tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7687214552942457312.post-30118142344268858132008-03-19T10:22:00.000-04:002008-03-19T10:25:03.701-04:00When people first find out that I speak more than one language, I often get asked "Don't you get confused?"<br /><br />It's as if the fact that I speak two languages is a hardship. Actually, quite the opposite is true. It's a gift. Having a second vocabulary <em>opens up</em> the world to me, it doesn't shrink it.<br /><br />I admit, when I was a kid, I did sometimes mix my languages.<br />Notice I didn't say mix <strong><em>UP</em></strong>.<br />I combined them not, because I was confused, but because I was choosing just the right word that fit the meaning I wanted to convey. And sometimes that word happened to be in a different language than the one I started my sentence in!<br />Luckily, my parents pretty quickly made it clear: "Finish your sentence in the same language you started it in!" It was another exercise in finding the right word in the particular language I was speaking in.<br /><br />Now, some languages are just more precise in certain concepts than others are. <a href="http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bios/askus3.htm">Take the Inuit who have over 200 words for our word "snow,"</a> describing all its different facets.<br /><br />So what does this have to do with Voice Over?<br />A lot actually.<br />As a voice over artist, I work with words every day.<br />All types of words: silly words, sales words, medical words, technical words. They all convey a meaning.<br /><br />My job is to bring that meaning to life.<br />As voice talent, we're not just reading, we're telling a story, and to do that well you need the right words.<br /><br />This is not as obvious as it seems, especially when you're dealing with a script that was translated incorrectly.<br /><br />I often record bilingual scripts - one version of the script in English, the second in French. Sometimes the translations leave something to be desired.<br /><br />So here's my advise: If you need to have a script translated, use a professional translator.<br /><br />Do not use "Sophie in HR" who happens speak French. Or "Maria in A/R" who happens to speak Spanish.<br /><br />I speak French fluently, but when it comes to translations, if a client asks me for that service, I provide it by working closely with a professional translator to make sure that my client gets the best and most accurate script possible.<br /><br />Yes, it makes my voicing of the script a lot easier.<br />But, more importantly, using the right words will make my client look and sound good to their clients. And happy clients are always a good thing!Liz de Nesnerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02363365876367348855noreply@blogger.com