Don't know much about the French (or German or Italian) your forebears spoke? We'll show you how to use the Web's translation tools to decipher your ancestral language.
Genealogists wear many hats: detective, historian, archivist, sociologist, interviewer — even translator. Solving some family history mysteries may hinge on your ability to decipher old documents or modern Web pages written in a foreign language, or to communicate with someone who doesn't speak English.
But what if you haven't mastered your ancestors' language? Online translation tools, foreign-language dictionaries and letter-writing guides can help you get by when English alone isn't enough. Here's an overview of key translation resources for genealogists.