What I can do for you:
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translations English-Dutch (my strength)
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translations Dutch-English (under certain conditions)
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legal translations (E-N and N-E) in co-operation with specialist Sindy Cremer
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editing and proofreading of Dutch translations
What I don’t do:
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technical translations
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medical translations
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translate from bad English
Translating involves more than plain 1 on 1 conversion of words into their literal equivalent in a different language. After all, that does not necessarily turn it into a coherent, easy to read text, does it? Often much of the scope is lost by too literal a translation.
Ultimately, it is all about your message being the same in the target language as it is in the source language. And about the translated text meeting your communication objectives.
In addition, there is also the matter of cultural differences which have to be taken into account when creating a text for a different audience. And the possibility that the target audience of the source text is different from the one for whom the translation is required.
Native speaker
A native speaker can best meet these demands. After all, the culture of my motherland and the subtle nuances in my native language run through my veins.
That is why I prefer to translate into Dutch. I love my mother tongue and I know what is common practice, what can be misinterpreted and how to avoid boring and cumbersome language.
In spite of having worked and lived in Ireland for almost 12 years, I will never pretend to be an English native speaker. For optimal results, I recommend that any text or translation done by me therefore be checked by an English editor.
(By the way: every bit of English on this website is of my own doing*, so this should give you a fair idea of the level you can expect.)
However, those 12 years in Ireland did provide me with the ability to interpret an English text adequately. Including the fine nuances. And the awareness that not every message benefits from a literal conversion into Dutch.
*Please note: I am never too old to learn. So feel free to suggest any corrections you think should really be made in my English. I am grateful in advance!
