This week, we’re shining the linguist spotlight on three more brilliant linguists who bring curiosity, cultural sensitivity, and a love of language to every brief. Whether they’re translating complex IT materials or marketing content with a twist, these professionals are passionate about delivering work that truly resonates.
Eduan
Meet Eduan, a Brazilian Portuguese freelance translator and reviewer with a specialisation in technical content, IT, gaming, and general texts. With a background in computing and a flair for language, Eduan helps businesses communicate with clarity and natural fluency across borders.
His journey into translation started at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul (IFSUL), where he studied computing. Over time, his interest in English grew – and as his language skills deepened, he discovered that translation was the perfect blend of his tech background and creative side. He now balances technical expertise with linguistic finesse, and is currently adding Japanese to his repertoire after spending two years living in Tokyo.
When asked what a typical day looks like, Eduan says experience has made the work flow smoothly – “as long as the client provides the correct instructions, it’s just fun!”
Looking ahead, Eduan sees AI as a helpful ally in streamlining workflows and boosting productivity. But for him, the heart of good translation still lies with the human touch: “AI can assist, but it can’t replicate cultural sensitivity or context. It’ll keep evolving, but humans are still essential for tone and quality.”
Eduan also shared some fun language facts and experiences:
- A phrase that doesn’t translate well: Ficar com a pulga atrás da orelha – literally “to have a flea behind your ear,” meaning to be suspicious.
- An idiom that makes no sense in English: Chutar o balde – literally “kick the bucket,” but it actually means to give up or go wild.
- Ever mixed up languages? Not really – Eduan keeps things pretty clear, though gaming lingo sometimes sneaks into his everyday speech!
Ingrid
Say hello to Ingrid, a French linguist who translates and reviews from English into French, with a special focus on IT, marketing, and medical content.
Ingrid’s linguistic journey spans continents – from studying in Australia to completing her PhD in the US. After returning to France, she taught English for three years before deciding that the classroom wasn’t quite her calling. Wanting more flexibility and independence, she made the leap into freelancing – and quickly found her feet as a professional translator.
While Ingrid primarily focuses on technical and marketing texts, she occasionally receives more unexpected assignments. One particularly memorable project involved translating a website for adult products – “quite… interesting and fun!” she recalls.
Her tool of choice? SDL Trados Studio. “It’s not as popular as it once was,” she says, “but to me, it’s still the best.”
Like many in the field, Ingrid has noticed changes brought on by AI. “It’s actually rather scary. Workloads have decreased, and tools like DeepL are very strong. But I still believe machines will never fully replace human translators – there’s a touch of nuance and emotion they just can’t reach.”
Ingrid’s favourite language quirks include:
- A word she loves: Her children’s names – Loé (Hawaiian) and Miyo (Japanese). “They’re not French at all – the names, not my kids!”
- A beautiful untranslatable: Komorebi – the Japanese word for sunlight filtering through trees.
- Ever mixed up languages? “No, I don’t think so!”
Yinli
Meet Yinli, a Simplified Chinese linguist who works across technology, science, and the humanities. With a uniquely reflective perspective, Yinli brings insight and precision to every project she takes on.
Her path to linguistics is rooted in a broad academic background – one that she sees as more connected to her work than it might appear on paper. “I don’t see myself limited to a single discipline,” she says. For her, translation is less about rigid definitions and more about exploring the layers of meaning within and between languages.
Every project, she explains, offers a chance to gain new distinctions – both technical and philosophical. Her most trusted resources? “My old friends: paper dictionaries.”
On the future of translation, Yinli offers a poetic take: “AI can help gather symbols and their outer layers, if that’s what we’re looking for. But language is more than form – it’s about resonance.”
Here are a few of her favourite thoughts on language and culture:
- A word she loves: “Brett” – “A beautiful name for a beautiful one.”
- A unique insight: “It feels as though we grow into the language that precedes us, into every word and expression, finding our place within.”
- Ever mixed up languages? “Yes, especially while typing. Different pronunciations from various languages can trip me up sometimes.”
Come back next week for more linguist spotlight content from our incredible linguists! Curious about working with our team? We’d love to hear about your project – get in touch for a quote today!
17 April 2025 15:38