In keeping with our Afrikaans theme, we interviewed another one of our translators. All translators are tried-and-tested, university credited and highly experienced in their respective languages and area’s of specialisation. Meet Word for Word, one of our foremost Afrikaans translators.
1. Which languages do you translate and what industries do you specialise in?
“I translate mainly from English to Afrikaans, and I specialise in travel and education, although I am an all-rounder. However, I do not like translations that are too technical.”
2. How long have you been a translator, and how did you get into translation as a career?
“I have been translating for the past 20 years, after I found that children in general were too unruly and that teaching, after all, was not for me.”
3. What’s the most challenging translation project you’ve ever worked on?
“I view every project as a challenge and therefore tackle everything with the same mind-set.”
4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?
“Vicky Leandros. Well, that was years ago. Anyway, not likely.”
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
“Own a coffee shop?”
6. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
“My recent acquisition, a Kindle, helps me there. I love reading fiction, detective and murder stories.”
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?
“I love Afrikaans music, particularly Theuns Jordaan and Laurika Rauch. Light classical music and Harry Belafonte.”
9. What’s your favourite Afrikaans word or phrase?
“Ja-nee. Brilliant, don’t you think. Is it yes, or is it no? Anybody’s guess.”