Translators don't translate words - they translate meaning Machines and dictionaries translate words. But it takes a thinking, reasoning human being to translate what words mean. Consider how you would…
The more you know, the harder it gets, until suddenly... Once you begin to really understand your source language, you gradually become aware of its subtleties. That's when you start…
The sound of music Translation is a constant tug between the twin imperatives of meaning and music. So what is it that makes a translation sing? It's finding the right…
Keep calm - and keep the clientNo matter how brilliant you are, at some point a client will complain about your work. How you react will determine your future with…
When is a door not a door?In all contexts, particularly technical texts, it is important to use the terms your readers themselves use. Even the simplest words that appear to…
Always reply You know the scenario. You're busy, busy, busy working on that urgent translation. Who has time to answer the phone or read emails?But remember, while clients are waiting…
Don't bury your head in the sand You are, naturally, aware of the need to back up your work. And you may already have other kinds of back-up in place.…
Beware of dictionariesDictionaries are great tools but rarely solve translation problems completely. That’s hardly surprising, given that ideas can be expressed in many different ways depending on the context. If…
Take responsibility and get creditLots of clients won't be able to judge the translation you deliver - after all, it's in another language. The same applies to many typesetters and…
When to say noIt's tempting to accept every job out of customer loyalty, but it's better to say no than to agree to an unrealistic deadline, or if you are…
