Our Passion, Our Voices
The greatest value we bring to our clients is our PASSION for this industry. We are fortunate to be part of a global community of people who share our passion for language, culture and communication. Our global vision is one of connectivity and growth. Our mission is to connect clients with second language end-users effectively and efficiently, ultimately affecting community awareness and the world at large. We are invested in the relationships we build with our clients.
By educating them about our industry and helping them to connect with our amazing global community, we encourage their own personal journeys. If we can change your perspective, help you find your way across the bridge into another culture, or give you the knowledge and support you need to be an active member of the global community, we are succeeding! Our clients, translators, partners and colleagues have come together to share their stories with you. We hope they inspire you, as they do us!
George, Client
Localization of a strategic communication effort brings people together, so that we can walk the same path and work toward common goals. But true localization allows each culture and linguistic group to express its unique perspective and vocabulary. As with fine wine, the joy is in the discovery of the subtle flavor differences imparted by the local geology and climate.
It was a formative experience on a recent global branding initiative to end up with no less than three different versions of our slogan—all in French—and we haven’t even come to France yet!”
Nathalie, French Translator
“ A never-ending journey. It all started one summer, many moons ago, somewhere in New England. I was five years old and, for the first time, me, the little girl from Quebec, crossed the language barrier and managed to make friends with children from a different culture.
I started my explorations into the English language then, and I’ve never looked back, discovering as I went along a treasure of different and rich cultures. The journey of language is intricately linked to culture for me and many people, and to the incredible human universe, which never ceases to amaze me.
So I made language my professional pursuit, adding English early on to my native French, with notions of German, Spanish, Italian and Hebrew to widen my perspective and give me more insights into the rich diversity of our world. Variety is, indeed, the spice of life.
I now have been working as a translator for over 23 years, and what I love about translation is that I constantly discover and learn and wonder about the world. And I don’t intend to stop!”
D., Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Translator
I also had some amazing teachers and mentors. Later, I taught ESL and English; I worked with refugees; my friends still come from all races and nationalities. Words convey messages. Words have the power to heal. Because of words, you can get into trouble. One wrong word can sometimes kill. Reading words can take you places. These are some of my life lessons. And, again, this is why I am doing this job.”
Michèle, French Translator
“Like most of the things we like in life, it is thanks to our parents who taught us to like it. My parents taught me to talk and write properly. When I received a gift, my father always made sure I wrote a letter to the person who gave it to me to thank them, saying how pleased I was, and why that gift was so special (and, of course, without spelling mistakes). That could have made me hate any form of writing, and I did hate those kind of letters at that time (and, frankly, still do) but I learnt how to express myself properly when I was a kid. It is so rewarding to communicate precisely what you mean and get your point across, the way you mean it, with all the feelings you want to convey – humor, sadness, joy, etc. I love writing. For me, it is like reading a book, I discover and develop my thoughts while writing. I don’t know what the next sentence is going to be until I write it. On another hand, it is so frustrating when you want to communicate in a foreign language, whether it is with friends, for business or as a tourist, and you can’t.
My passion for the French language made me decide to become a translator. In my own little way, I can contribute to helping people say what they mean, the way they would like to say it if they could speak French themselves. When we say something, we want to be precisely understood, if not, not only is it a waste of time, but miscommunication can be very damaging. It is so important to me to be clearly understood that… I speak too much.”
Uta, German Translator
Olga, Russian/Ukrainian Translator
The town looked like towns I had imagined while reading novels by O. Henry – he’s been my favorite writer since childhood. Now, that was inspiring! Less inspiring was the fact that the professional demand for a PhD in Linguistics in this area was as desirable as water in one’s shoe… That’s how my translation/interpreting services started to take shape and created an opportunity for me to work with the languages of my life (Russian, Ukrainian and English).
I’ve been fortunate enough to live in a few foreign countries and experience first-hand the need for precise communication between people who don’t speak the same language. I always consider myself humbled whenever I can help people address this need.”