Welcome to nativaComm –
native communication in translating and interpreting
Mandy Williams-Wendl has been interpreting and translating for a wide range of clients for more than 15 years. Read on to find out more about the face behind nativaComm, what services Mandy provides and how she approaches her work.
What does “nativaComm” mean?
Mandy Williams-Wendl (MWW): Native communication. I’m a native speaker of British English, born in Australia and educated in England and Scotland. As such, I specialise in translating from German to English. To me, translating (and interpreting, which I do from German to English and vice versa), isn’t just about exchanging the words of one language for those of another. To me, language is all about communication. We use it to convey messages, ideas and thoughts and they need to be transported into the other language, with all their nuances, when they’re translated. I think that’s what makes the job of a translator and interpreter so difficult but also so interesting and creative. And that’s why I chose the name “nativaComm”.
What services can nativaComm provide?
Mandy: nativaComm specialises in translation and interpreting services. I provide English translations of German texts ranging from press releases, websites and voiceovers to PR materials, such as brochures or posters, to speeches, business correspondence, training documents and reports. And I interpret, both simultaneously and consecutively. For clients who book my simultaneous interpreting services, I can also arrange the necessary professional equipment, from booths to microphones, headsets, transmitters and receivers. I offer a high-quality, professional package of services for each event so that the client can concentrate on other things and rest assured that the interpreting at their conference, PR event, etc. will work without any technical hitches.
What standards does nativaComm aim to fulfil?
Mandy: As a professional translator and interpreter with over 15 years of experience, my aim is to deliver a tailor-made solution for each client. After all, every text is different. Writers have different styles, terminology differs depending on the subject and different speeches set out to achieve different things. A good translation manages to preserve the nuances and transfer them into the other language. That’s why I make a point of talking to the client beforehand to establish the purpose and objective of the translation. Of course, I make sure any confidential information the client gives me during the process is not disclosed to anyone else. When it comes to the translation, the most important thing is that the text “speaks the same language” as the target reader. A translation shouldn’t read like a translation. It needs to flow well if it’s going to work as an English text in, for example, a marketing setting. That’s what I aim for in my work.
How important are cultural aspects in the work of a translator/interpreter?
Mandy: Very important! I’ve been living in Germany for more than 15 years now, in Cologne mostly, but I go back to the UK regularly to make sure I keep up-to-date with what’s happening in the culture and the language. As a result, I’m extremely well-versed in both cultures. Languages are living things, they change and adapt to trends that bring new words. Names, places and events with which everyone in a particular country is familiar are not necessarily general knowledge in another country. Translators and interpreters have to be aware of the terms that have to be explained in the other language. When a word means nothing to the people of another country, a brief explanation or a comparison needs to be added to help the reader or listener. Otherwise, the translation doesn’t work properly. A professional and experienced translator/interpreter will really think about the content and the context and use their cultural background knowledge when delivering it in the other language. That’s the art of translating and interpreting.
If there’s anything you’d like to ask Mandy, she’ll be happy to help. To contact her at nativaComm, click here