“The sky is the limit when we now have a powerful “why” and live in harmony with who we’re and what we value” – Charlotte Anaïs, freelance translator and writer
In each issue of Freelance Life Magazine, we present interesting freelancers from various professions. This time we go to Paris, France and introduce Charlotte Anaïs, a contract translator and writer.
Charlotte is 29 years old and lives in Paris, France. She is French and grew up speaking only French in a small town in Normandy after which Lorraine before studying translation in Brussels and London. Her life has at all times been very unconventional. He has been working as a contract translator (from English and Russian into French) for five years. Charlotte can be a author and in her free time she travels quite a bit, walking around Paris, practicing yoga and rollerblading.
– How did you turn into involved in the work of a translator?
I’ve at all times had a deep love and fascination for languages and foreign cultures: after I was a child, my hobbies were reading bilingual dictionaries, bilingual books and watching my favorite programs in English with subtitles. I’ve also at all times enjoyed writing, so translating naturally suited my personality.
– What skills and education are required for somebody to do that job?
I actually have a BA in Translation from the Higher Institute of Translators (now HEB) in Brussels and it was a really demanding curriculum. Not only did we now have language and linguistics lessons in all of the languages we studied, but we also had modules similar to world history, philosophy, art history, economics, law, science… The aim was to provide us a solid general knowledge because it is important for a profession translator. A diploma in languages can be the simplest option to turn into a translator. The talents required to achieve success on this job include a deep understanding of the complexities of language and cultures, continuous skilled development, frequent reading in all of the languages you’re employed in, excellent grammar and writing skills, extensive research and a detailed attention to detail. It often happens that you just spend LOTS of time finding the PERFECT word – which may be very fun if you happen to are a real linguist.
– Currently, there are a lot of translation programs, how far are they from high-quality translation?
I can at all times spot an unedited machine translation instantly. Translation software fails to capture the nuances and complexities of human language. No machine will ever give you the option to capture the very real, complex emotion of human thought and speech; especially in terms of literary form. Translation is just not a mathematical equation: language is about emotion, and that’s something that only a human can convey.
– You have got many interests – spirituality, business, travel, health and well-being. Do you may have time to devote yourself to all these interests?
AND do time to devote myself to my interests. Not too way back, I almost didn’t, and it actually got me through burnout. Now I be certain I take a while through the day to reconnect with who I’m outside of my freelance business. The person behind the emails. I actually have a solid morning and evening routine, no phone or computer, and traveling monthly is one among my top priorities. Each day, it’s as much as us to find time for what’s necessary by deciding what our priorities are. I now know that taking time to play, rejoice and handle myself makes me a greater business owner.