Since our focus is on Afrikaans lately, we’ve been interviewing some of our foremost Afrikaans translators in order for you to get to know the people behind the translations. It also helps us to prove that we don’t translate with translation tools or use automatic translations or anything like that. We choose to work with highly-experienced individuals that specialise in various industries to ensure we deliver the highest quality of translation possible.
Some translators have chosen to go with their actual names, others have created one to remain anonymous. Meet Tintin.
1. Which languages do you translate and what industries do you specialise in?
“English/Afrikaans translations. Educational, medical, media/advertising, IT/technical industries.”
2. How long have you been a translator, and how did you get into translation as a career?
“2000-currently (almost 13 years) – wanted to become a journalist when I started my studies.
Studied BA Degree (3 years) and did a post-graduate degree (1 year) in Linguistics (Translation/Editing).
Completed editing workshops.”
3. What’s the most challenging translation project you’ve ever worked on?
“Educational school books:
Positive: Content was overall easy and enjoyable
Negative: Delivery times were very tight and stressful at times”
4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?
“Sandra Bullock 🙂“
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
“Translator, of course 🙂
But alternatively, a doctor.”
6. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
“Spend time with my two sons.”
7. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
“Never a dull moment…”
8. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?
Brown eyed girl (Van Morrison)
Come what may/Te amare (Il Divo)
Brave and wild (Parlotones)
All I really want (Alanis Morissette)
9. What’s your favourite Afrikaans word or phrase?
“Niks is vir God onmoontlik nie” (Lukas 1:37) – astonishes me every time…