Technical translations
I often use CAT tools when needs arise for technical translations. Only when source files have been scanned and sent to me in pdf I will manually translate them. Often, this happens when my clients do not have originals in digi-forms. The goals are accuracy, efficiency and practicality, so using a CAT tool can be rather helpful.
Legal documents
I’ve both translated and proofread numerous legal documents, most of which are contracts and agreements, certificates of incorporation, deeds, as well as a bunch of smaller documents such as birth certificates and marriage licenses.
Business & financial documents
I’ve translated several annual financial reports, balance sheets and a part of a textbook on liability insurance. I’ve also translated several meeting minutes for an accounting department for a major company in Thailand. I have also completed many, smaller projects in this area.
Medical/pharmaceutical-related documents
I’ve both translated and proofread countless medical/pharmaceutical/biological-related documents. A few examples include research abstracts and protocols, consent and assent forms, correspondences between research teams and sponsors, questionnaires, ethics reviews and SAE materials, informed consent and participant information material, and other related texts. I’ve also helped (both translating and proofreading) with quite a few of technical translations for DTP projects.
Non-technical translations
For me, the most important thing for this type of translation—besides translating everything that is there correctly and making it sounds natural in the target language—is retaining the flavor it has in the source language—or retaining the original author’s voice, but in a way that resonates with readers in the target language like it does with readers in the source language. In my experience, CAT tools cannot help with that.
I think the key to this type of translation is that you have to read a lot, and be good at writing and know the cultures of both the source and target languages. One must have a “quick” ear to readily pick up new vocabulary, idioms and nuanced expressions that people use in everyday life. Watching TV or listening to the radio, talking to the natives, and being sensitive to people of diverse ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and of different regions/sub-cultures also help.
Literature (Fiction and non-fiction)
I love children’s books and have translated quite a few of them. I’m also a big fan of any non-fiction text that promotes learning and understanding—especially social sciences, history, education, feminism, philosophy and religion, language and culture, travel, well-being, and health-related issues. I have ghost-translated several books covering some of these topics.
Movie/TV/MC scripts, subtitling and other such works
I’ve done a little bit of script translation/subtitling for a cable TV company in Thailand. I have also translated a script for a WHO’s TV documentary to educate people in Thailand about public health issues.
I also translated printed materials while working at Toshiba as a project co-ordinator. I translated scripts for MCs and brochures from Thai to English for “Thai Day,” a cultural fair held at the Thai Cultural Center of New York.
- If you are interested in working with me, please send me with your rates. I will get back to you shortly.
- I can show you some examples of my work, but since a lot of what I’ve done is confidential, it has to be upon request; I have to e-mail my clients to get permission. I will be more than happy to provide you with references from my agencies or end clients whom I work with if required. I’m also willing to take any language tests if necessary.
