Read a lot!

“Read! Read! Read! Practice. Translate texts that you don’t like. Don’t talk about your translations to Finns, but to those in the literature business in your own country. Believe that you can do it. Don’t believe that you can do it. Talk to other translators. Read!”

Stefan Moster (Germany). Recipient of the State Prize for Translation 2001. Worked as a translator for 15 years. Translations include the works of Juhani Ahvenjärvi, Kristina Carlson, Paavo Haavikko, Pentti Holappa, Kari Hotakainen, Matti Yrjänä Joensuu, Tuula Kallioniemi, Rosa Liksom, Eeva-Liisa Manner, L. Onerva, Hannu Raittila, Mirkka Rekola and Petri Tamminen.

“It’s important to read as much as possible, to immerse yourself in the idiosyncrasies of the language and culture of the people whose works you are translating. Be aware of your weaknesses and don’t give up.”

Rami Saari (Greece). Worked as a translator part-time for 15 years. Has translated prose and poetry according to his own tastes.

Linguistic and Cultural Expertise

“Young translators: study thoroughly and continually the language and culture from which you are translating. And although you must know the language you are translating into, you can never underestimate the importance of a firm grounding in the source language.”

Viola Parente-Čapková (Czech Republic). Recipient of the State Prize for Translation 2004. Worked as a translator for 15 years. Translations include works by Aleksis Kivi, V. A. Koskenniemi, Eino Leino, L. Onerva, Raija Siekkinen, Anja Snellman and Mika Waltari.

“The skills you learn from other people will come in useful sooner or later. It’s important to understand the routine and the practice behind the theory. Acquaint yourself with culture both at home and abroad! Keep your eyes and ears open at all times.”

Ulla Ruusulehto. Worked as a translator for 25 years. Translations into Swedish include works by Eeva Joenpelto, Mari Mörö, Irja Rane, Pentti Saarikoski and Kaari Utrio.

“Make sure you fullyunderstand the cultures of both languages, not only languages per se.”
Seija Helena Paddon (Canada). Worked as a translator for 16 years. Translations include works by Leena Lander, Rakel Liehu, Pentti Saaritsa, Kirsti Simonsuuri and Sirkka Turkka.

Practical Tips for Beginners

“Start with works written in 'standard' Finnish, then you can move on to translating works written in quickly changing modern slang.”
Endre Gombár (Hungary). Worked as a translator for 47 years. Translations include works by Claes Andersson, Paavo Haavikko, Eeva-Liisa Manner and Mika Waltari.

“It’s best to start with smaller texts for publication in literary magazines. Establishing contact with publishers and authors is important, as is spending time in the countries of both target and source language, and acquainting yourself with both cultures.”
Mirja Bolgár (France). Worked as a translator for 45 years. Translations include works by Paavo Haavikko, Veijo Meri, Paavo Rintala and Mika Waltari.

“Always try to get a written contract. Agree to a deadline (make sure you have plenty of time) and stick to it. The translation will always be longer than you are told. Count the pages yourself before you agree to take the work.”
Philip Binham (Great Britain). Worked as a translator for 45 years. Translated literature, art books and commercial texts.

“Tip Number 1: Ask! Tip Number 2: Deciding to become a translator is only the beginning of learning about understanding and mastering a foreign language! Buy new, bigger, better dictionaries! Tip Number 3: Never overestimate your command of your native language. Editors are your best friends!”
Sebastian Musielak (Poland). Worked as a translator for ten years. Translated religious and philosophical texts and literature.

Cooperation offers help

“If translators don’t have the opportunity to visit Finland very often, they should ask Finnish friends to help explain things they can’t find in the dictionary.”
Zuzana Drábeková (Slovakia). Worked as a translator for 25 years. Translations include works by Kari Hotakainen, Anna-Leena Härkönen, Jouni Inkala, Daniel Katz, Jyrki Kiiskinen, Eeva-Liisa Manner, Mirkka Rekola, Pentti Saaritsa and Sirkka Turkka. 

“Becoming a translator is a long process. You should only ever translate into your native language! It’s always useful if the translator has a few trusted readers who are native speakers of the source language. A comprehensive knowledge of translation theory and the study of languages to university level is also a plus. If you translate non-fiction, you must have a good understanding of the subject area. Good general knowledge is indispensable. Working closely with the author of the text is very beneficial indeed.”
Ingrid Schellbach-Kopra (Germany). Worked as a translator for 45 years. Translated a great deal of non-fiction primarily in the fields of linguistics, history and folkloristics, and literature.

Possible Problems

“A tip from my own experience: if finding a publisher is difficult, found your own publishing house. My husband and I founded our own publishing house in 1994, and things are still going well, though you cannot live on this alone. It’s important for translators to follow not only Finnish literature but the literature of their own country too, so that they know what readers are interested in.”
Markéta Hejkalová (Czech Republic). Worked as a translator for 15 years. Translations include works by Esa Sariola, Anja Snellman, Kaari Utrio and Mika Waltari.

“As for the translation of literature: do it part-time alongside a more reliable profession.”
Tom Geddes (Great Britain). Worked as a translator part-time for 27 years. Translated works of Swedish and Finland-Swedish literature, literature history and art books.

Happy Translating!

“I would like to wish beginner translators a passion and love of language and literature, a great deal of patience, enthusiasm for their work and, to some extent, the ability to make necessary sacrifices.”
Taissia Djafarova-Viitala (Russia). Worked as a translator for 25 years. Translated prose including short fiction by women, poetry and literary research.

“Sometimes when I read literature I think how nice it would be if I could write something like that. Translation gives you the opportunity to rewrite your favourite works – in your own language.”
Jaana Zhemoitel (Russia). Worked as a translator for 20 years. Translations include short fiction and Aino Kallas’ novel Sudenmorsian.