Translator’s OCD

I have a confession: I have a serious form of OCD – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Before I leave my house I check that the iron is switched off three times, despite knowing fully well I haven’t used it in a fortnight. I also feel the desperate need to triple-check that the water heater is off. I have good reason to do so, considering it has exploded twice in the past five years, flooding the entire corridor and damaging everything from expensive shoes to valuable books.

Unfortunately my obsessive behaviour doesn’t end there. You guessed it, my OCD shows its ugly head in my little office corner as well, forcing me to strategically place my mug twenty centimetres from my Mac, on the right side of my desk, never on the left. But there’s more… Translator’s OCD is also:

1.     Checking a translation not twice, but three to four times to make sure you haven’t forgotten any paragraphs. Or commas. Commas are always a struggle.

2.     Opening your text just one more time after you’ve attached it to your e-mail only to realise you didn’t like that word in the title after all. Time to start all over again!

3.     Going back to the original e-mail from the client five minutes before the deadline to make sure you’ve translated the text into the right language. Usually a waste of time. Usually, not always.

4.     Fretting over capital letters in titles. I don’t like them. But sometimes I do like them. No, no, I really dislike them. You get the picture.

5.     Worrying about having typed gibberish. That Lady Gaga song is so addictive. Help, did I accidentally include any of the lyrics in my text?!

The list goes on and on. The OCD messes with your head. You feel you need a break. So you decide to go for a walk to clear your mind, only to find yourself hurrying upstairs after two minutes to stare at your iron. It’s a vicious circle.

Vlog italiano - AIUTO, mi si è rotta la Bialetti!

Off-topic: where to eat in New York City and Toronto.

          

Sorry for my sudden disappearance over the past month or so. As many of you know I took a little break to get married and go on honeymoon. So from now on “hubby-to-be” shall be referred to as “hubby”.

Coming back from the longest break I’ve ever had (almost a month) hit me quite hard. I didn’t realise that throwing myself back into work after a fourteen-hour trip (accompanied by the dreaded jetlag) would be this difficult. It took me a while to adjust to my normal routine, but here I am, ready to take on the blogosphere like never before!

Over the next month or so, I’ll occasionally upload a post with tips for anyone who’s interested in exploring New York City and Toronto (yes, we opted for quite an unusual honeymoon, but then again, we love culture, art, food and big cities).

Let’s start with our biggest passion: FOOD!

Best meals in New York City: Wolfgang’s Steakhouse (juiciest porterhouse steak ever) and Spice Market (delicious fusion food, tasty cocktails and a magical atmosphere right by the High Line Park in the Meatpacking District)

Best meals in Toronto: Bannock (trendy, loungy restaurant in the shopping area, try the poutine and the chicken pot pie!) and The Boiler House (trendy restaurant in the Distillery District; the food is good, but not spectacular, but the atmosphere and service make up for that)

Best burgers in New York City: strangely enough we had the best burgers on Ellis Island (at the Immigration Museum)

Best burgers in Toronto: for a quick, casual meal head to Casey’s (don’t forget to try one of the yummy cocktails)

Biggest letdowns in New York City: Katz Delicatessen (bland food, seriously overpriced) and The Burger Joint at the Parker Méridien (Anthony Bourdain considers this the best burger joint in NYC; how much did he get paid to say that?! The atmosphere is nice though, very unusual)

Biggest letdown in Toronto: Ethiopiques (I was really eager to try Ethiopian food, but this place was filthy (there was a fly in my water and hair on my plate, and the walls hadn’t been painted in years), the service was slow (there were only about ten customers so we don’t really understand why it took the waitress - we think she doubles as a “wannabe chef” - half an hour to get us our drinks (oh and she even got our order wrong); the food was really, really bland (isn’t Ethiopian food supposed to be extremely tasty?) and overall it was a disappointing experience.

How to save on food in New York City: splurge as much as you can, because New York City has so much to offer, but if you’re looking to save a few “bucks” try cart food. It’s tasty and cheap! Another alternative is to buy a salad and drinks at a 24-hour pharmacy and/or grocery store (try Duane Reade and the Food Emporium). Avoid places like TGIF (we tried the one in Times Square and I must say it was the most disgusting food ever, not to mention expensive) and Wendy’s (unless you like greasy, soggy burgers).

How to save on food in Toronto: we recommend Urban Eatery, the food court at the Eaton Centre, where you’ll find dozens of self-service restaurants – sandwiches, pizza, poutine, burgers, salads, Thai, Chinese, vegetarian… and of course coffee!

Something very peculiar in New York City and Toronto is the fact that restaurants charge a small fortune for bottled water (it took us a few days to understand why no one was drinking bottled water, and why we were paying 8 to 12 dollars a bottle). Restaurants serve free “ice water”, which is basically tap water with ice cubes. You get as many refills as you like and it doesn’t taste all that bad. We used to drink wine and/or cocktails with some ice water on the side.

Best rooftop bar in New York City: 230 Fifth has it all: amazing views, delicious drinks and beautiful people

Nice beer pub in Toronto: enjoy a casual evening (playing board games or pool) with a pint of beer at C’est What

Maltese food in Toronto: yes, MALTESE pastizzi, Kinnie and other delicacies… at Malta Bake Shop. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!

That’s it for now. Bon appétit!

A few little extras below...

The best espresso in NYC @ Eataly

No comment @ some random Canadian supermarket

Junk food with a view @ the Niagara Falls

A translator’s personality shining through.

Personality. An intriguing word, isn’t it? Does it refer to an innate set of characteristics and values? Is it the result of education, culture and surroundings? In other words, is it nature or nurture, or maybe a combination of both?

One thing is certain. Personality – regardless of how you see it – shines through in what you do – work, hobbies, family life, they’re all influenced by the way you act and interact. By your natural flair, your attitude, your world view.

I’ve realised something very important, something that you should always keep in mind when copywriting, translating and proofreading. A translator’s personality influences his work. You leave your mark on your texts, whether you like it or not. Many of you will disagree, but I’ve come to this conclusion by experiencing it first-hand. Let me illustrate my opinion with an example…

I worked with several translators for four or five years before meeting them in person. We had no contact other than brief e-mail exchanges – no Facebook, no Twitter, not even a photo of each other. The few e-mails we sent were strictly professional and to the point (as in “Here you go. If you have any questions, shoot!”). There was no mention of personal matters whatsoever. That came at a later stage, after we had met in person. We proofread each other’s texts. That was it. I formed an opinion of these people. I imagined how they would be in real life: some bubbly, others arrogant. After a while, I could instantly determine who had translated a text, without the translation agency telling me. I became familiar with their style, with the words and expressions they used, with those little details that made them stand out. The wording of their texts gave away part of their personality, regardless of the subject matter. I’m often told I’m “over the top” and (too) optimistic. A former university professor once said she’ll never forget my smile. Yes, I’m generally a very happy person and I’m sure my texts reflect that. And naturally my style clashes with that of certain translators and vice versa.

When I first met these translators, I was surprised to see that I was mostly right: the translators who came across as arrogant (maybe through the use of pompous expressions?) turned out to be exactly what I had expected them to be. Not because that was the way I had imagined them to be, but when comparing my opinion with that of others, that was my conclusion. Likewise, those who seemed bubbly truly made me smile in real life.

Maybe these are just tricks of the mind. Maybe my subconscious did influence me to a certain extent. Anyhow, I believe that every one of my translations contains some of my DNA and "bubbliness". Beware!

Random Dutch (Flemish) VLOG!

Telefoneren, ik heb het er moeilijk mee. Jullie ook?
Laat gerust een berichtje achter!

Screen shots

Bear with me this month. My entire house is filled with petal cones, party poppers, place cards, menus and other props for my upcoming wedding. As soon as I’ve sorted out this mess, I’ll get back to my normal blogging routine (including videos, promise... just need to work on my editing skills!). After all, a messy house equals a messy mind.

Speaking of messy stuff, you should see my desktop. I have this weird hobby. I love reading the Daily Mail Online, especially the entertainment pages. No, I’m not a celebrity stalker (well, maybe just a little), but I do love spotting typos and saving them as screen shots. On my desktop. You’d think they have proofreaders at a major tabloid like this one. If they do, they need to invest in a good espresso machine and a dictionary. Check for yourself!

Am I the only one who does this? Maybe that's a superfluous question.

Five top tips for excellence in translation.

1)   Google as much as possible: don’t focus merely on the linguistic aspect, but also verify the content of the text. The client will be delighted to know you’ve actually done your research. Don’t hesitate to point out errors or question the information provided. A good translator takes his time to immerse himself in the subject. Needless to say you should always be subtle when informing the client of inconsistencies. After all, no one likes to be corrected and criticised.

2)   Ask a second translator to proofread your text. I know it may sound time-consuming and it may require additional (financial) resources, but in the long run it pays to have someone – preferably a translator – proofread your texts, at least when you’re dealing with large volumes. Remember that unfortunately very few translation agencies actually proofread all translations, so errors can end up costing you dearly.

3)   Take your time. Sure, the more translations you accept, the more money you make, but don’t overdo it. Ideally, you should finish a translation, close the document and re-read it after half an hour or so (or better even, the following morning). I guarantee you'll find typos and discrepancies you missed the first time around.

4)   Build up a network of translator friends and enlist their help whenever you need it. The world of translation is a tough sector where everyone wants a slice of the cake, but translators do realise they sometimes need each other’s help. Set your pride aside and just ask. Social media – Twitter in particular – has opened up so many possibilities, all just a click away!

5)   Your job is done once you’ve sent your work to the client, unless there are complaints and/or queries on his part. Don’t forget that your way of communicating with the client is just as important as the translation itself. Don’t just write “Here you go”. Show that you’ve put some effort into writing your e-mail. A brief, sloppy message doesn’t leave a good impression.

And of course, be passionate about what you do. I can’t stress this enough. If your heart is not in it, the quality of your work will be affected, so don't accept any assignments just for the sake of it. If you're not good at translating contracts, don't even bother. Focus on your field of expertise.

Au boulot!

Formalities, etiquette and feminism

After eight long years together hubby-to-be and I are planning our wedding. That means writing invitations, place cards and seating plans for the night. When you work from the comfort of your home, wearing torn T-shirts and jeans, it’s safe to say you’re not that familiar with formal ways of addressing people. So this weekend, while writing the envelopes, I went into panic mode. Is it Mr and Mrs <husband’s first name> <husband’s surname>? Or Mr and Mrs <husband’s initial, full stop> <husband’s surname>? What about doctors and engineers? The multitude of information online made it even more confusing. In the end I settled for Mr and Mrs <husband’s first name> <husband’s surname>, as found in a Maltese etiquette guide, but I must admit I find it extremely odd and old-fashioned. Hopefully I won’t offend anyone.

I’m not a feminist. I’m more than happy to make my hubby a cup of coffee when he comes home from work, iron (once in a blue moon) and prepare dinner (although admittedly I’ve given up since he’s not a fan of my bland creations). But why leave out the woman’s name altogether? Unsettling, isn’t it? Is the wife only worthy of being identified as Mrs Husband? Is she not a person in her own right? I know the rules differ in every country, but here on the rock they seem to believe marriage makes you one single entity, with the wife’s existence being reduced to a mere three-letter title. Most women even opt to change their surname. To each his own…

The Eurovision extravaganza

Sorry for the lack of blog posts this past week. French text overload. And I don't particularly like French, so let’s just say this was not the best week ever. But I’m making up for it. You can expect a few more blog posts in the next few days! I’m still undecided whether or not to post videos. We’ll see…

Tonight is the highlight of my week: the Eurovision Song Contest. Before you judge me, I’m not a fan of Europop trash, but I love the sense of unity that comes with this ridiculous yearly event. I don’t want to make this a political post. I am aware of the controversy surrounding this year’s edition: dog killings, expropriations, demolitions. A horrible price to pay for three nights of musical mush. Nevertheless, I enjoy how this contest brings people together. Especially here on the rock. We know we’re never going to win, yet we all keep hoping. We watch documentaries and talk shows on the singers, we buy flags just in case, we sing, we dance, we discuss how and where the stage would be set up if we were to win. That’s Malta for you: we love and support anything Maltese. So tonight, vote for Malta. Next year’s edition might be held on a floating stage in the middle of the Mediterranean. Cool or what?
 

Narakhom għada (see you tomorrow)!

Iconic products

I bought my first pair of branded sunglasses. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ve been the proud owner of a pair of Nike sunglasses for two years. I bought them on sale for € 25 in one of those outlet shopping centres in Italy. Last week, after the wrinkle cream saga, I decided it was time for me to work on a more “grown-up” look, so I went out and bought myself the sunglasses I’ve always wanted, the iconic Ray-Ban Aviators.

Why did I just call them iconic? What exactly makes a product iconic? The company’s branding strategy? The quantities sold worldwide? Celebrities flaunting it? In my humble opinion, a product becomes iconic thanks to its unique design, a good advertising campaign resulting in spectacular sales figures and… patience. My sunglasses were designed more than seventy years ago. They’ve stood the test of time. The design and quality have been perfected. They were worn in popular films such as Top Gun, they’ve surfaced on the covers of magazines, they’ve been launched in several shades and redesigned to meet the demands of various trends. And let’s face it, they’re damn sexy!

Owning an iconic product gives you a feeling of belonging to an exclusive group of discerning consumers that just keeps growing, generation after generation. Or is it just an illusion, a way to justify the fact that you’ve just spent a ridiculous amount of money on something so meaningless? Yes, that’s probably it!

Pet peeves during working hours...

I’ve got quite a few. I’m not an easy person to live with. And working with me must be quite a challenge. Here’s my top three:

1)   Noise. Screaming kids, barking dogs, trucks. I can’t handle any noise when I’m working. Even loud breathing can throw me off balance. I don't mind the radio and the TV though. I know I’m contradicting myself, but that’s me.

2)   Someone watching over my shoulder. Luckily I don’t have a boss checking my every move, but I absolutely hate it when hubby-to-be takes a peek at what I’m doing. Somehow whenever he does I’m on Facebook or Twitter, which doesn’t add to my credibility.

3)   Phone calls. When I’m working I don’t want to be disturbed. If you need me just e-mail or text me. Unless you have some life-threatening situation you need to notify me of. I answer my e-mails within five minutes. If you don’t receive a reply, I’m probably dead.

Memorise this if you don’t want to end up in my black book!

Wrinkle cream and the flow of life

On Saturday I went shopping. Nothing memorable, were it not that I bought my first wrinkle cream. Every woman will testify that is a life-defining and life-changing moment. It makes you think of all the times you squinted to get a good look at that cute guy across the road, all the laughter and happiness, all the tears and sadness. All of a sudden you enter a new phase in life. It’s not the wrinkle cream that does that to you, but the realisation that life consists of various phases, and you’ve just left one behind to enter a new one.

I think I’ve reached that stage in my life where I’m perfectly at peace with myself. I’m no longer bothered by how others perceive me. I can easily walk out the door without a full face of make-up on, even without covering up that huge pimple on my cheek. I couldn’t care less whether my outfit is fashionable or whether my dog has drooled on my skirt leaving marks all over it.

Growing up you don’t realise this day will eventually come. For some it comes at the age of forty, for others at the age of twenty. But everyone actually does at some point stop worrying about the way they are perceived. I used to panic when we had visitors because our walls have been plastered, but not painted over. Because our dog leaves chunks of fur in every nook and cranny of the flat. Because our bathroom cabinet is not neatly organised. Then I read something somewhere – no idea where exactly – that had a profound impact on me: always consider whether your actions will have a positive influence on your life. If not, don’t even bother. Find a different way out.

Would a painted wall make me a happier person? Would vacuuming five times a week instead of three times make me smile? Would an organised bathroom cabinet give me a more positive outlook on life? Not really, no.

That idea is the mantra I apply to all my decisions. Granted, you can’t control what lies ahead, but you can steer your life in the direction you want it to follow. I believe in destiny – some coincidences are just too improbable – but I also believe we have the power to change things that cause heartbreak and suffering. The only requirement? A good dose of willpower. If you dig deep enough, you’ll find it! Make this your aim of the week…

Change your shoes, change your mind!

MS, wat is dat eigenlijk? Ontdek er alles over op de Facebook-pagina ‘Change your shoes’ (https://www.facebook.com/#!/changeyourshoes), klik ‘Vind ik leuk’ en Novartis schenkt 0,25 euro aan het onderzoek naar deze ziekte. Allen daarheen!

Vandaag wordt de campagne ‘Change your shoes, change your mind’ gelanceerd door Novartis in samenwerking met de MS-Liga Vlaanderen en met de steun van Brantano. Leuke filmpjes, een flinke dosis humor en alles wat je moet weten over MS. Weg met al die vooroordelen, ontdek hoe het nu écht zit!

Go to https://www.facebook.com/#!/changeyourshoes, click 'Like' and 0.25 euro will be donated to MS research!

Do you have an unusual name?

I don’t. Not now at least. My name is Amy. Quite common here on the rock, but in the 80s, when I was still living in cold, grey Belgium, my name was considered quite unusual. Throughout primary and secondary school it was butchered into a series of horrible-sounding variants, both in spoken and written language. In Italy my friends found it virtually impossible to write and pronounce my name, so over there I’m still known as Emi. I even have a Facebook friend who writes to me using Emi. Does she realise my actual name is right there, above her message? At university – I went to a business school that attracted quite a few foreign students – things got a little better, but my name wasn’t spelled and pronounced 100% correctly until I moved to the rock. Amen.

When I translate texts I ALWAYS check and double-check names. To me the source text is not a holy-grail document that shouldn’t be altered. If there’s a mistake in it, I’ll correct it and let the client know. Isn’t that only logical? Unfortunately I’ve come to realise that’s not standard practice. In my six years as a proofreader I’ve rarely come across a text in which errors were corrected. I’ve worked with some of the best translators on the market, who can produce top-notch translations at the speed of light, but even they refuse to make that small effort and google proper names.

It’s a touchy subject for me, probably because it defined my childhood. I’ve always been so incredibly proud of my name. I love the fact that it’s international, short and sweet. It means “the beloved” – can it get any better than that? When I translate or proofread a text I always keep in mind that I would be horrified to see my name misspelled in an article or on a website. It would hurt my pride. It would strip me of my identity.

Next time you’re writing, translating or correcting a text please, please, please think of little Emi and put a smile back on her face!

The importance of language in marketing

I’m not a product development manager. I’m not a graphic designer. And I’m certainly not a marketing guru. Yet somehow my activities are very closely linked to theirs. As a translator, proofreader and copywriter, you’re behind the scenes, trying to make their work even better, trying to adapt it to the desired target audience. You feel responsible for launching their products and services, for turning their efforts into a great success.

Unfortunately sometimes things go wrong. Texts are not proofread by reputable translation agencies trying to cut costs. Marketing managers rewrite, rephrase and mutilate the copywriter’s texts without having them checked again. Graphic designers and printers don’t spellcheck ads to save time and money, or for fear of being criticised by their clients.

Companies big and small seem to think it’s more important to invest in form rather than in content. They couldn’t be more wrong. Imagine this scenario: you sell expensive crystal vases. Your aim is to position your business in the top-of-the-range end of the market. You write a 50-word ad yourself, because you refuse to fork out 50 euros for a copywriter to do it for you. But you do hire a professional photographer to shoot stunning photos of your vases. At a cost of a few hundred euros. The result: your ad looks exactly the way you wanted it to look – it exudes the air of luxury and elegance that you were after – but upon closer inspection there’s something not quite right about the actual text. A spelling error. Was it worth saving those 50 euros?

Not everyone will notice, that’s true. And not everyone will care. Maybe you’re not too bothered yourself. However, don’t forget that many – if not most – consumers will rely on your marketing material to forge an opinion on your business. Their (I mean our) reasoning: if they can’t even be bothered to proofread their own ads, what should I expect from their customer service?

In marketing the importance of language is often overlooked. Yet it’s one of the most fundamental aspects of this type of communication. Language bridges the gap between a business and its customers. It illustrates the company’s ability to convey its know-how. By language I mean spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation, the whole lot. No need for nitpicking, but blatant errors should be avoided at all costs. And that’s where we come in!

Have fun trying to figure out what went wrong below!

A combination of English and German?

Buy a tool... and get a free motoring school? That's what I call a good deal! But there's more...

That’s it!

 

That’s it, the end of my blogging adventure…

Just kidding! Actually I would like to thank all my readers for their feedback and suggestions. I’ve decided that I’m going to revamp this page, one step at a time, starting with content. Many of you have told me that you can’t keep up with daily posts, so I’ve decided to write about three posts a week, maybe a little longer than usual, but not too long, so that you can still enjoy them during your coffee breaks. How does that sound?

Judging from the page views, you seem to like photo posts and articles about my work as a translator. For those of you who are more interested in art, books and travel, don’t despair! There’s plenty more where that came from.

I also want to switch to a more appealing background. I’m not too fond of the current one, so forgive me for experimenting a little with colours and textures in the next few weeks. I’m sure eventually we’ll find something we can all agree on.

Last but not least, I will be shooting some videos on various topics (with my camcorder; I’ve finally figured out how to use it). Let me know what you’d like to see! And more importantly, which language(s) you want me to speak in my videos…

Thanks again for your support, dear readers. I’m enjoying this new blogging adventure and I can’t wait to share my next post. Soon, very soon!

Valletta & surroundings off the beaten track

Keen to see Valletta from an entirely different perspective? Hop on your bike! A year and a half ago hubby-to-be and I invested in two mountain bikes. Best buy ever! And today, after almost six years on the rock, we explored a few must-sees and discovered some hidden gems in what is arguably the most beautiful and romantic city in the world… our very own capital, Valletta.

9 a.m. Upper Barrakka Gardens. Unbeatable views.

9.20 a.m. Pit stop at Saint Barbara Bastion.

9.30 a.m. Espresso break at The Malta Experience with a view of the Three Cities and the Valletta breakwater.

 

10 a.m. Trying to find the new breakwater bridge (still under construction). Enjoying the view of the concrete jungle that is Tigne' Point.

10.45 a.m. Discovered a “secret” spot with amazing views: Sa Maison Garden.

11 a.m. Just a few minutes down the road: Msida parish church and marina.

I can't imagine a better way to kick off a sunny Sunday!