The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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thelinguist.uberflip.com FEBRUARY/MARCH The Linguist 31 INSTITUTE MATTERS Jeg har altid næret stor lidenskab for sproget og fremmedsprog. Jeg forelskede mig i Norden, da jeg i 1977 tog med spejderne på international lejr i Danmark. Jeg fik en penneven på lejren og begyndte at lære dansk. Da min penneven og jeg havde besøgt hinanden nogle gange og med et yderligere seks måneder langt Danmarksophold i bagagen, blev jeg optaget på skandinaviske studier på University College London. Efter min eksamen i 1986 blev jeg journalist på min lokale avis The Slough Express. Drømmejobbet var i hus, men det var frustrerende ikke at bruge mine sprog, så jeg flyttede til København. Her etablerede jeg mig hurtigt som udenlands-korrespondent for udenlandske og engelske medier, bl.a. the Economist Intelligence I have always had a passion for language and languages. My Nordic love affair started with a trip with the Scouts to a camp in Denmark in 1977. I gained a pen friend and started learning Danish. After a few exchange visits, I decided to do a degree in Scandinavian Studies at University College London, following a six-month stay in Denmark. After graduating in 1986, I became a journalist on my local newspaper, The Slough Express, my dream fulfilled. But not using my languages was frustrating. That led to a move to Copenhagen, where I soon established myself as a foreign correspondent for UK and international media, including The Guardian, the Economist Intelligence Unit and financial newswire AFX News. I interviewed people in Danish and wrote articles in English. I fell into translation by accident. My office telephone number was one digit different from the European Commission (EC) information office in Copenhagen and someone called to request a translation from Danish to English. I explained her error but got the job anyway. I picked up other assignments, especially where a journalistic approach was needed. I found a market opening up for translations to, from and between the Nordic languages, and so our company was born. We have a sizeable pool of professional translators, including a Project Manager in Denmark. While much of my work is now managing the business and administration, I still do small translations from Norwegian, Danish and Swedish to English, as well as editing and proofreading. Editing texts from Danglish to English is a speciality. I also write news articles about Nordic shipping for maritime publications. I enjoy working with highly talented people, from whom I never cease to learn. Pet dislikes are unclear instructions and bulk emails with job offer requests. In my spare time, I coach for Rhondda Swimming Club. We are an inclusive club with many different nationalities and languages. A life with languages ANDREW DRAPER MCIL CL IS DIRECTOR OF NORDIC INTERNATIONAL, AN AGENCY PROVIDING JOURNALISM AND TRANSLATION SERVICES TO THE NORDIC REGION. HE DISCUSSES HIS CAREER IN DANISH AND HIS NATIVE ENGLISH Unit, The Guardian og nyhedsbureauet AFX News. Jeg interviewede folk på dansk og skrev mine artikler på engelsk. Jeg blev oversætter ved et uheld. Mit telefonnummer havde kun et ciffer til forskel fra nummeret på EF-kommissionens informationskontor i København, og en dag ringede der en, der ville have noget oversat fra dansk til engelsk. Jeg forklarede hende, at hun var gået galt i byen, men fik alligevel jobbet. Jeg fik også andre oversættelsesopgaver, især opgaver, der fordrede en journalistisk tilgang. Jeg fandt et marked for oversættelse mellem engelsk og de nordiske sprog, men der var også behov for oversættelse fra et nordisk sprog til et andet. Dermed var grundstenen til vores firma lagt. Vi har en ret stor pulje af free- lanceoversættere tilknyttet og en projektleder i Danmark. Selv om jeg nu bruger det meste af min tid på at lede firmaet og på administration, laver jeg stadig små oversættelser fra dansk, svensk og norsk til engelsk. Jeg redigerer stadig tekster og læser også korrektur. Redigering af tekster, der er dårligt oversat fra dansk til engelsk, er mit speciale. Jeg skriver nyhedsartikler om shipping i Norden for maritime blade. Jeg er glad for at arbejde sammen med så mange dygtige folk, som jeg til stadighed lærer meget af. Jeg bryder mig ikke om uklare instruktioner og mails til flere modtagere ad gangen om jobtilbud. I min fritid er jeg svømmetræner i svømmeklubben Rhondda Swimming Club. Vi er en inklusiv klub med medlemmer fra mange forskellige lande, som taler mange forskellige sprog.