Taiwanese by birth, Siaoning, honed her English skills in New York and studied Arabic as a university scholar in Kuwait. When she’s not chasing deadlines, she does fire spinning performances and believes taking short breaks is an important part of the translation process.

What languages do you speak?

Mandarin Chinese, English and Classical Arabic (getting rusty though).

Why/how did you learn them?

In Taiwan, English learning is compulsory from the first year of junior high to university. I got good grades in most of the English exams and tests, but it was only in the second semester of my studies in New York that I learned how to carry conversations with native English speakers.

I like exploring local cultures, foods and music when traveling, and through that, my linguistic skills improved within a short period. That beats spending hours or days sitting in front of the desk memorizing vocabulary and grammar! Sadly though, that’s how languages are taught in most schools here.

I studied Arabic Language and Literature in college, and received a scholarship to study at Kuwait University, where all classes were conducted in Classical Arabic. My Classical Arabic improved so rapidly that I dreamed in Arabic by the end of my stay in Kuwait.

How did you become a translator?

During my university years in New York, friends and former clients whom I met through my previous employment with an art magazine, started asking me to do some translations for them. This made me put my linguistic skills to use outside a classroom setting, and also made me realize that I could actually make some money from knowing different languages.

After returning to Taiwan, I took a job working as a research assistant at Academia Sinica, one of the most prestigious research institutes in Taiwan and is also a government think tank. Part of my role was to draft press releases in both Chinese and English, as well as translate academic papers from English to Chinese. This gave me plenty of opportunities to polish my linguistic skills.

A year later, I left my position at Academia Sinica due to the long commute and unreasonable hours. I started picking up odd jobs here and there, but they all involved speaking English. One of the most interesting experiences was getting hired as Moby’s personal interpreter when he came to Taipei on his Asian tour.

Gradually, I started picking up more and more translation jobs.

What has been your most enjoyable and challenging translation experiences?

I think my most enjoyable experience is translating some of Marvel’s comics because I enjoy all The Avengers movies as well as the others based on their characters.

The most challenging would be when I was translating catalogues for some well-known antique auction companies. I had to do a lot of research and the deadline was pretty tight. Eventually I asked for an extension and I barely made it before the postponed deadline.

What’s your favorite thing about being a translator?

Working as a translator, I get exposed to a lot of things that I would probably never get to learn otherwise.

Describe your office setup or workspace.

I work mostly at my desk in my one-bedroom studio apartment, but sometimes, to change things up a little bit, I take out my laptop to one of the neighborhood cafés and work from there.

What’s your favorite snack for while you work?

Tea, coffee, crackers or leftovers in the fridge.

Based on your specific cultural expertise, what books or movies would you recommend?

Set in the last years of Ottoman Empire, the novel My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk introduces you to the exquisite world of Islamic art through elaborate plots and turns, and engaging storytelling.

What are your preferred translation tools?

Google and Wikipedia are my main go-to sources, and I also often use a CAT tool called SDL Trados Studio, especially for larger, file-based jobs.

What are the best ways to relax and stay sane as a translator?

Take breaks, and remember to breathe.

Getting away from the computer helps me get out of the “tunnel vision” that tends to develop during the translation process. When time allows, I like to move away from the desk to do some stretching, tend to my plants or even go out for a short walk. Reviewing my translation with a clearer head always gives me a fresh perspective. Even when you have a tight deadline, just getting away from the computer for a few seconds to take a few deep breaths makes a huge difference.

What are your top tips for translators who are just starting out?

Believe in yourself yet also know your limitations. Pick jobs that are within areas that you are familiar with, and only agree to deadlines you are sure you can meet.

What do you do in your spare time?

I love watching movies, especially action, fantasy and sci-fi.

Fire spinning is my other hobby, which later also became my other job. So far, I have performed in many of the major nightclubs in Taipei and music festivals throughout Taiwan. Moving to the rhythm with my fire poi and fire fans, inspiring the audience through the performance to enter into a world of beauty, excitement and mystery brings me a lot of joy.

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