How I work
Antoine de Saint Éxupery once wrote “It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove.”
Long-windedness usually doesn’t mean clarity. As a translator, I strive to express the intended meaning as clearly and concisely as possible. Frequently a longer phrase is needed to translate the original, but the right choice of vocabulary can also result in a more concise text. Just like with packing: if you don’t take the time to choose, you take everything with you!
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The translator’s work requires making choices, choices that determine how your message is conveyed – choices you wouldn’t leave to a computer. My work as the translator of your text is to ensure that these choices match your expectations.
That’s why, as I work on your project, I will inquire about the purpose and context of the translation. I strive to stay as faithful to the original text as possible, without sacrificing the natural flow of the target language. Please don’t be surprised when I ask the questions that will lead to the right choices.
Allow me to write your text as if you were writing it, but in a language you don’t speak.