Julien Boulay

Welcome

Certified translator (Canada)

Small is beautiful

I have a proven ability in the translation of general, administrative or technical texts, which usually needs no further revision. I have been providing quality translations for several years with the Government of Canada’s Translation Bureau and the Ontario government.

Since 1991

French-English

Translation or proofreading of your documentation to and from French or English in the MS-Office and editable PDF formats.

Quality

You can be assured that the document to be translated will be handled with a knowledge of your industry. I will never undertake translation work beyond my knowledge or capacity. I have been providing quality translations for several years with the Government of Canada’s Translation Bureau and the Ontario government.

The Details

I have terminology resources which are comprehensive and up-to-date. I take into account the particular terminology used in the industry for which you have prepared your original texts, as well as your readership audience.
More than just translation, I adopt an overall approach which also takes into account the level and tone of the source language, and the cultural profile of your readers.
I apply a thorough quality control, with no additional revision needed. Consequently, you can meet your publishing deadlines.
I hold the Certified Translator (Canada) - CTIC - FIT accreditation, qualifications which are recognized by law. My professional order, OTTIAQ, and my other professional association ATIO have, as their primary objective the protection of the general public.

A responsive approach to customer service, founded on courtesy and respect.
A strict compliance with agreed-upon deadlines, and no unpleasant surprises.
Absolute confidentiality which covers all work performed or supplied documentation.
Very reasonable rates, well-received for more than 31 years in the marketplace.
Your best quality guarantee: I like this line of work!

Translation is available in the MS-Office and editable PDF formats.

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Why translate?

Imagine a world without translators: How would we communicate with each other? With nearly 7,000 languages spoken around the globe, trade and cultural exchange would be impossible. Leaders of nations could not talk to each other. Scientific discoveries could not be shared. Books could be read only by those who speak the author's language. Cross-border traffic would come to a halt. Breaking news would reach only a select few. The Olympic Games could not be held. Nations in distress would not receive assistance from more fortunate ones.

The professional translators, interpreters and terminologists represented by FIT member associations build bridges between cultures and facilitate communication that creates prosperity and cultural enrichment. They are brokers of peace and mutual understanding. They open national literatures to the world. They make international assistance in disaster areas possible. They are the voice of politicians, religious and intellectual leaders, and all other people who influence our daily lives. They are gatekeepers of information. They are cultural ambassadors. They are absolutely indispensable.

Thanks to translators, interpreters and terminologists, peoples around the world can preserve their cultural heritage while being active participants in the "global village". Cultural diversity makes our world a better place, but we have to understand each other in order to avoid international conflicts and to help each other in times of need. We have to understand each other to appreciate our cultural differences. […]

Dr Jiri Stejskal

Working with a Translator

What to expect?

So you want to have something translated, and you don't know what to expect? Here are some tips. They apply not only to freelance translators and translation firms, but in many cases to your organization's own in-house translators.

Decide on the subject field of the document you want translated. What languages is the document to be translated from and into? Most translators work from one or more languages but only into their mother tongue.

Once you have a telephone number to call, you can simplify things for yourself and the translator if you have some information on hand. Some questions the translator is likely to ask:

What is the document about? Committee minutes, a newsletter article, a guide for an exhibition, a maintenance manual?
How long is it? You should at least be able to say how many pages it is. If you have the document on disk, most word-processing programs can count it for you, and you can tell the translator how many words it contains. This is the most accurate way of measuring the "length" of a document.
Is it an update of something that has already been done? A revised version of an information brochure, for instance? If so, you could save yourself some money_it may not be necessary to translate the whole document, but only the parts that have changed.
Do you have any background information? A glossary put out by your company or organization, similar publications, the books or articles that the author of the document referred to in writing it?
Will the author or someone else familiar with the document be available to answer questions?
When do you need it for? Remember that in many cases, the translator's rate will reflect the urgency of the request. If you call in a plumber for overnight or weekend work, you'll pay extra--the same applies for a translator!
Can you provide it in computerized format? This can simplify the final formatting for you and the translator.
Could you fax a few representative pages, or the table of contents? This will give the translator a better idea of how long the job will take and make it that much easier to give you an accurate price quote.

And some questions you may want to ask:

What experience does he or she have in this field (other customers, studies, previous non-translation work experience)?
Translators can also revise work that has been written by you or anyone else. What rate does he or she charge for revision?
Does he or she bill by the word or by the hour, and what is the rate, in either case?
Would you like an estimate in writing before the translator begins the work?
What is included? Proofreading, for instance? What is the procedure if you have some last-minute changes, or minor changes after the work is delivered?
Can the translator work with the word-processing software you use?
Would you like a printed copy of the translation, or is a faxed copy or an e-mailed file enough?

And finally, some food for thought:

When you're dealing with a translator outside your company, you may wish to sign a simple contract. There's no harm in asking for something in writing. For long jobs, you may wish to agree on partial deliveries (and partial payments) along the way.
It never hurts to have someone in your company or unit look over the finished translation. You may have your own in-house jargon or turns of phrase, which the translator has no way of knowing. Any proposed changes should be checked with the translator, of course, to make sure that they are grammatical.
Be sure to allow enough time for your translation. A translator's output will rise or fall substantially depending on the difficulty of the text and the translator's experience in the field. Also keep in mind that translators--even in-house translators--are often working on several jobs at once, and may not be able to get to yours right away. Give as much notice as possible of an upcoming job so you can be slotted into the translator's schedule.
As a rule, translators are usually not word-processing experts or graphic artists. Don't expect a ready-to-print document, although some translators, such as myself, can come close.

Contact

Julien Boulay, Certified Translator (Canada)
Member OTTIAQ - ATIO - CTTIC - FIT
Getting a wider audience for your message, since 1991

Telephone: 514-791-0330
Email: julien@boulay.ca