Services

Translation:

The perfect translation is unrecognisable as such – it reads like an original. As well as meticulous attention to detail (translation is the art of the perfectionist), the other core ingredients for this are a native standard of both understanding (reception) of the source language and recreation (production) in the target language. Owing to the cultural and conceptual intricacies involved here, this task can only be accomplished by human translators translating into their native tongue from a language in which they have advanced, near-native proficiency. While capable of processing data in the form of words, no machine can understand the human mind.

I first learnt German 30 years ago and have spent over 15 years practising my trade in a German-speaking environment. While translating texts from a wide range of fields from German into English, my core specialist areas are economics, finance, business and law (see specialist areas below). To customise my services to my portfolio of discerning clients including a major Swiss bank and a global insurance company, I utilise the CAT software SDL Trados Studio, STAR Transit and Across to create and continuously develop client-specific interactive databases enabling me to safeguard the consistency of linguistic norms and terminology within and across assignments.

Translation is not a matter of words only: it is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture (Anthony Burgess)

Proofreading:

Ever read through your own work at least ten times and still felt lost in translation? This is where the principle of dual control kicks in – a fresh eye to capture the errors the tired eye is no longer able to register. Remember – first impressions count! The perfect job for the perfect candidate is ruined if the cover letter goes straight into the wastepaper basket due to its substandard English. Likewise, language also forms a core element of your corporate identity and from the customer’s perspective directly reflects the quality of your product or service. It always pays off to go that extra mile and with over 15 years’ experience preceded by a thorough linguistic training, my eagle eye will guarantee you a flawless end product.

Your computer’s spell check function makes no distinction between there and their as long as they’re spelt correctly.

Project management:

Consistency, particularly but not only in terms of language and terminology use, is especially important for larger projects such as company magazines, business and economic reports. Here it pays off more than ever to be able to count on a reliable partner.

I have several years of experience managing major and ongoing projects on an individual client basis. These include macroeconomic research publications, academic textbooks and journals, and corporate and annual reports spanning sectors ranging from sanitary products and pension funds through to automotive supplies. I utilise CAT software on a client-specific basis to ensure consistency of style and register and would be happy to sign a confidentiality agreement.

If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

Specialist areas

Retail, private and investment banking • macroeconomics • real estate • financial and business reports • due diligence • general business • HR • marketing • corporate publications • insurance • pharmaceuticals • telecommunications • law • automotive industry • tourism • linguistics