Really good translation goes beyond simply conveying the literal meaning of the original text. It should have a natural and authentic flow that makes it indiscernible as a translation. Although no longer a core part of my service offering, it helped establish me as a trusted wordsmith with many long-standing German clients.
Corporate publications
Working with publishers and communications agencies, I formed an integral part of the team on the production of high-value publications ranging from corporate reports to customer magazines and entire books. In all cases, the top priority was to ensure that the quality of storytelling and messaging was not “lost in translation”.
- Ettore, the Bugatti customer magazine
- Encounter, the Audi Technology Magazine
- Curves, automotive photography magazine by Stefan Bogner
- Books on historic and iconic cars and brands
- Sustainability reports for major German manufacturers
- Employee newsletters
Press and media content
I was frequently called upon to translate a range of content to support the communications activities of major carmakers and tier 1 suppliers. I always aimed to ensure that the quality of the finished product reflected the messaging, tonality and brand values of the client, and also that the linguistic style and flow was right for the respective audience.
- Press kits and releases
- Social media posts
- Presentations
- Corporate blog articles
- Technical deep dives
- Q&As
The spoken word
Translating the spoken word from German into English is different in many respects from translating the written word. Much depends upon the language skills and personal delivery of the individual in question. In the case of video scripts and subtitles, it is important to convey important messages in as few words as possible. I have translated and adapted the spoken word for a wide range of applications.
- Executive speeches for corporate events, press conferences, world premieres and product launches
- Video scripts for digital events, media communications or marketing
- English subtitles for video content produced in German
- Soundbites for use in social media posts
Websites
As well as originating website copy in English, I have also translated German-language websites into English for a range of major players in the automotive sector.
- Corporate websites
- Product websites
- Event microsites
- Intranet sites
Elaine Catton 