The Linguist

FEATURES @CIOL_Linguists Could you tell us a bit about your work? I work with international governmental and non-governmental organisations on texts related to human rights and sustainable development. I translate from French and Spanish, edit English, and give advice about language and writing, focusing on respectful language. I work on a lot of research papers and reports. I particularly enjoy learning about how different aspects of society interact. Of course, many of the texts I work on deal with the worst of humanity. Even so, working with people and organisations dedicated to making the world a better place for everyone gives me hope. I remain convinced that we can achieve a sustainable future in which no one is left behind. What early experiences led to your interest in human rights? I grew up near London and saw a lot of inequality. I think that's where my strong sense of social justice began. I didn't understand why not everyone had what they needed to live a decent life. As a child, I made posters asking people to help those less fortunate. I later learned about the systemic causes of injustice and the myriad factors that influence people's circumstances. How does translation support human rights and sustainable development? For me, development is the realisation of all human rights for everyone. Translation plays a pivotal role in allowing people who speak different languages to work together. It enables communities experiencing similar challenges to join forces and advocate for their rights at the international level. Translation allows multilateral organisations and international NGOs to function. It's difficult to overstate its importance. People need to be able to use their own language, especially on issues that profoundly affect their lives. It's a question of linguistic justice. There's also the question of how you translate. You can further human rights by using clear language and removing jargon, to help people understand and enforce their own rights; and by using respectful language to break down stereotypes. Language matters. It can humanise or dehumanise people, justify or condemn mistreatment. We should be addressing these issues with our clients. So do you think translators should promote inclusive language? Yes, but only if they talk to their clients about it. If you change gendered to gender-neutral language, for example, without discussing it, you're just masking the problem. I prefer to talk about respectful language. It's not about including 'others' in the in-group, but about treating everyone with respect. That means having difficult conversations with clients about how they describe people, the stereotypes they are perpetuating and biases in their writing. Oxfam and Survival International have excellent guides on these topics. Why is it important to you to present at translation events? I love my profession and the opportunities it gives me to be a force for good. And I want to see it recognised for the role it plays in society. For that to happen, translators need to work together, continuously improve our skills, specialise and make sure clients understand the value of our work. Could you tell us about an assignment you are particularly proud of? For one of my first direct clients, I worked on a short blog post by an Indigenous activist talking about her people's connection to the forest. It might not seem the most consequential text to translate, but the author's voice was more distinct, more poetic than my usual dry institutional work. It brought home why I do what I do. The feedback stuck with me too: that my translation did justice to the original. What connections have you made through CIOL that have been particularly helpful? Last year I was approached by an international organisation (a dream client) to do some work on human rights. They found my name through CIOL. I've also met lots of fantastic colleagues and had some fantastic conversations about the profession, translation and my specialist areas. It's the sum of all these smaller connections that makes me feel part of the wider translation community. Why it's important to talk to clients about respectful language, and how translation is pivotal in the fight for human rights Holly-Anne Whyte Meet our members

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