Website Building 101

It’s fair to say that the online world has changed a lot since I built my first website. The demise of GeoCities is only one such change (and oh my, what a sorry change that was). My first website was on the unmissable touristic delights of Ireland’s Shannon Region. As my geographical horizons expanded, so [...]

New adventures

Well, it’s Friday (in Australia, anyway) and here’s my news.

Getting over the hump. Or: long-term career development for translators

One of the best things about being a freelance translator is that it is entirely up to you how your career develops. I’ve always found that very empowering. But of course, one of the worst things about being a freelance translator is that it is entirely up to you how your career develops. It’s not [...]

Interview with Lucy Brooks, German, French and Spanish translator

Lucy Brooks is a German, French and Spanish to English translator with 20 years’ translation experience. She was one of the first translators to attain the prestigious Chartered Linguist (Translator) status in the UK, and recently started a company called eCPD Webinars to facilitate online training for translators and other linguists. If you’ve been following [...]

Conference report: Transparency in subtitling

What happens when your audience is constantly reminded that your work is a translation, and your words are only a small part of a much bigger picture of meaning? This heightened level of transparency adds an interesting dimension when it comes to translating for subtitles. Dr Jing Han is a Chief Subtitler at SBS TV, [...]

CPD Matters: Maintaining source-language skills

This post focusses on language development and maintenance (source languages). Language exchanges, newspapers, podcasts and Tweeting: that’s the last you’ll see of these options here. What other ways are there for professional translators to keep their source languages shiny and bright? The third in an occasional series on CPD.

CPD Matters: Refining translation skills

Today I’m looking at maintaining and improving your translation skills. Ongoing development of your existing translation skills is quite distinct from initial translator training, and needs to be approached differently too. The second in an occasional series on CPD. First one: What is CPD?

Translators: are you still relevant?

I’ve come to the conclusion that unprofessional and/or unskilled translators aren’t awarded work just because they are cheap. They are awarded work because they are willing to do whatever it takes to give the client what they want.

Happy International Translation Day

St Jerome: a man as relevant to translators today as he was in 420AD! International Translation Day has been promoted since 1991 by the FIT. The day coincides with St Jerome’s Day, who was recognised by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of translators, scholars and editors, as well as libraries and librarians. Check [...]

Guerrilla marketing and one-page marketing plans

Guerrilla marketing involves taking a non-traditional approach to conventional marketing goals. Best of all, it’s a way for us small fry to successfully compete with the big players by applying a toolbox of tricks that no self-respecting freelance translator should be without. The best thing about a guerrilla approach to marketing is that the question [...]