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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/8/2010 12:36:00 PM
Posts: 3,
Visits: 1,201
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Hello, everyone
Although I have been a translator for many years, I am a relative neophyte as far as using a computer. I just bought one is December but my keyboard does not have Spanish and French diacritical marks. So when I need to correspond with someone in Spanish or French (and this is often the case) this might make me look unprofessional. To be able to type the diacritical marks, is all you need the appropriate keyboard(s) or do I also need software? Would I need separate keyboards for Spanish and French or can one be purchase which has both languages' diacritical marks?
Thanks,
femme
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Post #443
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/15/2010 6:47:27 AM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 7
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[quote user="femme"]Hello, everyone
Although I have been a translator for many years, I am a relative neophyte as far as using a computer. I just bought one is December but my keyboard does not have Spanish and French diacritical marks. So when I need to correspond with someone in Spanish or French (and this is often the case) this might make me look unprofessional. To be able to type the diacritical marks, is all you need the appropriate keyboard(s) or do I also need software? Would I need separate keyboards for Spanish and French or can one be purchase which has both languages' diacritical marks?
Thanks,
femme [/quote]
Dear Femme,
Great question. And here's my answer (or piece of advice).
You don't need all the keyboards. I also translate into Spanish and French and I don't need special keyboard for my work.
I work in Windows system, and use Office Package. If you use this system, great - as it has a special function - REGIONAL (LANGUAGE) SETTINGS - choose your language in the language panel (Spanish or French) - and you have what you need. In this case you need just to get familiar with Spanish keys (letters) on your standard keyboard.
But there exists another way. Also, this system offer you a proofreading function (all possible languages of the world). Just choose your language (Spanish), and to your Spanish (French) words proofreading system will add the diacritical marks. Use this correction function. So, that's not a great problem.
Of course, you can use software. Any proofreading software. As far as I know all the possible Computer systems have proofreading (correction) possibilities. Please, check it.
Any questions, please contact me.
I will help you.
Kindest regards,
Valerius
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Post #1229
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/8/2007 9:11:17 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 0
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I had similar hard times until started using Spanish keyboard stickers when working with Spanish language translations (you can find them at http://www.latkey.com ) as well as setting up diacritical fonts and spanish language in Windows.
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Post #1260
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/23/2009 3:45:58 PM
Posts: 2,
Visits: 25
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My solution, which works very nicely, is having (we're talking about PC with Windows I presume?) is to have both my main keyboard (which happens to be Polish programmer's) and US INTERNATIONAL. And this last one allows you to get those "exotic" characters by combinations with alt-keys or by so called "dead keys". It works very nicely.
You just must chose switching between those keyboards with a key combination, though it also can be done with the mouse.
Where are those extra chars can be found from diagrams that can be got from the Web. I don't think it would be possible to paste those here. If you need them and can't find them - just ask!
But remember - it's US INTERNATIONAL not anything else!
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Post #1698
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/11/2010 6:30:03 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 9
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Hi,
I do lots of proofreading and translation in the game industry and I tend to use combinations of alt+symbol code
for example, by pressing alt and digit on the numeric pad 0233 you will get é
if you use windows, under start/program/accessories/system tools there is a little program called Character Map
it shows all possible characters.
When you click on one of them on the right corner of the window it will show the relative alt + sequence.
Just write it down on a post-it the sequence for the characters you use most and stick it to your monitor.
After a few days you should remember them without problems.
for example:
alt + 0236 = ì
alt + 0234 = ê
alt + 0233 = é
and so on
a list of the codes can be found here, if you want to have a look:
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/tutorial/ALTchrc.html
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/tutorial/ALTchrc.html
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Post #1707
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/4/2010 5:55:53 PM
Posts: 4,
Visits: 848
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Hello everyone,
For diacritical marks, vocabulary and dictionaries etc. in various languages Mozilla Firefox has addons and everything is there. You just choose the language(s) you wish. These you can download for free. You can try these it has worked for me so far.
trilinguallady
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Post #1743
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/1/2009 1:25:40 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 103
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Hi everyone!I advise you all, for long translations, to use directly the right keyboard for the specific language. In a short text it is possible for us to correct not accentuated words, but watch out with this tricky technical proofreaders on pc that they cannot select the function of the word in context and we all know that some words can have an accent and some others not, having the same morphology. The text may turn out into a catastrophe! That is one of the few reasons why we get paid as professional translators still nowadays after the invention of many programs. Only WE have the capacity to analyse and decide on several options. Good luck! 
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Post #1818
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