Martha E Macias (translator)

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I view translation --especially literary translation-- as an art form. Being true to the writing of an author while striving to preserve its beauty requires artistic and cultural skills just as much as linguistic expertise.

I was born in Mexico, but moved to the USA at a very early age.  The experience made me bicultural as well as bilingual.

Most of my life has transpired in Mexico where I have been translating for over twenty years.  I have also been a conference interpreter for a little less than that.

Books and music (preferably with lyrics) have always been my passion and the motivation behind my professional endeavors.  After being an English teacher for several years I was fortunate to have been hired by the editorial department of Encyclopaedia Britannica, which at the time existed in Mexico City.

This gave me my start in the publishing world and taught me how to write properly in Spanish.  I was soon to discover that this skill would allow me to become a translator at last!  Since my job at EB I have been mostly self-employed as a proofreader, copy and feature writer in Spanish, translator and interpreter into English and Spanish.  

As a professional translator/interpreter I have worked with texts and the spoken word in fields such as: politics, agriculture, food industry, medicine, mining, environmental issues, livestock, fisheries, finance, pharmaceutical industry, a wide array of specialized training courses, current affairs, business, entertainment. 

I should point out that I have served as an interpreter at many editions of the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, and on one occasion I had the opportunity to interpret for PEN International.

I am currently translating a novel into Spanish for a well-known publishing house. A project I am enjoying immensely.  So much so, that I wish to continue pursuing literary translation.

A few of my personal projects in translation and writing can be viewed at Hybridee.wordpress.com.

Just to provide a fuller picture of my professional interests, I should also note that I have made three personal music recordings; two of these are of original songs (pop, I guess), and in the most recent one, my band and I did a few rock and blues covers.

This year I also published a children's book (illustrations by my niece), which I am currently translating into English. It is available on Amazon.

Thank you for reading about me. I hope you found this useful.

Native language: Spanish
Translates from: English
Translates into: English, Spanish


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