101 things a translator needs to know – #63
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…
Where the basis of a lot of my work is being shipped.
Greetings from Hamburg
I'm here for the first in-person meeting of Transforum, the coordinating committee combining teaching translation and interpreting with applying it in practice, for which I am representing the Fachakademie in…
Hope springs eternal…
... as I'm translating this huge project right now: (c) by zingword
101 things a translator needs to know – #6
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…
Social media – help or hell?
I am currently covering the topic of marketing with my students, and in this day and age, social media is an integral part of it. Of course, for the large…
Diversifying is a good thing
While I tell my students to specialize in order to be successful translators (and interpreters), the recent and current crisis has made it clear that being too specialized or having…
Something old, something new…
No, I didn't get married. But it was time for a new companion in the office. (Don't worry, I'm not talking about Ralph!) My laptop had been showing signs of…
101 things a translator needs to know – #50
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.…
Of snow and paperwork
Around here, winter typically comes with snow. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later, sometimes more, sometimes less, but usually always in amounts that need to be cleared away - and we have…