A reader asks: I am a freelancer working largely through agencies. I am retired and a US citizen, and I currently live in Vietnam. I am considering relocating to Europe – more specifically, France – and I am uncertain what the tax consequences would be. Currently I do not pay taxes to anybody except the […]
Continue ReadingReader questions
Reader question: deviating from the source text
A reader asks: I come from a court interpreting background, and we have to be super-faithful to the original–how much do you advise a translator to deviate (if that’s the right word) from the original? Short answer: In 2003, PEN held a tribute to Gabriel García Márquez. Edith Grossman, (legendary translator of García Márquez and […]
Continue ReadingReader question: how do I find good agencies to apply to?
A reader asks: I’d like to apply to more translation agencies, but how do I find good agencies to apply to? This question applies to a lot of people who want to work with agencies, so let’s talk about it. There are various online databases of translation agencies; for example I launched my freelance business […]
Continue ReadingWhich language is "the best"?
I am often asked this question, in various forms: I want to become a translator/interpreter: which language should I study? Which language is the most in-demand for translation and interpreting? What is the best language for a translator or interpreter to know? The answer, like the answer to many freelance-related questions, is a resounding it […]
Continue Reading