Why Hire Margaret?
...because I am experienced
I have over ten years’ experience of translating and language editing. I began doing translation work while still an undergraduate — it seemed a natural way for a bilingual (and language-fanatic!) student to earn some pocket money! I translated and proofread articles and texts written by German university lecturers, musicians and cultural institutions such as museums; one piece of work led to another and by the time I graduated I realised that working professionally in this field would form an ideal strand in my career. Following a number of years working as a university lecturer and translating on the side, I decided I wanted to dedicate myself to translation and editing full time — and the rest, as they say, is history!
Given my years of experience working at universities, I specialise in academic translation and proofreading. I have translated and edited journal articles, conference papers, Ph.D. theses, essay collections and academic textbooks. Besides this, I also work on texts for the creative and cultural sectors, and have translated and edited webpage texts, exhibition brochures and flyers, screenplays and art books. My long years at university both as a student and a lecturer have provided me with some invaluable skills — for example, I am able to read old German scripts such as Kurrent and Sütterlin, and can thus translate directly from original documents rather than transcriptions. I also know (Classical and Koine) Greek and (Classical and medieval) Latin as well as Italian and French, which has proven extremely useful in dealing with academic texts from a range of disciplines (yes, I have been known to spot typos and errors in Latin texts!).
Please have a look at some of my Past Projects for particular examples of my past work.
...because I am professional
Experience is important; so is a professional attitude to working with language. I am an Associate of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), the UK’s professional association for translators and interpreters, and belong to their German and Media, Art and Tourism networks. I enjoy being part of a lively professional community and taking advantage of the support and professional development opportunities it offers. I am also a member of the German women’s network TextTreff and a supporter of the related movement Protext, which aims to promote the use of texts produced by true professionals....because I am an academic and creative writer myself
Besides working as a professional translator and proofreader, for many years I was also a university lecturer in English Literature. I hold an M.A. in English and Musicology from the University of Regensburg, Germany, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Glasgow. My areas of specialist research are fantasy and science fiction, and I have lectured and published widely in this field. I have taught at the Universities of Regensburg and Glasgow, the University Centre Peterborough/Anglia Ruskin University, and also work as a visiting lecturer at the Leibniz University Hannover. I also hold a qualification in Teaching German as a Foreign Language and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). I have acted as a peer reviewer for star-rated journals in my areas of expertise and reviewed books for scholarly journals also.You can find a list of my publications and papers here. My own experience in and continued engagement with academia has been indispensable for my translating and proofreading business, and is one of the reasons I have been so successful in helping my clients reach the standards required.My monograph The Loss and the Silence: Aspects of Modernism in the Works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Charles Williams was published in 2011.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silence-Aspects-Modernism-Tolkien-Williams/dp/390570319X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328010496&sr=8-1Together with my colleague Frank Weinreich, I edited the essay volume Tolkien’s Shorter Works.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tolkiens-Shorter-Works-Margaret-Hiley/dp/3905703114/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1328010496&sr=8-2
I also engage in a wide range of creative activities, and much of the experience gained this way has fed into my professional work. I am an active musician and also write creatively; some of my poetry has been published in journals and collections such as Earth Love Poetry Magazine, Goddess Pages and the Earth Pathways Diary.
...and because I simply LOVE what I do!
You can be assured that when hiring me, you will get more than your run-of-the-mill translation and proofreading — you will benefit from the services of a highly qualified, highly experienced and creative individual!