In order for you to get to know our highly-experienced translators, we’ve decided on a brief interview. Meet Althea.
1. Which languages do you translate and what industries do you specialise in?
“English to Afrikaans/Afrikaans to English/Dutch to Afrikaans; Publishing industry, Academic industry.”
2. How long have you been a translator, and how did you get into translation as a career?
“The past 20 years – it seemed to develop all by itself and now has a life of its own …”
3. What’s the most challenging translation project you’ve ever worked on?
“LO Grade 8, 9, 10 in Excel!”
4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?
“I wish!”
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
“A millionaire’s wife.”
6. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
“Staring into space, trying to do nothing!”
7. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
“The overachiever.”
8. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
- Music box dancer (Frank Mills)
- The entertainer (Marvin Hamlish)
- First of May (The Bee Gees)
- Obladi, Oblada (The Beatles)
- Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, the Pastoral Symphony (L van Beethoven)
- Jesu, Yoy of man’s desiring from Cantata No 147 (J S Bach)
- Piano Concerto 1 – B Flat Minor (Tchaikovsky)
- All songs by the Irish singer Luka Bloom … especially!
9. What’s your favourite Afrikaans word or phrase?
“Lyk ek vir jou soos ’n lopende woordeboek?”