How did I get here? How and why I became a specialist French, Spanish and Portuguese into English translator
As a boutique translation business owner who thrives on solving problems, it’s usually my clients I want to know more about. I’m usually asking what do you need; what are your values and your goals? After all, when it comes to getting the job done, it’s really not all about me.
But maybe you want to discover more about my background, to work out whether I’d be a trustworthy partner. And so, you may ask yourself (as that Talking Heads song goes), ‘Well, how did I get here?’. Or you may be someone interested in finding out how on earth someone might end up becoming a translator. Reader, you’re in the right place.
An intentional path
Almost every day, I’m immensely grateful to have discovered translation as a career. My journey to becoming a translator was very much deliberate and planned.
It all started with GCSEs in French and Spanish back in the 1990s. When it was time to choose my A-levels, those two languages seemed a natural choice because I was getting good grades in them. But by then it wasn’t only about the grades – I was starting to think more about my future study and subsequent career. For me, I loved the fact that taking A-levels in languages opened up doors for me. I learned so much about other cultures and histories, and this gave me a fresh perspective on the world. I cherished that.
I spent a long time researching the right university, and I definitely made the right choice. I had a fantastic four years at Cardiff University/Prifysgol Caerdydd, studying for my BA in French and Spanish. Translation was an integral part of my degree course, and it was at Cardiff that I received some of my most valuable tuition as a fledgling translator. Fun fact: my other favourite modules focused on Spanish history and French literature.
Full immersion
In 2001, my third year, I went to live in Nantes, France, and then Barcelona, Spain. I studied at the universities there and experienced the countries’ language and culture in real life. This was when things really took off and I truly felt confident in my second languages. Ever curious, while in Barcelona I couldn’t resist taking a part-time course in Catalan. This year was also when I fell hook, line and sinker for France and Spain as countries, and I’ve tried to return as often as I can ever since.
Linguist on a mission
It was at Cardiff that I first learned about translation as a profession, and I knew right away it was the one for me. There was something about it that appealed to all my skillsets and interests. But four years at university were not enough, I decided! I was incredibly eager to learn more about translation theory and practice, and about linguistics in general. So I applied to study an MA in Translation and Linguistics at the University of Westminster.
At Westminster I began learning Portuguese as a cognate language of Spanish. I loved Portuguese immediately, and found that, with my knowledge of Spanish, Catalan and French, I could soon read it with relative ease, and took additional evening classes to top up my speaking and listening skills.
Stumbling upon a niche
For my MA dissertation, I did a 15,000-word translation about women’s rights in Nicaragua, with an extended linguistic commentary, in coordination with the charity Womankind Worldwide. This was how I discovered and explored my first subject area niche. Westminster University had great links with the translation industry, so I felt ready to go out into the ‘real’ world once I’d completed my fifth year of study.
Picking up the pace
I was lucky that, living in London, there were some in-house opportunities around. Someone pointed out an advert for translators at INTERPOL’s bureau in London, so in 2004 I applied, got an interview, passed the entrance test and got the job.
I’ll always be so grateful for these first few years in-house as a newbie translator finding my feet. I was able to access training, development, and real-world experience that I wouldn’t otherwise have gained. My work at Interpol was – naturally – focused on legal translation, so that also gave me a solid specialism to focus on. But it also introduced me to how international organisations function and interact. It is hard to find translators with a genuine background in international organisations, and that job gave me the grounding I needed.
Hitting my stride
It wasn’t long before I realised that I wanted to set up my own boutique translation business. The security of my translation day job allowed me the space to spend my free time honing some crucial business skills and building my network. I even brushed up my English grammar proficiency through a TESOL certificate at intensive evening classes, just in case things didn’t work out. But I didn’t need to worry. After six months of combining English teaching with my part-time translation business, I went full time.
Where I want to be
Setting up my own business in 2008 was one of the scariest, most exhilarating things I’ve ever done. I’ll never forget how that first week felt. Nearly 15 years later, my work days are varied and almost always fascinating and fulfilling. All thanks to translation. Who could ask for more?
Translation demands quite a niche set of skills. Beyond the obvious requirement to speak another language, you need an eye for detail and an aptitude for the rhythm and flow of writing, not to mention clarity, excellent grammar and punctuation, as well as deep subject-matter knowledge. Every step I’ve taken has led me to becoming the translator I am today, and oh, what a journey it has been.
About Philippa
I take Spanish, French and Portuguese (and English!) content and transform it into snappy, fresh and 100% engaging English copy.
Want pithy English that gets straight to the point, while maintaining the ethos and impact of its original language? My clients rely on me for a genuine 1:1 working relationship, as a translation specialist who truly cares about your reputation. I think we could work well together, don’t you?
International organisations: 5 things to look for in an English translation specialist
For effective cross-cultural communication in the international development sector, you need a specialist linguist.
For effective cross-cultural communication in the international development sector, you need a specialist linguist.
Do you work for an international organisation? Have you ever bought translation services from one-size-fits-all translation companies and come away feeling like you’ve missed out? That your organisation deserves so much more?
If you’re looking to boost the impact of your work, you need a strategic translation partner: an experienced specialist who listens to and understands your needs and requirements. These five questions will help you find out if a translator is the perfect match:
1. Do they know your audience?
You already know that cultural differences usually mean that something acceptable for one target audience may not have the same impact in another cultural/linguistic community. But does the translator actually understand who they’re translating for?
You need a freelance specialist who knows the development and humanitarian field inside out. A translator with expertise gained from years of experience in your sector; a reliable partner who can confidently communicate its complex concepts and terminology.
2. Can they write?
No, really. True professional translators are also skilled writers whose cultural and linguistic knowledge adds tangible value. Yes, being bilingual is amazing, but don’t risk spending vital income on robotic, word-for-word copy with no impact.
If your original language content was engaging and eloquent, you’ll want the English version to be equally so. Here’s where a translator with a writer’s skill set comes in.
With a truly professional translator, you have peace of mind that the translation will provide a showcase for your expertise.
3. Are they a problem solver?
Expert translators are problem solvers who thrive on meticulous attention to detail. They understand the international development sector’s pressures and are ready to offer solutions. They’ll listen to your concerns and give honest answers.
They’ll also be adept at unpacking tricky turns of phrase and ensuring technical terminology is accurate. With their strong research skills, the heavy lifting behind the scenes is done for you.
An experienced translator will make your job easier and guarantee the high standards you require.
4. Do they ask the right questions?
Invest in an excellent translator and you’ll benefit from an intelligent approach; a professional partner who cares about your values and reputation. Did you know that a trustworthy translator will read and research your texts more carefully than anyone? It’s true. And this in-depth reading should prompt inquisitive, relevant questions.
Does your organisation have a tone of voice and style that is unique? Your translator should be 100% on board with that.
A translator of this calibre will stay on message and provide reassuring, responsive support.
5. Do they care enough?
You care about achieving your goals, about protecting your reputation, and about making an impact. You don’t want to feel like your carefully produced content was translated on autopilot and delivered with a shrug, wasting your time and money.
With an organised approach, a professional translator will maintain a laser focus on demanding projects and will ensure any last-minute hiccups and weak spots are avoided.
They will dedicate time to reading about your organisation or your specific project or product, and their in-depth knowledge of the humanitarian and international development sector comes as standard.
What’s your biggest challenge when finding the right translator for your organisation? If you’re ready to work with a reliable, specialist English translation partner, let’s talk.
