Just ask if you need to know more.

Background

Born in 1978. Native speaker of Slovenian language. Daughter of a hospital lawyer and an engineer. Learned to read when I was 4. Started learning English by the age of 5. Won almost every English language competition I entered.

English language competition? It's this thing we have here in Slovenia where our English teachers pit their pupils against each other.

Delivered my first paid translation when I was 14. Now I can easily translate 3,000 words per day and revise about three times as many.

I have a Certificate of Proficiency in English (University of Cambridge, grade A); this is a level C2 (Mastery) degree according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

I'm friendly, patient, resourceful and reliable. A fast learner. I own a ton of dictionaries. I've been reading Slovenian and English books ever since I was a child. As a result I have an extensive vocabulary and a keen sense of language that many other translators sometimes seem to lack.

Services

Quality management: All my translations are revised by other linguists. I work with several other excellent translators and editors and I can have my translations double-checked really fast. Have I mentioned I also provide editing and proofreading services?

Please note I'm an advanced user of several CAT tools - I know how to work with translation memories, terminology databases, bilingual documents, pretranslated files, satellites and similar.

Working with me is simple. You order a translation, I deliver it and then I send you an invoice for my services.

I deliver accurate translations, not guesswork. If I notice anything the client should be made aware of during the translation process (like inconsistencies and severe errors in the source text), I'll alert the project manager and suggest corrective measures if desired.

I occasionally do pro bono work. I always offer very affordable rates to charities.

Languages

My working pairs are:
English>Slovenian
Slovenian>English


I can also read and understand German, Italian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, French and some Spanish.

Guidelines

(As of April 2009, adapted from Professional Practices for Language Service Providers provided by a certain translation portal.)

To clients: These guidelines apply if you found me through TranslatorsCafe from April 2009 on. Otherwise, whatever agreement we already have in place still applies.

I've recently upgraded my IT capacity, IT security and safety, and contingency measures; I'm planning to install video conferencing equipment and I'll soon have a really scary looking burglar proof door in my office. Basically, I can promise and deliver even more than before.

To fellow translators and interpreters: These guidelines are mine and I know I can and will follow them. If you can't come up with your own, feel free to copy mine :) Just make sure you follow them. And do not forget to mention where you got them from ;)

I, Eva Straus, a professional translator, shall:

• Present my credentials, capabilities and experience honestly;

• Accept only assignments that I have the knowledge, resources and time to do well;

• Disclose any biases that may have relevance as soon as I become aware of them;

• Agree, before work starts, on what, how and when is to be delivered;

• Agree, before work starts, on payment amount, timing and currency (I expect the client to bear any payment cost – if you're not cool with this, then please don't work with me; there are plenty of other good translators to choose from);

• Treat all information provided by the clients as confidential unless already publicly available (If you, for example, tell me it's raining in Bergen or Seattle again I might not keep this to myself. If you tell me your company is trying out a new quality management system I'll keep my mouth shut unless you ask me to spread the word.), and take the necessary steps to protect that confidentiality;

• Do my best to answer inquiries related to services, fees and available equipment as soon as possible (It usually takes me less than two hours and seldom more than a day to answer an e-mail. If you don't hear from me, please pick up the phone and call/text me.);

• Take any and all steps necessary to ensure consistent delivery of work of a high professional standard;

• Accept responsibility for the quality of work I deliver (Should you for any reason feel less than completely satisfied with what you received from me, I expect you to tell me what you believe was wrong and give me a chance to correct it.);

• Do everything possible to meet agreed-upon terms, even when unforeseen problems are encountered;

• Notify the client as soon as possible and suggest contingency measures if unexpected circumstances turn up that might affect delivery;

• Not contact end clients or subcontractors directly, without express permission;

• Do my very best to resolve disputes directly among parties involved;

• Keep improving my professional skills;

• Continually improve my contingency and security measures (UPS, security and computer protection software, backup hardware, data backup system, emergency internet access etc.);

• Not unjustly criticize other professionals or their work; and

• Not engage in conduct or communication unbecoming of a professional.

Furthermore, I, Eva Straus, a professional interpreter, shall:

• Ask for clarification and give it, if and when appropriate, making clear when I am speaking and not interpreting (well of course – but apparently this needs to be said);

• Not interject my own feelings and beliefs, and provide opinions and advice only if this is expressly requested by the client;

• Interact with others only to the extent required to interpret; and

• Not accept assignments in which payment is contingent on the outcome of a case, meeting, or proceedings.

I reserve the right to change the above guidelines without prior notice.

Other

Funny fact no. 1: I’ve been contributing to English language Wikipedia since 2005. Other users have yet to figure out I’m not a native speaker of English.

Funny fact no. 2: I own several guinea pigs and I’ve probably read most of what has ever been written about these furry little animals. Naturally, by own I mean I cater to their every whim. So don't look any further if you ever happen to need a translation that has to do with cavies.

Funny fact no. 3: One of my favourite responsibilities is translating for Coffee News, Slovenian edition. CN makes great coffee-break reading ;)

• Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Photoshop
• Déjà Vu
• PowerPoint
• TRADOS
• Wordfast