Finishing my full-time education with five years of study of French and German and translation studies at three universities, I today work as a freelance translator (French and German to English). And I basically love producing high quality writing – you can see my superb standard of English (as well as how adept I am at using it properly for professional purposes, and following prescribed styles closely) from my long list of passed tests on my account on www.oDesk.com (provider name "gtrail").

In my career I have successfully completed translation projects in a number of areas; the list includes academic / creative material (long textbook articles, product descriptions), basic legal and business material (contracts and leases, as well as formal correspondence, material pertaining to officially recognised certification and terms and conditions articles), IT / technical material (an instruction manual for the PC and PC software and how to use the Internet, website content, a patent and technical drawings), and several medical reports for the Ministry of Defence.

I am highly literate but I understand that no translation task should be approached without an open mind with regard to the words used in the original and - more importantly - an open mind with regard to the message intended in the original. I have the wisdom to commit to more than just "verbal accuracy" - as important as that is - especially if a particular translated product-in-the-making is expected to represent a person or a company, or is supposed to have some sense of authority attached to it. I consider accuracy (both grammatical and informational) to be nothing less than essential in my work, but I also attach a notable level of emphasis to reader-friendliness (I am always adopting a policy of “alternative innovation”). I do double-checking specifically to rectify what has come across as contextually errant or peculiar-sounding (or both) if otherwise "verbally correct" (i.e. purely by the standards of grammar etc.), while understanding that identifying the right term or phrase to use in a particular case may depend on close examination of elsewhere in the original. I am well aware that treating a formal text as a formal text when translating it helps not only to prevent the reader of its eventual translation from becoming frustrated but also to curtail factual inaccuracy and false understanding ("understanding" of what is wrong – what essentially is not – but it’s just too subtle to those not geared to sense it).

To say the least, people from all walks of life agree that translation is definitely not just about replacing words with words; and I for one am keen to talk about language issues all the time – in my BT Tradespace blog and on Google Blogger (see below). As far as translating "special language" goes: even when I suspect that there is some sort of particular "optimal" translated expression for a given occasion but I just don't know what it could be, I persistently show the vigour and the creative spark to write something that is enough to "get by", and by professional standards. I am apt at handling idiomatic expressions in PR-related material and so on. Even if I encounter any word or phrase that goes beyond me, I am soon seeking help from a global community of translators on Translatorscafe.com (often successfully obtaining a result I am happy with in less than half an hour!).

Normally I have enough time available to translate at least 3000 words a day. I accept bank transfer, Paypal, Moneybookers and even Western Union as payment methods (ask me for details, as well as instructions on how to use any one of these options). I look forward to hearing from you in order to discuss rates further as appropriate and I will gladly accommodate any sort of preliminary test. I am ready to provide details of references (direct clients and translation agency project managers) and samples of past work in selected areas (if applicable) on request.

Website	http://www.georgetrail.com
Email	georgetrail@googlemail.com
Telephone	01344 773948
Telephone 2	0560 1735043
Mobile	07784 511495
Address	10 Hillary Drive
	Crowthorne
	Berkshire
	RG45 6QE
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