I have 15 years of experience in providing high-quality translation services from Russian, Ukrainian and French.

Why I translate

Firstly, because I have always loved languages. I grew up in Montreal's multi-lingual environment (it's not just French and English) and was always fascinated by the play of the various languages on the streets, on public transport and in my friends' homes, where I would regularly hear French, Greek, Italian and Portuguese. My family contributed to my sense of wonder at languages, with my polyglot sister and British parents, each with a very distinctive dialect of his/her own (RP and Glaswegian, respectively). My mother has had a lifelong fascination with idiom and etymology and encouraged the same in me. At school, in addition to French (of course), I had the welcome opportunity to study Latin, which would later stand me in good stead as I went on to study Russian and German (in light of the introduction to a morphology very distinct from that of English).

Secondly, I relish the challenge provided by translation. There is a very real sense of accomplishment when one has the "Eureka!" moment of finding the most appropriate word or phrase in a translation - le mot juste, if you will.

Lastly, I have to say that I enjoy the tranquility that comes with translation work. I have had my fair share of time in office environments, with their attendant stresses, politics and cacophonies. Of course, freelance translation work is not entirely free of stress but - for the most part - it's just me, a cup of tea and a text to be translated. Bliss.

What I offer

Translation from Russian, Ukrainian and French of the highest quality, performed with pride and love for my work. I have a very broad range of experience in varied topics, from the humanities to science and everything in between. I am happy to look at any source text and guarantee that I will give you an honest answer, as to whether I feel I am capable of providing the standard the client requires. I will not take on work if I am in any way unsure that I will be able to meet the client's exacting standards. However, if I do accept a job, rest assured that you will be completely satisfied with the result. My references will attest to this.