tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41630863349979882852011-12-13T09:07:51.944ZRamblings of a translator through languages and translationNicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-29965437524716658302010-03-10T14:37:00.004Z2010-03-10T14:41:46.422Z

I recently signed up to DailyWritingTips. With my special interest in music, I was delighted when this gem on using musical terms popped into my inbox:http://www.dailywritingtips.com/orchestrate-and-crescendo/

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-10557674415094087422009-05-18T17:00:00.022+01:002009-05-19T16:24:08.279+01:00

Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI) Conference16 – 17 May 2009, 1 Birdcage Walk, LondonWith this my first ever ITI conference, expectations were already running high. Dubbed 'the must attend event of 2009,' the conference had an extremely broad remit: 'Sustainability in Translation' in all its guises. Some talks had an environmental focus (Forest Stewardship Council, Friends of the

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-47598638625545773142009-03-19T17:58:00.003Z2009-03-19T18:01:01.007Z

In February this year I thought it was high time I stepped into my clients’ shoes – by attending a technical exhibition. Although having translated many a press release for trade fairs across Europe covering industries as varied as electronics, machine tools, automotive and pet care, I had never set foot in one myself. Thanks to its convenient location and relevant remit, the Southern

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-70328753519738008392008-04-05T11:27:00.004+01:002008-04-05T12:01:04.725+01:00

On a family trip to Cambridge last weekend we were accosted by a number of people selling trips on punts, small flat-bottomed boats similar to Venetian gondolas that are propelled by means of a long pole. It was remarked that maybe this could be the origin of the term punter in the sense of customer. Of course this is exactly the sort of thing that floats my linguistic boat...A quick forage in

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-1431593287127696872008-03-05T14:11:00.004Z2008-03-05T16:20:18.584Z

Pick up an English music book for beginners and the first thing you will notice is the plethora of Italian terms. For many children in the UK, Italian is the first foreign language they encounter, long before their first school language lessons. Italians must be bemused by the music-lovers they meet who can reel off a string of bizarre phrases such as allegro ma non troppo (fast but not too much)

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-88843405865729314592008-01-30T11:12:00.000Z2008-01-30T11:33:56.377Z

Another interesting drama series brought to us by BBC Radio 4. This is Anjum Malik's second series about a freelance interpreter, Nina, and her encounters with courts, doctors and affairs of the heart.I always find it interesting to hear stories about the world of interpreting as it is so different from my own work as a translator of the written word. How close the drama's portrayal is to real

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-47746028667625094062007-10-10T17:02:00.000+01:002007-10-10T17:22:45.945+01:00

September was extremely busy, but I did manage to fit in a couple of translation events. As much of my work as a professional translator is computer-based and contact with colleagues and clients normally takes place via email, it was great to meet other translation professionals face to face.20 Sept 2007: Association of Translation Companies – Annual ConferenceThis one-day event took place in

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-70891897878589895922007-08-21T18:41:00.000+01:002007-08-22T12:18:38.348+01:00

Who says technical terms can't be interesting? I often come across technical terms that, to the unfamiliar ear, sound extremely curious.Dashpot. You quite often find these cylinders attached to doorframes to slow down the door as it closes. Reason for interest: it just sounds like a great name for a mad inventor in a children's novel. Professor Dashpot, anyone?Grub screw is another good one. See

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-68454454255080935062007-07-23T17:18:00.000+01:002007-07-23T18:13:56.560+01:00

Ever the linguist, I was delighted to happen across a new word while visiting friends in Nottingham.The word: bimble (noun and verb)Context: "a bimble in the Peak District"This was explained as being a short, non-strenuous walk. Perhaps because I spent my formative years further south on the Isle of Wight, I had never heard this expression before. Keen to learn more, I found a quick internet

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-31067294979419341322007-07-03T20:51:00.000+01:002007-07-03T20:57:12.916+01:00

While researching cathedral organs for a music translation I have become intrigued by the fascinating world of organ stops. Most people will recognise these as the round white knobs on the organ console which are pulled in or out to select a particular organ sound. But how many of us have actually taken a closer look?Step up and you will see the stops, individually labelled, with the most

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163086334997988285.post-32139693022921450962007-06-22T19:04:00.000+01:002007-06-25T11:33:26.342+01:00

Starting this blog got me thinking about when it was exactly that I picked up the translation bug. I think it would have to be back in 2001 when I had the chance to see translation in the real world rather than in the classroom.I was an intern at a technical documentation company in Hamburg, Germany and was working in its translation department. This was a great opportunity to see how the whole

Nicola Bottrell Haywardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05711363314677754629noreply@blogger.com