Resources

A freely-shared body of work for the EN–FR institutional translation community — terminology, jurilinguistic analysis, and professional practice, developed over more than a decade and offered openly to fellow linguists.

Disclaimer and Intent – These resources are not a universal guide or glossary, nor a prescriptive list of equivalents. They are companions: a collection of notes, terms and phrases I’ve encountered, questioned, refined, and seen validated through coursework, mentor feedback, and professional practice. They are meant as a starting point for reflection, a shortcut to awareness, and occasionally, a red flag to revisit a source term more critically. Use them as a reference — not as a rule. Always check the context, the client’s jurisdiction, the document type, and above all, the preferred terminology and in-house equivalents.

All resources are written in English, even when they unpack French grammar, syntax and EN→FR choices, so international teams and non-French-speaking clients can share a single reference language.

Humanitarian & Development Translation

A curated reference for humanitarian, development, and global governance terminology. Built from mission reports, policy briefs, and field-tested translation work.

• Human Rights & Protection Frameworks: EN–FR Treaty Reference and Terminology Guide
• Humanitarian communication: clarity, dignity & human-centered impact
• The United Nations Humanitarian Coordination System: A Primer for Translators
• Humanitarian Coordination System EN–FR Mini-Glossary
• Translating the humanitarian principles
• Safeguarding in the Humanitarian Sector: translators as part of the protection system
• Migration Regulation Updates 2025: What Translators Need to Know

Legal & Jurilinguistic Translation

This section explores some legal concepts without direct equivalents, and how translators navigate civil law, common law, and in-betweens.

• What Clients Should Know Before Asking for Legal Translation
• Legal systems don’t match
• Translating Laches:
• Reading the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters (PPED) backwards: What the draft FR articles say that the EN don’t
• Translating “Legislation”

Meaning & Misfires: Navigating Language Precision

Exploring the nuanced terrain of translation where meaning risks misfiring (false cognates, institutional ambiguities, culturally bound expressions, etc.). These articles delve into conceptual accuracy, idiomatic precision, and pragmatic equivalence in EN–FR.

• 3 False Friends with Real Consequences
• Translating “Accountability”
• Translating “Appropriate”
• Translating “Community”
• Translating “Adequate”
• Translating “Access”
• Translating “Development”

The Craft

Let’s talk tools and method.

• Cultural literacy : your first QA metric (EN–FR)
• Domestication and foreignization in translation
• Style, Register, and the Architecture of Meaning
• Glossary Building: From Project List to Career Termbase

Education Systems in Translation (EN–FR)

How do you translate GPA, IEP, or AP classes for a French-speaking audience?

• A Comparative Look at Grade Levels

Environmental & Biodiversity Translation (EN–FR)

Resources to help navigate biodiversity policy, protected areas, and conservation targets.

• Environmental & Climate Agreements: A Quick Reference for Translators
• Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework: My Journey
• Climate & Biodiversity EN–FR Glossary
• Land Tenure vs. Water Tenure: Conceptual & Linguistic Differences (EN–FR)

For Clients: Working With a Translator

A practical resource for clients seeking accurate, long-term, and voice-consistent translation support. Includes tips on choosing a linguist, contract types, and how to get the best value from collaboration.

• Translation Decision Record: a sample of what you receive with every delivery
• The power of retainers
• It’s never just translation
• The true cost of cutting corners on translation
• More than polish
• Experts/NGO collaboration: a win-win for impactful outputs
• Embracing the power of collaboration: a game-changing approach for translators and clients
• Legal translation or why you should use a specialized legal translator
• Why choose professional translators?
• Working with a translator: when the project manager checks out
• The Staccato Effect
• The CAT tool is costing you credibility