Blog categorized as Language, culture and translation

Happy Valentine's Day!

I spent Valentine's Day writing an ode to anyone of my generation who is overwhelmed by information but underwhelmed by quality. I drew inspiration from 1980s lyrics. How many ballads can you spot in the text below and the accompanying slides? Whoever gets the most right will have my utmost respect!...

14/02/2025 20:04 - Comment(s)

Agencies are often the first port of call for many organisations requiring English translations.

 But few consider the potential implications of having multiple translators with different styles and specialisms working on their documents over time.

I pride myself on establishing a long-term, one-...

06/05/2024 10:22 - Comment(s)

The adoption of machine translation by translation agencies has been heavily criticised by professional translators. Whilst many have emphasised the negative effect is having on standards and working conditions in the translation industry, most feel obligated to precede any criticism with a dis...

30/04/2024 11:00 - Comment(s)
It appears that financial mistranslations are also an issue in the wizarding world...

[Goblin greetings from London, England,

I am writing to politely inform you that there I have spotted some mistranslations present in your interim financial statements. I am sure you are aware that a serious mistranslation could undermine your reputation with your shareholders.

As you know, we are, un...
07/04/2024 16:06 - Comment(s)
Orwell, fables and the Kongo Kingdom

One of my favourite subjects at school was English literature. Back then, we were expected to truly engage with the text, no memorisation required (thank goodness!). The first book we studied in depth was Orwell's Animal Farm.

01/04/2024 20:56 - Comment(s)

In the early 2000s the then Labour government decreed that a language would no longer be compulsory at GCSE. This has always struck me as a huge turning point. I remember being really annoyed that I had to take French and wishing I could drop it.
...
20/03/2024 17:03 - Comment(s)
The ingredients of good content

Crafting clear, meaningful content is like preparing a meal. Like a chef, a good wordsmith knows what it takes to create a lasting impression. 


It takes imagination and balance. The right ingredients, carefully sourced, selected and paired.

It takes meticulous preparation and consistent standard...

01/03/2024 17:41 - Comment(s)
How I became a francophile

Why France?

 hen I was about 13 I borrowed a book of short stories from the library in my local town of Horsforth, Leeds.  One of the stories was about a young woman who decided to move to Francophone Canada on a whim.  She didn’t speak a word of French but she moved there and got a jo...

11/01/2024 23:52 - Comment(s)


Comment je suis devenue francophile


En 1994, à 16 ans ma francophilie naissante m’a poussée vers une année scolaire en Auvergne. Dans ma famille d’accueil, j’ai baigné dans la culture et la langue françaises tandis qu’au lycée j’ai découvert une passion pour l’histoire. 

En 1997, j’ai entamé des ...

11/01/2024 23:49 - Comment(s)

Glossaries are an essential part of the translator’s toolkit, particularly when working on multiple documents or collaborating with other translators on a single document. They also ensure that translated materials reflect the client’s corporate identity and goals.  By adding glossaries to our ...

01/04/2021 16:09 - Comment(s)