The Linguist

AUTUMN 2024 The Linguist 7 @CIOL_Linguists FEATURES You were a lawyer before a translator. Did you always want to work with languages? When I was four months, my mum noted in a baby book she kept that I'd do "something musical". I wanted to be a pianist, but at 15, I did work experience at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and realised I didn't have the financial safety net to take that path. I was lucky to have a gift for languages, and have always relished the chance to use those skills in my career, which is why I wanted to work for an international law firm. There were wonderful opportunities, including a six-month secondment to Brussels and a project where I presented research on Argentinian law to a foreign affairs committee at the House of Lords. When ill health forced me to reassess my priorities, I knew I could build a career that blended my interests while harnessing all the valuable experience from legal practice. What is one of your favourite assignments? I'm an animal lover so I enjoyed a recent project translating contracts for breeders and trainers in elite equestrian sports. I had to find out a lot about the horses and the way they are handled, trained and cared for. Research is one of my favourite parts of the job, and I went the extra mile (or should that be furlong?), visiting a riding centre to get some tips and terminology. I'm really looking forward to the CIOL's event on equine and canine translation later this year. What has been your biggest achievement? Celebrating my graduation with a first-class degree in Modern and Medieval Languages from Cambridge University with my mum and grandparents. I was the first in my family to go to university, having grown up in a single- parent household and attended a state school in a disadvantaged part of the North West. What are the biggest challenges when translating for international sports bodies? Some of my translations engage fans through player interviews, match previews, museum catalogues etc, but I'm becoming specialised in sports law. It's hugely varied, but I've developed a niche in translating disciplinary proceedings. I also help clients with contracts to host global competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and Olympics. The financial and reputational stakes are high, and the subject matter can be challenging. If an athlete risks a fine or ban because of something they've said, it's important to convey that correctly, with an awareness of differing cultural nuances and perceptions. The work comes with a degree of pressure, but my regular clients are as invested as I am in working as a team to get it right. You're a member of Women in Football. How important is it to you to belong to organisations focused on your specialisms? It's not just about personal development, networking and keeping up to date; it's also about advocacy and visibility. Women in Football challenges discrimination in a sector where it's a real issue (a potential client once said they would "obviously" send their football translations to a man). Linguists can combat this, most obviously by championing inclusive and respectful language choices. Are there any transferable skills between football and translation? I see a parallel in terms of the frustrations and joys of honing one's craft. Top athletes still train hard every day. The most successful freelance translators are self-starters who are motivated to do the "hard yards" behind the scenes and have the humility to accept feedback in their pursuit of perfection. Is doing voluntary work important to you? I occasionally do pro bono translations, but I feel strongly that upholding high professional standards is one of the best ways to showcase the value of human translators, so I sit on the ITI's Professional Conduct Committee. I'm also a speaker at university events. It's important to stress that translation is a profession, not a side hustle. This also helps us to differentiate ourselves from machines and address some of our common challenges, such as low pay. What do you think might change for languages with the new UK government? I have high hopes for an empathetic and outward-looking government which enables language learning and cross-cultural communication to thrive. Professional linguists will be needed to deliver some of Labour's key ambitions, from closer cooperation with our European neighbours on law enforcement to encouraging foreign investment in the UK. A far-ranging Q&A – from being the first in her family to go to university, to what footballers and translators have in common Sarah Bowyer Meet our members

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