Resources & Glossaries
Disclaimer and Intent
These below 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
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
- From WASH to Protection, translating cluster language means navigating acronyms, accountability frameworks, and evolving field terms. This resource explores how to handle sectoral jargon while maintaining clarity and neutrality.
- PSEA, GBV & Safeguarding (Terminology and contextual notes for sensitive content involving protection, accountability, gender-based violence, and institutional safeguarding protocols. Precision and respect come first).
- Migration Regulation Updates 2025: What Translators Need to Know – From asylum and displacement to resettlement and integration.
- Migration mini-glossary (EN-FR)
Legal 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
- Laches
- Contract translation: from rigid to readable
- Some Terms, Traps & Workarounds
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.
- Cultural literacy : your first QA metric (EN–FR)
- Domestication and foreignization in translation
- 3 False Friends with Real Consequences
- Style, Register, and the Architecture of Meaning
- Translating “Accountability”
- Translating “Appropriate”
- Translating “Community”
- Translating “Adequate”
- Translating “Access”
- Translating “Legislation”
- Translating “Development”
Education: translating the U.S. education system (EN-FR)
How do you translate GPA, IEP, or AP classes for a French-speaking audience?
- A Comparative Look at Grade Levels
- Rights-based terminology and phrasing
- Specialized Education & IEP: terminology and nuance for translating IEPs, support frameworks, and education rights. With references to IDEA, the CRC, and the CRPD — designed for both accuracy and dignity.
Environmental Translation (EN-FR)
Resources to help navigate biodiversity policy, protected areas, and conservation targets.
The Red Pen Series
How do you calibrate tone in high-stakes translation? This resource tackles overused turns of phrase, overnominalization, register mismatches, and stylistic traps like zeugmas and janotisms.
Working With a Translator: A Guide for Clients
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.
- 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
- How the CAT tool is costing you credibility
AI & The Translator
- AI & The Translator part 1: The solo translator AI workflow
- AI & The Translator part 2: The “Zero-Dollar Workflow”
- AI & The Translator part 3: The prompts
- AI & The Translator part 4: Restricting the bot