Professional Profile
In order to produce a top quality translation it is necessary not only that the translator is translating into their native language but that they have an excellent level of competence in expressing themselves in their native tongue.
I obtained my degree as a qualified foreign correspondent at the SIMG Language Institute in Buchholz (Germany). I was born in Germany but since I have spent a large part of my working life in the UK I seem to have mastered the idiosyncrasies of the English language better than most of my fellow students.
I have been working as a freelance translator and proofreader in England since 1995. In the beginning I worked as an in-house translator with a translation agency. After six months I realised how developed my skills were and became a self-employed translator and proofreader. Right from the beginning I was involved in large long-term projects for my clients alongside working as a freelance translator for several translation agencies. This enabled me to build business relationships at different levels in a variety of business and manufacturing environments. It helped me to develop a fundamental understanding of deadline pressure and the responsibilities of business management. After being in business for more than 13 years, I can look back on a large range of successful translation, proofreading and project management ventures for international companies, individuals and translation agencies. I can honestly say that, fingers crossed, I have yet to miss a deadline I have committed to.
The cultural element is extremely important when translating. Some projects involve the translation of humorous phrases or wordplays, which in English express something very precise but are impossible to translate literally into German (a good example for this area is the translation of a “Wedding Speech” that I was commissioned to do and which you will find here). My professional experience gained over many years plus my knowledge of colloquial English and colloquial German makes me adept in dealing with such difficulties. You can expect a translation that is not just true to the subject matter but also sounds good to German ears.
Another aspect of translating and proofreading in today’s business environment is the rapid and far-reaching changes that have taken place in the German language that not all translators are aware of. The German language, much to the consternation of many of the older generation, has a new element playfully labelled as Neudeutsch. This is the use of English nouns in the place of German nouns and absorbed into the language. A translation for a young target market that does not take this into account will look staid and old-fashioned. Then, of course, there is the new German grammar to contend with that caused difficulties for at least one of my clients, a German author who had lived outside Germany for more than fifty years. (see here).
Since a large part of my career has involved a comprehensive participation in business management and customer service I have gained an enviable position amongst translators as someone who, apart from doing translation and proofreading, has a deep understanding of the pressures and responsibilities entailed in large projects. This enables me to understand and to meet your requirements. It is my philosophy to use a customer-specific approach for every project. I deal with every assignment with the same professional care whether it is a single page, a website or a novel. I keep a record of the work undertaken and have an extensive personal dictionary containing preferred terminology for each client so that there is consistency across the translation and/or proofreading.
Do you need a translation or proofreading done and would like a quote?
Just send an email (click here) or give me a ring on +44 1695 55 88 33.
To see what my clients think about my translation and proofreading work click here.
Summary of main benefits
- A professional degree-level qualified business project manager who understands your needs rather than “just a translator doing the job”. This means a much closer match to what you really want to achieve.
- My guarantee: good time management and projects completed to your deadlines means you can feel comfortable that your objectives will be met and you won’t be under extra pressure.
- Using the right vocabulary including “Neudeutsch” and the new German grammar means your target German audience see you the way you want to be seen and form a very good impression of you and/or your business.
- German versions that are ‘alive’ and ‘really work’ rather than dull flat literal translations will impress your readers, customers, suppliers or employees and enable you to be more successful.
- By using modern technology with correction tools and electronic communication your project can be completed swiftly and efficiently and sent to your office anywhere in the world saving you time and effort that you can spend on your core tasks.