English to French Canadian Translation & How to Grow your Business in Canada
If you need an English to French Canadian translation, TripleTrad Canada is here to help.
Canadian French is the second most spoken language in Canada.
It is estimated that Canadian French is spoken by more than 7 million people--more than 20 percent of Canada’s entire population.
French is spoken in many places, including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut.
Canadian French has a completely different dialect from the French spoken in countries such as France or Switzerland.
Canadian French is mainly spoken in Quebec, where French is the official language.
History of Canadian French
As the mother tongue of over 7.3 million people residing in Quebec, French is considered the official as well as the most prominent language of almost 80% of the population there.
The remaining 8% of the population speaks English, whereas the 12% are “allophones” - who speak neither French nor English.
However, it’s imperative to know that the French spoken in France is way more different than the French spoken in Quebec, Canada.
Canadian French comes with its own words and characteristics, explicitly showing its unique and diverse history.
Moreover, Canadian French has different types - Quebec French (Québécois), Acadian French, and Métis French. The language has evolved over the centuries to become the second most spoken language in Canada.
Now, let’s take a look at how it all started.
Settlers from the north of France came to Canada during the seventeenth century. They led to the beginning of the French Canadian ethnicity in the country.
Over the span of the 17th and 18th centuries, these French Canadians expanded and started to live across various parts of Canada.
Types of Canadian French
It’s obvious to think about Quebec when it comes to Canadian French, as most French-speaking people reside there. However, there are other types of Canadian French too.
For instance, most people in New Brunswick (around 350,000) speak Acadian French. Moreover, the First Nations Métis people speak Metis French - a rare and endangered French dialect.
How’s Canadian French Different From Regular French?
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Canadian French Sounds More Old-Fashioned
As you read, settlers from France started to live and expand in Canada from the 16th and 17th centuries. However, the British colonised the nation and took it over from the French in the 18th century.
Although French-speaking Canadians never abandoned speaking their mother tongue, they remained isolated from French speakers from other parts of the world.
Thus, today’s Canadian French still consists of some old characteristics from the French spoken during the 17th century that have become obsolete in regular French.
The significant differences lie between the vocabulary and the pronunciation. For instance, words like froid and droit have the vowel sound that’s still pronounced the way it used to be during 17th century France.
Obsolete expressions like à cause que (because) and Mais que (as soon as) would sound old-fashioned in France but are commonly used in Canadian French.
Thus, when it comes to English to French Canadian translation services today, several people and businesses want to see whether the translator is well-familiar with these old-fashioned terms, expressions, and phrases or not.
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Canadian French Involves More Britishism
Although Canadian French may sound a bit old-fashioned, it uses more Britishism than regular French. Britishism, also referred to as Anglicisms, is English-derived words and phrases.
These can be English idioms and phrases directly converted into French, English words given and transcribed a French suffix or spelling, or English words without any alteration.
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Canadian French Uses More Indigenous Words
Canadian French involves using vocabulary with indigenous words derived from the First Nations language. For instance, you would look for “Les sandales” in European French if you wanted to buy some sandals.
However, you’d have to look for “Les babiches” - an indigenous word - in Canadian French.
So, it becomes crucial for businesses, especially those involved in marketing, to look for English to French Canadian translation services that can easily use and understand the indigenous words to target their specific audience.
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Variations in Grammar
There are some grammatical differences (both written and spoken) between Canadian French and European French. Check these examples:
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There’s a significant difference between the subject and object pronouns of Canadian French and regular French.
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Canadian French may shorten prepositions more than regular French.
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French-speaking Canadians primarily address others informally while speaking. They use the informal pronoun tu. However, for business meetings, they still use the formal Vous.
When it comes to English to French Canadian translation, especially for some crucial documentation or meetings, knowing the grammatical differences becomes essential.
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Differences in Vocabulary and Slang
Obviously, there’s a difference between the vocabulary and slang in Canadian French and European French.
For instance, if you ask about gosses to a European French dad, you’re asking him about the kids.
However, if you repeat and ask the same question to a French-speaking Canadian dad, you’d be asking him about "the condition of his testicles".
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Difference in Language Regulations and Industry-Specific Terminology
When it comes to vocabulary for specific sectors like healthcare and education, there may be a difference between the terminologies of Canadian French and regular French.
For instance, in Comparative Legal Linguistics, you’ll find that the legal system of Quebec is based on French civil law.
However, in some situations, traditional French terminologies in Canada have acquired a different meaning from what they actually mean in France.
Moreover, the different language restrictions of the two countries (Canada and France) helps in governing translation.
The most popular Charter of the French Language in Quebec helps control businesses on when and how to use English words in displays, menus, signs, and more.
However, the Toubon Law in France helps regulate the use of French in multiple business and professional contexts.
Importance of Canadian French in Business
The importance of knowing Canadian French for business depends on where you aim to do business.
For instance, if you want to start a business in Quebec, Canada, you’ll have to deal with all the documentation and provide information in the province’s official language - French.
In Article 5 of the French Language Charter, it’s stated that Quebec residents will always enjoy the freedom to get served in French, including online services over the province.
Moreover, several other parts of Canada vigorously implement the use of French during meetings, documentation, website designing, marketing, and advertisements.
If you start doing business somewhere like Quebec, where more than half the population speaks French, you’ll need to use the business name in French too.
Your website, product and service description must be understandable in Canadian French.
This is why most foreign investors who plan to set up business in Canada are now looking for professional services for English to French Canadian translation.
From website design to client communication, they will need these services everywhere.
The Emergence of English to French Canadian Translation Services
With the advent of a digitised era and industrial expansion over Canada, there has been a significant emergence of English to French Canadian translation services in the country.
More and more companies with the plan to start and/or expand business in Canada are now focusing on winning the hearts of natives and locals by establishing a sense of belongingness.
They want to translate their content from English to Canadian French with a special focus on the context.
Businesses want to translate and localise a wide range of things for their rapid growth and success over the Canadian market. These things include the company’s eCommerce store, website, or any documentation.
A wide range of booming industries, including Finance, IT, Business, Medical, Entertainment, Health, and Travel, are now looking for premium-quality English to Canadian French translation services to meet their need for market expansion.
The more localised their content, the more clients they will drive, the more revenue they will make.
Thus, the emergence of Canadian French translators has led to the need for professional native Canadians who know all the significant differences between Canadian French and European French.
Need For Professionals? TripleTrad Canada is Here!
For good English to French Canadian translation, it is important to hire qualified, experienced translators who are native speakers of Canadian French.
When you need an English to French Canadian translation, you cannot afford any mistakes or misunderstandings.
All of our translators are qualified native speakers. For Canadian French translations, we only work with native Canadian French speakers.
Our native translators are experienced in industries and areas specific to the needs of individuals, companies, and organizations/institutions.
We know how hard it can be to find an exceptional French translator when you need one. That’s where we come in: we give your international business endeavours direction and power, enabling you to be just as effectively overseas as you are locally.
We work as if we were a translation department within your own company, except you don’t need to worry about the hassles of contracting workers or finding professional translators for your business documents.
You only pay per project, with no recurring or monthly fees.
At TripleTrad Canada, we are passionate about helping your business and projects gain publicity and new audiences both locally and internationally.
If you have any questions about our French Canadian translation services, reach out to us at +1 (647) 499-1178 (Toronto area and Canada). You can also contact us on Whatsapp (click here). 🙂
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