Translation and Language services

A.A. Prime MA BA (Hons) |


Are you qualified as a translator?

Yes, I hold a Masters in Translation from University College London.

What about your language qualifications?

I hold a 1st class BA in Modern Languages from University of Manchester where I studied French, Spanish and Russian. I also studied these languages at language schools in Marseille, Seville and Saint Petersburg, respectively. I come from an English/Swedish family and Swedish is my second language. I also studied translation from all of these languages into English in-depth as part of my MA at UCL.

Why should I pay a professional when I can just use Google Translate/a friend/a cheaper alternative?

If words are worth writing, they are worth writing well. If they are worth translating, they are worth translating well. Translation is ridden with potential pitfalls and the consequences of a sub-standard translation can be very dire indeed. Machine translations such as Google Translate are an excellent language tool for linguists and translators but they have no concept of context, style, meaning or flow. Translation is all about judgment. There is never one right answer. Difficult decisions need to be made and you need to make sure that you have chosen the most competent decision maker possible.

To illustrate, here is an example of a sentence from a recent article I translated:

Original: Хотелось бы понять, кому нужна такая волынка?

Google translate: I would like to know who needs a bagpipe?

My translation: I'd like to know who benefits from this roundabout process.

I rest my case.

What’s the translation process?

  1. Contact me with the specifications of your project (i.e. the source language, subject area, purpose, intended readership, size, format, deadline and any other relevant details) and I will get back to you asap with a free, no obligation quote.
  2. Mutual confirmation.
  3. Before translating I read the entire document, do any necessary research and draw up a glossary of terms. I will contact you if any questions or problems arise at this stage.
  4. I translate the document and have it proofread by a third party.
  5. You receive your finished translation on time and on budget.

How long will it take?

I have an average output of 2,000 words per day, depending on the complexity of the text. Contact me for details.

What’s the difference between proofreading and copy-writing?

Proofreading means checking a finished text for small errors in spelling and punctuation and making minor adjustments where necessary. Copy-editing includes more manoeuvre, cutting, editing and re-wording to polish up a text to its highest potential.

And what’s transcreation?

Transcreation is a term used to describe something in between translation and original writing. Perhaps you want the information, the storyline or the general sense of a foreign language text to be conveyed in English. This could include writing an article based on an interview undertaken in another language, or writing a report based on several foreign language sources.

How do I pay you?

I will send you an invoice on completion of the job detailing the payment.

Who are your clients?

Recent clients include:


• Pushkin Press
• Pan Macmillan
• B. Wahlströms
• Enchanted Lion Press

Literary Agents:

• Enberg Agency
• Bonnier Agency
• Helsinki Literary Agency
• Förlaget Literary Agency
• Hedlund Agency
• Rights & Brands
• Nordin Agency

What translation software do you use?

I prefer to work without CAT tools but can do so if required. I am a certified user of SDL Trados Studio and proficient in MemoQ and Wordfast.

Can I contact you before, during and after the translation with specific requirements and queries?

Yes, please do. I work for you.

Is ‘translatrix’ a real word?

Yes, it means a female translator. It’s like ‘translatress’ but infinitely cooler.

A dictionary can translate the trees. Only a true translator can translate the forest.