What is your name?
Lucas Rodrigues Oliveira
Where do you currently live?
São Carlos, SP, Brazil
Please share a bit of your background:
I was born and raised in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, and studied international relations at Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Then, I went to the state of São Paulo in 2014 to work as an administrative analyst in a car factory. In 2020, I started working as a translator, and, in 2021, I left the company to become a full-time translator. My main specialization is video game translation. I have worked on more than 30 games (around 700,000 words) so far, and the projects I was involved in received six awards and 12 other nominations in The Game Awards.
What are you doing these days professionally?
This month, I am working on an IT review project (around 20,000 words). I am also trying to prospect direct clients for video game translation.
What is a current translation or interpreting engagement you are completing (or one you have completed recently)?
Recently, I participated in the organization of the 1st Prêmio Brasileiro de Tradução de Jogos (Brazilian Game Translation Award). The objective of the event was to give more acknowledgment and visibility to video game translators and to promote the #TranslatorsInTheCredits movement.
What is one of your greatest life accomplishments (whether personal or professional) to date?
Personally, it was my trip to watch the 2018 World Cup. During 30 days, I watched seven matches in seven different cities, including the final (France 4X2 Croatia). Professionally, it’s more difficult to say. I had the opportunity to work on some big games that I like, but my name was not in the credits, and all of them have non-disclosure agreements, so I can’t reveal any details. I guess my first credited game will automatically become my biggest accomplishment as a translator.
What challenge(s) are you facing in your career?
Right now, the biggest one is getting my name in the credits. I have worked on more than 30 games, but I was never credited. I am also trying to get direct clients for video game translation. I have already contacted a lot of developers and studios, and I am actually surprised by the number of responses, but I still haven’t been able to close a deal to translate a game.
When did you first join ATA? And PLD?
August 2022.
How has ATA and/or PLD membership benefited you?
I have participated in several online events and met a lot of people. I also went to two ATA conferences in the USA, and, in the last one, I became motivated to get more involved in the #TranslatorsInTheCredits movement to fight for credits for translators.
What do you enjoy doing outside of translation and interpreting?
I have a big passion for football/soccer. I follow the World Cup qualifiers on all continents, and I am currently very excited for the beginning of the 4th and 3rd divisions of the Brazilian National Championship. As a freelancer, the only time I take “proper vacations” is during the World Cup. During the last one, in 2022, I watched all 64 matches live, even the ones played simultaneously.
If you weren’t a translator or interpreter, what would you be and why?
I worked as an administrative analyst for seven years and studied international relations at the university, so I would probably work in one of those areas.
What is your favorite book of Portuguese-language literature?
O Alienista,” by Machado de Assis. This question made me think a lot, actually, because I think I read more translated literature than books written originally in Portuguese. And when I think of Brazilian authors, Machado de Assis is not exactly the “obvious” choice for me, because I read some of his books and short stories, and I can’t say I liked all of them. But I do like “Sereníssima República” and “Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas,” for example, and I think “O Alienista” is brilliant. From Portugal, my favorite one is “Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira,” by José Saramago. I think I have never read anything from other Portuguese-speaking countries, but I really want to read something by Mia Couto (Mozambique).
What message would you wish to share with your fellow translators and interpreters?
As freelancers, we are also responsible for a lot of administrative and bureaucratic unpaid work, not only translation. And my recommendation is: track and register all your projects, including the time spent on them. This way, after some time, you will be able to estimate the time you will spend on similar projects, and it can help you decide if it makes sense to accept a specific project/deadline. And since many projects have non-disclosure agreements, it’s easier to talk about your experience if you have data about it. You may not be able to say you have worked with a specific client, but you can say you have an experience of 500,000 words in healthcare or 300,000 words in IT, for example.
Where is the best place to connect with you?
Probably on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-rodrigues-oliveira-98436089/.
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.
Leave a Reply