Those who know me well know that I am a professional translator, and that as such my
alleged qualifications as any kind of translator go far beyond a simple “good” GCSE in a
foreign language (or, in my case, two). I’m sure there are plenty of people who will be quick
to demand the particulars of what makes a “good” GCSE in a foreign language. Even so,
eventually, I would start studying French and German at A level…
When you study a language at GCSE level, let’s be honest, you’re pretty much only really
taught to pull off parochial challenges in a foreign language, such as ordering things in a
restaurant or relaying information about things you own or those close to you. That said, if
you ask me, one could be forgiven for claiming that you only see what you want to see in this
sort of thing. Even so… I certainly know that I will never forget the shock of the new
expectations I was forced to come to terms with when I took up studying French and German
at A-level: while no-one ever doubted my talent in the purely language side of it (i.e.
mastering grammar, learning new vocabulary well etc.), it just took me a long time to adapt
to the expectation of being able to “express my opinion” – opinions on subjects which never
cease to be of relevance to society as a whole. Examples of these include the environment,
drugs, and immigration policy. I never disputed that such subjects should be taken seriously –
it’s just that I didn’t have an opinion to express most of the time. At least, certainly not one
with any authority or “weight” behind it – after all, at the end of the day, what was I really
supposed to substantiate such “opinions” with? And who could blame me for that when no-
one could be surprised that I just wasn’t “all that into it” and as such didn’t know any kind of
reliable facts or statistics on which to base any kind of original assertion? To be honest, back
then I took being pressured into expressing an opinion on something as being pressured pretty
much wholly into taking some kind of overt stance “for” or “against” it… even if I knew I
was out of my depth. It’s a difficult position to be in when, in all honesty and humility, you
(only) know that you don’t know what you’re talking about.
I’m going out on a limb here, but when you are a professional it pays to be honest (even if it’s
only to yourself) about the question of what you would most likely encourage or inspire in
those who have developed an attachment to you. As an entrepreneur I spend quite a bit of
time on the ingredients of my brand and, in my case: for all I have written about my line of
work (language and the art of translation), if any of it has helped people to be more confident
in a debate about something that “truly matters” (perhaps if it is in a foreign language in
particular), I couldn’t be happier. I have certainly not failed to notice that poorly done
translation can mean a translator giving oxygen – and, as such, quite possibly credence – to
an idea or consensus that goes over their head and which might remain beyond their
understanding even if someone tried to explain it to them… an idea or consensus which does
not necessarily have no noxious element! Personally, today I regard the challenge of adapting
to the expectation of expressing my opinions such as I had to come to terms with when I took
up studying French and German at A level as, in part, getting accustomed to touching on
subjects for which you know your own comments about them may well never be definitively
vindicated or disproven.
That said, I should proceed to talk about what is meant by a “difficult subject” (or, as the case
may be, a “complex” one). A subject which is more likely to fan the flames of division and
cause resentment than to provide information that anyone can agree on with no sense of
discomfort or shame and, as such, maybe actually (in some context) unify. Here’s an
example, a speech made by the controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders in court:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYhATZSIxAM I mean, you see that it has been
translated from Dutch to English, but how many translators would actually feel at ease
translating something like this? (Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if Geert Wilders himself
wrote it. Watch one of his speeches or interviews in which he speaks in English and see for
yourself just how good his English really is. He speaks fluent French as well.)
I reference this speech by Geert Wilders but I was originally going to translate (by myself) an
online article about the actual (real life) drugs situation in a part of France (Rennes), but the
story only really amounted to: “French police arrested a bunch of people for drug possession,
with the implication that a drugs ring was smashed while they were at it.” If we’re being
honest, that’s not hard to understand, and it’s only to be expected whatever your views are if
the police become aware that someone is possessing illegal drugs; and people are not left
asking questions as to the accuracy or the integrity of what is reported. So it’s not a
“difficult” or “complex” subject as discussed above. Even so, unlike ordering something in a
restaurant or asking for directions, it represented a subject for which there will always be
someone insisting that it highlights certain phenomena and should raise questions which just
cannot be resolved in anyone’s “comfort zone”. “Translating within a larger forum”, indeed.
But for now, I hope this article, for its content and points, might offer something to dispel any
doubts anyone may have about my ability as a professional translator worth the name.