He´s young, passionate about languages and an excellent translator. Fernando has been part of Okodia’s great little family for more than a year and never lets us down. Everything he translates to English or French, he does with a great deal of enthusiasm. In fact, he loves his work, and in particular, feels that specialising in medical translation is to some extent similar to the work of any reputable doctor: “what could be more amazing than saving lives with translation?”. We already know the answer, but take a look at the interview to learn more about Fernando, and draw your own conclusions.
[Sharer]- How do you think translation and interpretation contribute to our day-to-day lives in society?
Translation is everywhere without us even realising it, magazines, television series, web pages, manuals, even on the labels of most of the products we consume. Thanks to the work of translators and interpreters, we can travel and work in other countries, sign the contract and business agreements, improve our knowledge and keep up-to-date with everything happening around the world, among many other things.
- What’s the best advice you can offer, that you didn’t know when you ventured into translation?
I would emphasise one very important piece of advice: keep on learning and diversify the services you offer. It’s a good idea to specialise, but it’s not easy to survive if you only accept work in one area of translation In my case, I mix legal and audiovisual translation, and it has worked out very well ever since I realised that by approaching only one type of client means closing other doors, and you need to invest in your business in order to grow.
- Which translation specialisation do you think brings more benefits to society and why?
All specialisations contribute in some way, and all are necessary, but if I had to choose one more important area, it would be translation and interpretation in medicine, in hospitals or in humanitarian environments, as it helps to save lives. What could be more amazing than that?
- Let’s find out more about you:
Translators have some strange habits while they work, what’s yours?
Noise distracts me.
On a personal level, what do you like doing, and why?
I love cinema and watching television series (maybe the reason why I´m audiovisual translator). But I’m not one of those people who prefers to watch everything in its original version. If I’ve spent the whole day subtitling, the last thing I want to do in my leisure time is to read subtitles.
What do you loathe and why?
Arrogance. I can’t bear people try to appear more intelligent or superior to others.
Which languages hold a special significance for you, and why?
The two foreign languages I work with (English and French) as they have always been in my family, but more so due to the field of philology and teaching. It’s one of the reasons that I became fond of them from very early on, even though it was not originally out of choice.
When you are faced with a difficult translation problem, is the first thing you do to solve it, and why?
Firstly, I consult specific online resources for the problem at hand. I personally feel that being resourceful and using logic will solve most problems. This is another recommendation, the more common sense you using your texts the better a translator you will be.
Who do you go to when you have a problem?
To my family and those closest to me. Those who know you better will best know how to help you.
Which place would you choose to escape from the world?
I would go diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Ha ha, I´m not asking for much, am I?
What is the most interesting place you have visited? What appealed to you the most about this place?
I have not travelled as much as I’d like, but one place I fell in love with was Bruges, with its charming canals, swans and strange architecture.
