at the town clerk to amend a name; the person was born in Italy but her name was changed in the naturalization process and now she has different documents with different spellings but in order to change the American documents they need the original birth certificate + t... See more Hi, thank you so much! Yes, the document was issued by Italy. they don't do it anymore but they used to have them in French as well, maybe it was a European thing or something? Anyway it is an Italian vital record which they need at the town clerk to amend a name; the person was born in Italy but her name was changed in the naturalization process and now she has different documents with different spellings but in order to change the American documents they need the original birth certificate + translation on file. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anna Aresi
United States
Local time: 23:40
English to Italian
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TOPIC STARTER
In fact I should rectify, it's not bilingual in that the two languages are on the same plane, rather the document is in Italian and then it's translated into French in smaller font underneath each line. Sorry if this is confusing, but when you glance at it it's very obvious that it's an Italian document with a French translation.
| | | | Sadek_A
Local time: 07:40
English to Arabic
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I understood what you meant the first time, and my suggestion remains valid (by replacing the word "paragraph" with the word "line"; but, perhaps without numbering for the lines).
I'm familiar with the topic because some of the Indian documents that always came across me included Devanāgarī+English.
However, unlike French that can be confused with Italian by the non-speaker, Devanāgarī is a totally different writing that can NOT be confused with English whatsoever (... See more I understood what you meant the first time, and my suggestion remains valid (by replacing the word "paragraph" with the word "line"; but, perhaps without numbering for the lines).
I'm familiar with the topic because some of the Indian documents that always came across me included Devanāgarī+English.
However, unlike French that can be confused with Italian by the non-speaker, Devanāgarī is a totally different writing that can NOT be confused with English whatsoever (so, the square brackets note wasn't really required in that case).
You will be incorporating said note just to assure the reader of the English translation that no part of the source was omitted nor neglected.
Needless to say, you have to be 100% sure it's French and saying the exact same thing as the Italian. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Again? Why don't you ask the customer first? | Dec 3, 2020 |
Always ask the customer about such things
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Anna Aresi
United States
Local time: 23:40
English to Italian
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TOPIC STARTER | I did but she didn't know! | Dec 3, 2020 |
Paweł Hamerski wrote:
Always ask the customer about such things
I did, but it's a private client unfamiliar with the process and she had no idea. I managed however to find out the office that will receive the translation, and I will call them today to ask as well.
| | | | Anna Aresi
United States
Local time: 23:40
English to Italian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
I'm familiar with the topic because some of the Indian documents that always came across me included Devanāgarī+English.
However, unlike French that can be confused with Italian by the non-speaker, Devanāgarī is a totally different writing that can NOT be confused with English whatsoever (so, the square brackets note wasn't really required in that case).
You will be incorporating said note just to assure the reader of the English translation that no part of the sour... See more I'm familiar with the topic because some of the Indian documents that always came across me included Devanāgarī+English.
However, unlike French that can be confused with Italian by the non-speaker, Devanāgarī is a totally different writing that can NOT be confused with English whatsoever (so, the square brackets note wasn't really required in that case).
You will be incorporating said note just to assure the reader of the English translation that no part of the source was omitted nor neglected.
Needless to say, you have to be 100% sure it's French and saying the exact same thing as the Italian.
[/quote]
Thank you so much! I am inclined to do life you suggest and, yes, I know French and I am 100% sure that it's French. I also managed to obtain the phone number and name of the contact person for the office that will receive the translation, so I'll contact them directly and ask. Basically what I was wondering was if there was a standard way of doing this, but it doesn't look like it which is mainly what I wanted to know, also for future reference. Thank you again! ▲ Collapse
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In Belgium there are three official languages: French, Flemish and German. I lived there for 30 years (I moved back to Portugal three years ago) and I was a sworn translator but only for French-Portuguese. So, when faced with official documents issued in more than one language (usually it’s French + Flemish or French + German, side by side in two columns) I translated only from French and made a note saying that though I translated from French the original document was also written in another ... See more In Belgium there are three official languages: French, Flemish and German. I lived there for 30 years (I moved back to Portugal three years ago) and I was a sworn translator but only for French-Portuguese. So, when faced with official documents issued in more than one language (usually it’s French + Flemish or French + German, side by side in two columns) I translated only from French and made a note saying that though I translated from French the original document was also written in another language. Hope this is useful… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Anna Aresi
United States
Local time: 23:40
English to Italian
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TOPIC STARTER
Teresa Borges wrote: Hope this is useful…
Yes, thank you!
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Sadek_A
Local time: 07:40
English to Arabic
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You're most welcome.
The only reasonable concern with this document is that the US clerk(s) responsible for processing might suspect (deliberate) omission (on account of their very likely inability to speak French) and refuse to process, in which case the client will have to get back to you resulting in inconveniences for all involved parties.
Good luck.
| | | | | Val d'Aosta Region | Dec 21, 2020 |
Anna Aresi wrote:
Hi, thank you so much! Yes, the document was issued by Italy. they don't do it anymore but they used to have them in French as well, maybe it was a European thing or something? Anyway it is an Italian vital record which they need at the town clerk to amend a name; the person was born in Italy but her name was changed in the naturalization process and now she has different documents with different spellings but in order to change the American documents they need the original birth certificate + translation on file.
French is also official in the Region Val d'Aosta, like German in Trentino Alto Adige Region. So sometimes there are documents written in French and/or German other than Italian.
[Edited at 2020-12-21 10:49 GMT]
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Teresa Borges wrote:
In order to try to help you, could you please answer the following questions: Why was the document originally written in two languages? Was it really issued by Italy? As far as I know the only country in Europe that has French and Italian as official languages is Switzerland…
Generally speaking French and German can be considered official languages together with Italian also in Italy, that's because French is official in Val d'Aosta Region, and German in Trentino Alto Adige.
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