The Linguist

32 The Linguist Vol/60 No/5 2021 thelinguist.uberflip.com INSTITUTE MATTERS Meet our members TRANSLATOR DANIELLE COLEMAN MCIL ON HOW HER LANGUAGES LED TO A LAW DEGREE, WHY SHE RETRAINED AS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND HOW SHE MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN SIX LANGUAGES You studied law before becoming a translator. Did you want to be a lawyer? No. I spent seven terms studying Classics then wanted to switch subjects. That was when I found that my combination of A levels (Latin, Ancient Greek, French and pure maths) meant I met the requirements of very few degree courses! So it was law by default. I did a three-week holiday job with a law firm that confirmed my instinct that I was not cut out to be a lawyer, although I enjoy the intellectual discipline of the subject and relish translating legal texts. After my first child was born I felt that being a translator would fit in well with having a family. Tell us a little about your career path… While I was studying for the Diploma in Translation, I heard about a European Union competition for translators. The process was so long that I had had another child by the time I came to sit the exams! The gruelling final stage was an interview in English, French, Italian and Greek by a panel of 12 high- powered figures from different EU institutions. We moved to Luxembourg in 1998, which was a dramatic change of scene. I worked for a year at the European Court of Auditors, where I learnt a lot about audits of olive oil producers in Greece, and then for five years as a permanent translator at the European Parliament. During that time I added Spanish and Latvian to my languages through in-house courses. We then decided to take a year in Australia and this is when I went freelance. We ended up buying a house on the east coast and staying for three years. What surprised you about your time at the European Parliament? I was surprised at how little we translators had to do with the political process. I never met a politician or even went to a parliamentary session. The most fulfilling experience was a tour of Latvia in May 2004, when it was joining the EU. Our job was to let people know what Parliament was. Latvians had to answer questions about the EU to 'win' T-shirts and pens. I quickly realised how Eurocentric a view I had developed. Latvians outside the capital knew nothing about the EU, but everything about their history and the natural world. They were warm and friendly, and rooted to their traditions. How do you maintain professional skills in all of your languages? By using them in my job every day! This week I have a variety of assignments, including translating from all five languages into English. The subject matter varies from amendments to proposed European laws on animal welfare to an agreement between the governments of Latvia and Lithuania on social security and a book on relations between Greece and Russia. Covid times apart, I also try to visit the countries where my languages are spoken. Which was most challenging to learn? Latvian, because it is much less closely related to the Romance languages, nestling on the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language tree. I had no 'pegs' to hang the new vocabulary on, whereas I learnt French and Latin from the age of 11 at school and used them as props in learning Italian and Spanish. Why did you decide to study psychotherapy after about 15 years working as a translator? When I took the year-long introductory course and three-year psychotherapy diploma, I was considering changing careers, in part prompted by the loneliness of working as a freelance translator, spending all day in front of the screen. Part of a therapist's job is to help translate a client's thoughts, feelings and dreams into a more understandable or accessible form, and my communication skills were invaluable. I had a private practice for a few years: I enjoyed the collaborative process but found it emotionally demanding. I am full of admiration for all in the caring professions. What is the main attraction of CIOL membership for you? Having external recognition of my skills. It's something I can use to reassure potential clients of my professional credentials. When people contact me through Find-a-Linguist it gives me the experience of working directly with clients – something that is rare for me. It's important to connect with colleagues and to develop professional solidarity in the face of continued downward pressure on rates of pay. Are you working on any new ventures? Funny you should ask… I am working on my first novel, featuring a main character who's a psychotherapist! Honing prose is a skill I practise in my day job. I'm excited to have finished the editing process and am awaiting the reactions of family members.

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