FAQs

No! Although translators and interpreters both need to be bilingual, translation and interpreting are two very different skills. While translators typically work behind the scenes from their offices, interpreters travel frequently and often work in front of large audiences at conferences and events. It takes years of training and practice to become a professional translator or interpreter, and not all language professionals can or want to offer both services.

I translate and interpret from English into Italian, from Italian into English, and from French into Italian.

I specialize in translating texts on the subjects of :

• Finance (presentation for the pitch by finance promotion teams, funds)
• Legal (certifications, sworn translations, contracts, mergers and takeovers, due diligence, disputes, legal opinions and similar documents)
• European Works Councils- minutes of multinational meetings
• Banking
• Healthcare, medical, pharma
• Marketing
• Energy and environment
• Media (press releases)
• Marketing

However, over my 20-year career, I have gained experience in many other topics, ranging from biotechnology to gaming and (almost) everything in between. If you would like to learn more about how I can help with your translation project, please get in touch.

I can work with a variety of different file types, including PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, Adobe InDesign, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, etc. However, some formats (particularly PDF) require time-consuming preparation before I can begin the translation. In general, it is quicker for me and less expensive for you if you can provide me with a Word document rather than a PDF.

In some cases, you may only have a handwritten document available, as is sometimes the case with medical case files or very old official documents. It is possible to translate this type of document, but because it is much more time-consuming to read the original, the cost of the translation will be considerably higher than for a typed document. If you would like to learn more, feel free to contact me. Please note that I will need to see a scan of the document in order to provide a firm quote.

In order to provide you with a fixed quote, I will need the following information:

• Language of the original document
• Language to translate into
• Desired completion date
• Subject of the document
• Any specific stylistic guidelines you might have
• An electronic copy of the document or file

When I send you a quote, the prices it shows will not include value added tax (VAT).
The following groups will have VAT included on the final invoice according to European law:

• Private clients residing anywhere within the European Union
• EU-based companies without a VAT number
• All Italian individuals and businesses

Once you confirm your translation project, you will receive an invoice from me via email. It will include all the details you need to make your payment. In general, I accept the following payment methods:

• Credit cards
• Bank transfers

No. Although I love technology as much (or more) as the next person, machine translation is not a technology that I embrace. A high-quality translation requires a human translator because machine translation cannot transfer the fine nuances of language reliably and effectively. When you book a translation with me, you will get a translation that not only transfers the words from one language to another but which takes cultural and linguistic subtleties into account — in ways that machines simply can’t.

Almost certainly. Not only do I have over 20 years of experience as a translator, I have extensive experience in project management as well. Even if your project needs to be translated into multiple languages, has special formatting requirements, or is particularly sensitive in nature, I can coordinate your project to produce a finished product that you are delighted with. Please contact me with as many project details as possible so that we can discuss your requirements.

Please provide as much information as possible about the project during your initial consultation. Translations are crafted carefully to meet your needs, so the more details you can give me about your project, the better. Here are some types of information that you should consider sharing with me: the intended use of the translation, desired style, writing tone, and any specific terminology that you require or want to avoid. This will allow me to create a bespoke translation that suits your exact requirements.

Because official requirements might change at any time, I am unfortunately not able to provide this information. If you are requesting translation of a document for any kind of government agency or office, they will usually tell you on their website which type of certification they require. If you are unsure, please contact the agency or office directly to make sure that the information you get is up to date and accurate.

My interpreting services are not calculated at an hourly rate because of the extensive preparation time that is required prior to the event. Because the topics and questions that come up are unpredictable, interpreters must do a great deal of work in advance to make sure they are ready to handle any eventuality. It takes just as long to prepare for a one-hour meeting or a six-hour conference.

I would be happy to provide you with an estimate or a detailed quote for your upcoming event. Please get in touch using my contact form. For the most accurate estimate, please provide as much of the following information as possible:

• Date and type of the event
• Schedule or purpose of each day of the event
• Starting and ending times
• Languages for which interpretation is required
• Event and/or company websites
• Any interpreting equipment required
• Dress codes/special requirements

I specialize in interpreting in the healthcare, medical, legal, banking & finance, and government sectors. I also work frequently at European Works Council events and provide business interpreting services for multinational companies.

In my 20-year career, I have interpreted on a variety of other subjects as well, so if you have a project in mind, please get in touch and I will be happy help.

You can learn more about the different styles of interpreting here, but the main differences are as follows:

Simultaneous interpreting is when I interpret into a microphone as the speaker continues talking. The audience members who need my interpretation wear headphones that allow them to hear me. The audience generally doesn’t see me, because I work from a soundproof interpreting booth, which I share with a colleague. Because interpreting requires so much concentration, my colleague and I switch off every 30 minutes or so to avoid fatigue.

In consecutive interpreting, I am on stage or at a podium in front of the audience. The speaker and I take turns speaking. I wait for him or her to pause, then interpret what was said. This obviously increases the length of time it takes for the message to be delivered, so it is usually better-suited to shorter speeches. However, it has the benefit of being very low-tech — all I need is a microphone. Because interpreting requires such intense concentration, I need to take a break every 30 minutes or so. If the event or speech is longer, it may be advisable to book two interpreters who can switch off with each other.

In remote interpreting, the interpreter joins the event via phone or video rather than attending in person. This is ideal for events like webinars, Skype meetings, online summits or any other virtual event. The costs for the organizer are significantly lower, as there is no need to pay for travel, hotels, or interpreting equipment. All that is needed is a headset, a laptop or tablet, and a stable internet connection.

I have a long list of satisfied clients: I have interpreted for His Holiness Pope Francis, major corporations, NGOs, law firms, pharma companies, and governmental organizations such as the Italian government, the UN, and the EU. I also interpret for private individuals, SMEs, and VIPs such as Julia Roberts and Robert De Niro.

That depends a lot on the specific event. Interpreting requires intense concentration, and interpreters need to take frequent breaks (every 30 minutes or so) to maintain quality. If you are booking me for consecutive interpreting and your event schedule will allow me to take frequent breaks, then a single interpreter might be enough. However, for simultaneous interpreting or for longer, ongoing consecutive interpreting jobs, you will need at least two interpreters who can switch off with each other.

I would be happy to help you plan the interpreting services for your event, and can even help you to assemble a team of interpreters if required. Please contact me for further information.

In the interests of efficiency, we enlist our interpreters as soon as possible after a booking is made. Once they are booked for your event, they will turn down all other offers of work for that date. Because of this, we have to charge a cancellation fee, which varies depending on how far in advance of the event the cancellation takes place.

Simultaneous interpreting requires at least one soundproofed interpreting booth, along with wireless headsets and microphones for the interpreters and wireless receivers for the audience. You will also need an audio technician who has experience with interpreting equipment.

If you are planning an event and require simultaneous interpreting, Please get in touch and I will be happy to help you choose and hire the equipment that will best meet your needs.

I am based in London, but I travel frequently throughout the UK, EU, and worldwide. One of the things I enjoy so much about my job is the opportunity it gives me to see the world!

Interpreting at a live event requires me to be as prepared as I possibly can be. I spend time before the actual event researching the topics that will be discussed, learning all I can about the speakers and the subjects they will cover, and in general trying to make sure that I am ready for almost anything that might come up.

As an interpreter, I have no control over what the speaker says, so I have to anticipate the unexpected and be ready to think on my feet. This is where my 20 years of interpreting experience make the difference: I have the confidence and wherewithal to deliver an outstanding performance even when things don’t go exactly as planned.

There are several benefits. Most obviously, the longer an interpreter has worked in the field, the better their language skills will generally be. They will have gathered experience across a wide range of subjects and be able to interpret more accurately and smoothly. But there’s more than just that. Interpreters have a wide variety of “soft-skills” that are just as important as linguistic skills.

We need to be able to stay calm and composed even in stressful situations. We need to be able to remain impartial and interpret the speaker’s message without letting our own beliefs influence our work. For consecutive interpreting, we need to have excellent public speaking and presentation skills, since we are on stage right next to the speaker. We also need to develop great cultural sensitivity and diplomacy. And these things require practice and time spent on the job. A highly experienced interpreter is like a C-level executive in many ways: we have not only talent and training, but also the proven skills to handle even difficult, stressful situations with aplomb.

Interpreters need a detailed brief in order to prepare for assignments. The more information you can give me in your brief, the more smoothly things will go on the day of the event. The following information will help me make sure that all my i’s are dotted and my t’s are crossed:

• Date of the event
• Type of event
• Schedule or purpose of each day of the event
• Starting and ending times
• Languages for which interpretation is required
• Size of the location or room
• Number of attendees/ background etc.
• Drafts of the speech, preparatory materials, or related information
• Event and/or company websites
• Any interpreting equipment required
• Dress codes/special requirements
• Key contact/team leader/on-site coordinator