Michael Forrest

Technical translations German and French into English

Welcome

Being at the forefront of innovation in your niche is a huge achievement. Don’t cut corners by leaving the translation of your technical documentation, manuals, interfaces and software to amateurs or, worse still, to machine translation. It’s one thing to understand the meaning of words, but this does not mean understanding the processes and equipment involved. Often, the translation of technical documentation is an afterthought or is considered a cost factor. In truth, this is not the area to be taking shortcuts, as it has a direct effect on your corporate image, on how your product is perceived and on back-office costs.

If you are looking for a partner who takes the necessary time and invests effort and energy to research and understand your technologies and processes, then look no further.

With over 30 years of experience writing and translating technical documentation, I offer a turnkey solution to ensure that all your products are communicated accurately, clearly and concisely to English-speaking audiences. As an Irish national and a Canadian citizen, I translate into both European and North American variants of English, having lived and worked for many years in both Europe and Canada.

SERVICES

Technical translation from French and German into English

Adaptation from European to North American English
and vice versa

Proofreading
and editing

Multilingual
project consulting

DOCUMENTATION HANDLED

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Mechanical
engineering

aerospace, automation, automotive, CAD

Civil
engineering

design, construction, maintenance, public works, structures and materials

Architecture and
construction

design, planning, project management, building

Environmental
engineering

circular economy, wastewater management, solid waste management, drinking water treatment

Electrical
engineering

design and installation of electrical equipment and devices

Mining

exploration and excavation of minerals, metallurgy, geotechnical applications, surveying

IT and
software

online help, printed manuals, white papers, webpages

TRANSLATION PROCESS

In many cases, time is of the essence and this can be problematic, especially if you have a product launch or a presentation to prepare with a set deadline. So, first off, I talk to my clients to find out more about their expectations and how much time I have to deliver their project.

Rest assured that once we agree a delivery date, it will be met (my record is 100%, word of honour). I invest time in researching your products because this is time well spent, never time wasted. It has always proven to be a valuable strategy, in the end saving time as there is no need for reworking or redrafting at the last minute. I always make sure to ask the relevant questions if something is not crystal clear or is ambiguous, or if I suspect there could be an error (after all, to err is human). We’re partners, and partnership is based on trust.

I am happy to provide a cost estimate for your project, for which I need to examine and analyse the materials thoroughly. Naturally, I am used to last-minute changes and to adapting quickly to a new situation, so let’s keep the communication flowing.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Languages (Interpreting and Translating) in French/German from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland (1983)
  • École de Traduction et d’Interprétation, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Universität Leipzig, Sektion Theoretische und Angewandte Sprachwissenschaft, Leipzig, Germany

ACREDITATIONS

Fachübersetzer
Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer, Germany (2021 – present)

Certified Translator
Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec, Montréal, Canada (2018 – present)

Member
Mediterranean Editors & Translators (2020 – present)

MITI (Qualified Member)
Institute of Translation and Interpreting, London, Britain (2000 – 2005)

Sworn Translator
Oberlandesgericht, Düsseldorf, Germany (1990 – 1995)

CONTACT