The lesser-known challenges in French translation
An international peer-reviewed study published in February 2025 surveyed the rising influence of Chinese literature among Portuguese-speaking people. The study revealed a heightened interest in Chinese history and cultural elements among readers. The Portuguese-speaking readers were able to appreciate the skill of translation in bringing foreign texts closer to them for consumption. They were able to notice that even the most intricate details of Chinese society were brilliantly captured and converted for better understanding. Furthermore, it helped dispel previously held Chinese stereotypes. The study concluded by calling for more translation services to connect different regions of the world, especially against the largely globalized backdrop we see today.
Cultural sensitivity in translation does not merely apply to artistic literary endeavors. It is actually a prerequisite in any genre of translation. Only then can effective and mutual understanding between the source and the recipient of the message be guaranteed.
Much like Portuguese, another Romance language which often struggles to be fully understood in translation is French. Its musical quality sets it apart as one of the most cadence-rich spoken languages. In written form, although French uses the same script as English, which is the Latin alphabet, its symbols, accents, and norms are subtly unique. This makes French a challenging language to work with. Let us now explore how such challenges present themselves in translation.
The inhibition created by ‘false friends’
In linguistic terminology, the phrase ‘false friend’ refers to words in a source language which look and sound similar to words in the target language, but they have entirely different meanings. For example, the word ‘eventual’ in English means ‘something which happens at the end of a process’. So, one might be tempted to assume that ‘eventuelle’ in French means the same. It does not. ‘Eventuelle’ actually means ‘possible’ in French.
If mishandled by an incompetent translator, the consequences of yielding to false friends are great. Interpersonal equations can be affected. Business relations can also fall through. It reflects poorly on the individual, group, or organization when such embarrassing errors in translation find their way into formal text.
There have been cases where these errors, which were not caught in time, have made it to mainstream media, resulting in huge losses. Product names and taglines, which were already the result of high-budget production, have had to be taken down and recalled. The recovery is not too promising either, since the damage is done when the content takes to prominent media channels. Linguistic proficiency is, therefore, a non-negotiable qualification when it comes to English-to-French and French-to-English translation.
The requirement of ‘periphrasis’
The French language consists of words that do not have English synonyms and must therefore be explained using several English words. Conversely, certain English words do not have single-word replacements in French and require longer more roundabout phrasing. This is called periphrasis. For example, the English sentence “He is effective” is best translated as “Il réussit professionnellement” which means “He succeeds professionally”.
In this instance, a beginner learning French or an inept translator might substitute the direct equivalent of “effective”. However, translation goes far beyond replacing words in one language with those of another. It involves contextual understanding of the message in its source language and independently constructing the same message in the target language. The sensibilities implied in the target language are also taken into consideration. Sense-for-sense translation is therefore more appropriate than word-for-word translation and a reputed translation provider would know the difference.
The complexities of gender and number
Grammatical gender is a cornerstone in the French language. The same is true of numbers (i.e., whether the noun is singular or plural). Understanding the gender of French nouns does not happen using a foundational formula. Only seasoned users of the language are sensitive to it. In fact, native speakers of French themselves admit to finding the rules of French grammar chaotic. It takes a professional translator with a keen eye to render such details in translation.
Masculine nouns typically have a ‘-eau’ suffix, as in ‘le château’ (or ‘castle’ in English). The article ‘le’ denotes the masculine gender of the noun here. The plural of ‘le château’ is ‘les châteaux’. Similarly, the French word for ‘pharmacy’ is ‘la pharmacie’ and its plural form is ‘les pharmacies’.
Both gender and number must always be specified along with the noun each time the noun is mentioned. If the subject-verb agreement is broken, the sentence structure is broken. An unbalanced sentence structure can lead to misinterpretation, and in legal contexts, it can cost a dear price.
In this way, it is generally wise to enlist the services of a professional translation provider when involving a gendered language (like French) and a gender-neutral one (like English).
The varying shades of French dialects
Dialects are variants of the same language that are unique to a particular region within a country. As of 2022, over 300 million people in the world speak French. This number is inclusive of native and non-native speakers. Internationally, at least 75 dialects of French are recognized. Each dialect features regional nuances and variations in tone.
These variations are the result of different factors, one of which is physical geography. The mountain ranges, rivers, and open seas of France have played a significant role in keeping its dialects free of external influences. This has affected the way traditions and customs have come to be within its borders. French is influenced by the practices, professions, and general outlook of its people. Accordingly, the French vocabulary is particularly rich in contexts of agriculture and marine activities. Climatic conditions and soil profiles are referred to using precise terminology, which is not interchangeable.
Translations from and to the French language must comply with the exact word match in the target language. Certified translators, having scholarly knowledge of the historical framework of the French language, will be able to make the right distinction. When it comes to an international business group engaging with clientele in France, Canada, Belgium, Africa, and India, the French dialect used in each of these regions must be observed.
Acknowledging these challenges in French translation, remember to account for the norms, subtleties, and variations when it comes to your translation needs. At Al Resala Legal Translation Services, we do that according to Hoyle.
