This month’s TRANSLATOR IN FOCUS will shine the limelight on our French and German into English translator, Merula.
Please give a brief description of how you embarked on your career in the freelance translation industry, how long you have been working in the industry and what other language related work you carry out.
My name is Merula and I embarked on my translation career about 45 years ago, whilst studying German in Vienna and Klagenfurt, southern Austria. In Vienna I won a grant from the British Council to gain more in-depth linguistic skills and these were put in practice in Klagenfurt when I worked as a full time translator for 6 months for one of the national power stations. On returning to the UK I completed my BA degree in German and French and embarked on a technical translation course at the Polytechnic of Central London [now Westminster university]. There, I spent 9 months working at the Middlesex Hospital following year 3 doctors, as I decided to specialise in medicine and aircraft engineering. I then worked for the Space Agency in Bremen, Germany, as a full time translator. I then started up my own translation business.
Please provide examples of challenges you may come across when completing a translation; how do you overcome these challenges to ensure an excellent service?
The challenges I face these days are: bad grammar and poorly constructed sentences, in some cases with verbs missing and rambling texts. To overcome these I research the subject and revert to the author and suggest possible alternatives or ask for explanations. If these are not forthcoming, I insert a translator’s note.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Having 3 dogs we have to take them for their daily walks and I also have 2 retired horses, which need feeding. I also have my own livery yard, which is run by my daughter. Otherwise, concerts [classical music], oil painting and piano.
What do you enjoy most about working as a translator?
The challenge of making a “silk purse out of a sow’s ear!”
If you were to hold a dinner party, which 5 famous people would you invite?
The Queen, Princess Anne, David Attenborough and perhaps a comedian and an older actor.
Favourite film of all time?
Dr. Zhivago – Marigold Hotel
If you were to learn a new language, which one would you learn and why?
Spanish and Italian – they are similar to French and when abroad I like to know what the conversation is about!
Best place you’ve ever visited?
Impossible to answer this – I never tire of travelling.
If you were animal, which one would you be and why?
A horse – provided I was well looked after by my owner. Reason: horses are determined, stubborn, present challenges and are intelligent creatures.
Favourite meal?
Love home cooking – especially Indian cuisine [not too spicy] and also Chinese cuisine – a good plate of well-cooked fish and chips is also appealing.
What advice would you give to a junior translator starting off in the industry?
Not to try and run before he can walk. For the first year it would be useful to check the work of professionals to see how they tackled certain problems and as the junior gains more experience, he should be let loose on general texts which must be checked, before after say 5 years embarking on his subject matter. I would recommend working with a company as an in-house translator to gain experience before going solo as a freelancer. Never be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS.
The Translation Project Management team have been impressed with your positive work ethic. What do you enjoy most about working with Translation Empire?
Translation Empire provide us with a regular source of work and in all the years of working together, we have not yet had one single complaint. However, our work is mutually checked to ensure accuracy and avoid any omissions. We are a husband and wife team with over 40 years of experience.
