Need a formal letter translated

[Lori]

Though I can type this up myself, I know that French letter etiquette

is rather formal and I'm sure I will screw up something.  I have a

one page letter addressed to a foreign Consulate located just outside

of Paris.  I know of a Licensed French Translator in Avignon, but

she is quite busy and will take several days to get to my letter.

Does anyone know of a translator whom I might be able to fax or email

the letter to for translation service?  I am happy to pay. 

If any of you feel you are up to the task, I can PM you with the letter

for you to review.  It is really quite basic and not long. 

I'm just not confident enough with formal letter writing to give it a

go.

I'd like to post the letter tomorrow or Thursday priority mail.  Any suggestions would be most appreciated !

Lori

[Logan]

Try this link. I realise they may not be word/etiquette perfect but it's quick. www.freetranslation.com/

[derf]

Before you cough up any cash have a look at this link: http://www.askoxford.com/languages/fr/french_letters/?view=uk

[Lori]

Logan - thanks I have several sites that do the online software type

translation.  I was hoping for a real person as I have seen many

inaccuracies in the software translations.  The site you offered

wanted 55.10 Euros to have a translator translate my letter.  A

bit steep for me.  If that is what it cost, I will have to do it

myself and take my chances.

Derf - your link is most helpful as it looks like I will need to do

this myself.  The letter layout is a main issue for me.  U.S.

letter form, from my notation, is not quite the same as the French

style.  Your website will help me give it a go.

Thanks to you both.

Lori

[Teamedup]

In places like Carrefour you can get something like 1000 official letters in french on a cd. All you have to do is chose the one that suits your needs best and add your details more or less. All done in very literary french so that they seem to make as much sense to me as legal text does. I can't rememeber the one we have being very expensive.

[Lori]

Teamedup - Thanks for that.  Sounds like a pretty handy CD to have

on file.  I'll look for it next time I am at Auchan and/or

Carrefour.  In the meantime, I gave it my best shot.  I think

it will be okay. 

It isn't every day I write a letter to a foreign Consulate.

[PeterG]

You could try this web site http://www.thewordsmith.cjb.net/ They claim to be a non-profit making organisatiion.

Peter

[Lori]

PeterG - Wow if that website actually does what it says, I'd be really

surprised.  Since a very kind forum member PM'd me and cleaned up

my rather sad letter into a lovely professional one, I no longer need

assistance at this time.  However, I bookmarked PeterG's site for

future help.  I can't imagine why anyone would do this for free,

on a regular basis.  There must be some catch to it.....??? 

Or am I just cynical??

Thanks to all for your help.  It is a great comfort to know the forum is here. 

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="PeterG"]

You could try this web site http://www.thewordsmith.cjb.net/ They claim to be a non-profit making organisatiion.

Peter

[/quote]

That is so weird.  I wonder what he gets out of it?  I know there are people out there who are simply benevolent, which is lovely, but as someone who translates professionaly, I can tell you that it's a lot of work for long documents.  I can't imagine making the offer of free translation services available to all comers!  Unless he's independently wealthy and just enjoys doing this?

Of course, the sick-humored side of me wonders if he doesn't provide you with a document that reads like Monty Python's Hungarian Phrase Book?

PG

[Alex H]

One of the pop-ups that appears on that site is WinFixer - its spyware [:(]

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="Tandem_Pilot"]One of the pop-ups that appears on that site is WinFixer - its spyware [:(]

[/quote]

Ah ha!  That explains a lot.

PG