Translation
Legal: Court evidence, EU police statements, witness testimonials, customs’ criminal police inquiries and public deeds of property and inheritance.
Business: Business contracts, articles of association, tenders, financial reports.
Medical: Surgical procedure and hospital discharge reports, patient surveys on chronic conditions as well as studies carried out by pharmaceutical and market research companies.
Special literary projects: Articles by the late Brazilian-cinema filmmaker and critic Glauber Rocha, for publication in the UK, in collaboration with the University of Leeds. Of course, specialist knowledge alone is not sufficient; attention must be paid to the context of the text for translation in order that the resulting translation boasts both a high level of English and reads like an original text focused towards the audience or market for which it is destined. I discuss each client’s focus and marketplace, allowing me to produce a text which reflects their company
ethos and suits the context in which the material will be published or displayed.
Interpreting
Interpreting requires language dexterity, quick thinking and dedication. It is not just a case of using the correct terminology, be it when working alongside healthcare professionals or legal teams, but also the ability to correctly judge the situation in hand, gauge the tone in which the message needs to be delivered and also to be an impartial and professional third party, important to proceedings yet working as a mouthpiece for both parties involved.
Interpreting in the legal and corporate sector:
These high-level skills have been put into use in HM Prisons, County Court trials and in solicitors’ offices as well on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions and Social Services.
Past assignments include:
- Consecutive interpreting during meetings with government officials from the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the House of Commons on behalf of a visiting Mayor from a province of Ecuador.
- Interpreting during meetings and presentations given by finance organisations to representatives of the Angolan Oil Company, Sonangol, on a trip to the UK gathering business acumen.
- County Court prosecution trials (Stratford County Court).
Medical:
- Pre-operative care, major surgery, ante-natal care and clinics, speech and language therapy, audiology, physiotherapy, counselling, mental health patient reviews and GP surgery appointments.
- I have provided services to the NHS for over seven years, interpreting both in Primary Care Trusts in South London and also in Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals and before that for hospitals in Leeds and the Bradford Primary Care Trust.
- A high level of specialist knowledge, as well as a clear understanding of the interpreter’s place in patient and doctor relations. The ability to interpret in sensitive situations and circumstances, understand complex procedures and convey these clearly to patients, is fundamental to providing an effective service.