Over the past month, we’ve been shining the linguist spotlight on some of the incredible freelance linguists who make our work possible!
From Mandarin to Friulian, software to fine art, and funny phrases to heartfelt career stories, our linguist spotlights have given us a behind-the-scenes look at the people, languages and lived experiences that shape high-quality translation.
A truly global community
One of the most inspiring things about our freelance network is its diversity. Over the course of one month alone, we heard from linguists based in France, Italy, China, Spain and beyond – each bringing their own cultural insight and linguistic nuance to the table.
Their specialisms ranged from luxury marketing to technical translation, indie games to academic research. And yet, they all shared a deep passion for language, communication and connection.
The paths that brought them here
Every linguist has a story. Echo started out tutoring English before going full-time as a freelance translator (while pregnant with her second child!). Mercedes got her start subtitling films in London. Basel was inspired by his mother’s English teaching, and Laura returned to translation after exploring several other roles.
Whether they stumbled into the profession or pursued it with purpose, one thing’s clear: being a linguist often means carving your own path.
Thoughts on the future
It’s no surprise that AI and machine translation came up more than once. While opinions vary, our contributors agreed on one thing – the future of translation lies in balance. Technology is here to stay, but human creativity, empathy and cultural know-how will always matter, especially in fields where nuance is key.
Favourite phrases and language quirks
We couldn’t wrap up without sharing a few more of our favourite linguistic gems…
- From Arabic: تقبرني (taqburni) – “May you bury me.” A dramatic but affectionate way of saying “I love you so much I can’t bear to live without you.”
- From Spanish: Estar en la edad del pavo – “To be in the turkey age.” A very visual way to describe the awkwardness of adolescence.
- From Chinese: 啊，真香！(ā, zhēn xiāng!) – “Ah, this smells/tastes so good!” A viral expression used when someone ends up loving something they initially refused.
- From Friulian: No varìn migo di lassâsi come cjans? – “Are we really going to part like dogs?” Perfect for persuading your friends to stay for one more drink.
Thank you!
We’re so grateful to all the linguists who took the time to share their stories with us this month. Whether you’re a client, a fellow translator or just curious about languages, we hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know the people behind the words.
Don’t worry if you missed our linguist spotlight posts – you can head over to our LinkedIn to check them out!
We love working with amazing linguists from all over the world. Got a translation project coming up? Contact us – we’d love to work with you!
29 April 2025 12:53