What is your name?
Steve Smith.
Where do you currently live?
Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Please share a bit of your background:
I’ve been working with Portuguese since my high school year abroad in southern Brazil many (many!) years ago. I interpreted for the US State Department and other agencies; I worked for university research centers in Brazil, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau; I earned graduate degrees with focuses on Portuguese language and the Lusophone world. In late 2019 I became a full-time translator, focusing mainly on the legal area.
What are you doing these days professionally?
As AI and other machines have encroached on translating, I have been working to pivot to other aspects of language, including editing and proofreading, but also refocusing back to my first passions of literature and theater, where automated translation is less prevalent.
What is a current translation or interpreting engagement you are completing (or one you have completed recently)?
Although it has been a little while now since this project ended, the highlight of my translation career has to be working on a major legal case in Mozambique that involved being part of a team that translated the entire corpus of Mozambican law into English.
What is one of your greatest life accomplishments (whether personal or professional) to date?
Raising five awesome kids (aged 18-30 now!) who constantly amaze and impress me.
What challenge(s) are you facing in your career?
Figuring out not only how to stand out from the crowd, but also how to adapt to generative AI and other technologies. In addition to learning new tools, this adaptation requires finding ways to impress upon (potential) clients how important humans are in the translation process.
When did you first join ATA? And PLD?
About 5 years ago, when I became a full-time translator.
How has ATA and/or PLD membership benefited you?
The community and connections are invaluable.
What do you enjoy doing outside of translation and interpreting?
Spending time with my family, including our adorable cats.
If you weren’t a translator or interpreter, what would you be and why?
I’ve been a number of other things in my life, mostly involving a university, but I think if I weren’t a translator right now, I’d be… retired.
What is your favorite book of Portuguese-language literature?
No possible way to limit it to one, so I’ll just say anything by Clarice Lispector.
What message would you wish to share with your fellow translators and interpreters?
Hang in there! It seems like there have always been threats to translation, especially (but also interpreting) that drive down rates, decrease the volume of work, or cause us to compete with automation. But humans will always be needed and communities like PLD are great resources for connections, compassion, and consoling.
Where is the best place to connect with you?
translationsmith.com
Thank you.
We really appreciate the opportunity to learn a little more about you.
Are you a PLD Member? We want to feature you, as our members are our greatest asset! We’ll be happy to receive your submission and give you more visibility as you grow in your career.
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