Today we have an international chat in Conversa entre Tradutores with Céline Graciet, a professional English to French translator, author of the translation blog Naked Translations. I’ll really do my best in this interview and I’m sure that our readers will love it. The interview is posted here in English and Portuguese.
PR: First of all, how did you become a translator?
Céline: I did an Ma in English, suspected that I might be good enough to make a living out of translation and so I took the Institute of Linguists to see if I was right. Passing the diploma gave me the confidence I needed to start a career in translation.
PR: You maintain a bilingual blog, in which you explore a lot of issues on translation. Do you receive job proposals through it or it is just a way to talk about our profession?
Céline: The blogs brings many visitors to my site, including prospective clients. Currently, around 80% of my income comes from clients I’ve gained thanks to my website.
PR: Which texts do you really like to work with?
Céline: Anything to do with the environment, international development and fitness.
PR: How do you evaluate the translation scenario nowadays? In your opinion, how people see our profession?
Céline: I think a lot of people don’t realise that ours is a highly skilled profession. The rise of the machine translation hasn’t helped, as it leads people to believe that it is a task that can be automated. To most people, we’re a bit of a mystery!
PR: What do you must have on your work desk?
Céline: A cup of coffee!
PR: What kind of book do you like to read? Which one you’ve been reading?
Céline: Novels and historical biographies. I’m finishing “Marital rites” by Paul Magrs and I’m about to start The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver.
PR: Leave a message for those who love and intend to work with translations.
Céline: Have faith in your talent, strive to be the best you can and you’ll succeed.
PR: Thank you very much for the interview.
