Linked to my last post on translating for NGOs, today I’d like to share this article that I co-wrote with Laura Furones, and recently published in the Bulletin of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. In the article, Laura and I talk about what it’s like to work for this NGO, and the challenges involved. We also cover several important topics about translating for non-governmental organisations in general:

• The responsibility of working in partnership on major campaigns
• Recognising the work of the translator
• The translator’s place in the workflow
• What the customer is looking for in a translation professional (quality, flexibility, reliability, etc.)

The article concludes that the topics and texts handled by these organisations are complex and require a translator with an excellent command of English and Spanish, up-to-date knowledge about their specialist field, and an excellent understanding of cultural differences. Despite these challenges, translators specialising in these fields do very rewarding work.

I encourage you to read the article and, if you think I can help you, don’t hesitate to contact me at isabel@lingotrans.es.