I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve rewritten the text of this About page. What exactly do you need – or want – to know about me? What will assure you that I, Lisa Carter, am the Spanish to English translator and writer you want to hire?

I could tell you about my long experience travelling and living in Spain, Peru and Mexico. How I learned and maintain my Spanish proficiency by experiencing it as an integral part of culture. I could tout my nomination for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and my six published books. How I now have nearly twenty years of experience in the field.

All of this is relevant and I do hope it will sway you. But what might be even more important is my philosophy and practice of translation.

Words. Such an apparently simple thing, but when woven together they are so much more than discrete units.

Translation is often seen as taking one word and finding its equivalent in another language, word by word, sentence by sentence until the result is a translated text.

There is some truth to this, in that technical proficiency is essential. Translators must be able to understand and articulate a message, capture its precise meaning. That alone is not enough, however – or computers could translate novels.

You see, words also have rhythm, flavor and nuance. They can drip like melted butter or be as chunky as Rocky Road ice cream. Words embody a taste of the culture that shaped them. It is these subtleties of language that can only ever be captured by the best human translators.

This blend of technique and artistry is the only way to create a translated text that is equal to its original. It is my belief that translation is the art of doing both at once, in concert, without ever compromising either.

This is what I do. It is who I am. And it is what will make any work I do for you come to life.

For more insight and information, I invite you to read through my blog, peruse my portfolio and services, sign up for my newsletter, and contact me to see how best I can help you.