Servus! My name is Martha Oschwald and I'm a freelance translator offering German to English services. I'm pleased to have turned my curiosity into a profession after a lifelong fascination with travel in German- and Spanish-speaking countries. As a student, my interest in perception was channeled through arts and language. I earned my undergraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in the fields of German Studies and Architecture. I later developed an interest in social justice and intercultural relations and went on to earn a master's degree in Development & International Cooperation from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. As a result, I combine these core issues of art & design, social justice and language whenever possible. It's the lens through which I see the world and the way I translate for my clients.
Beyond my personal interest and dedication, I have a wealth of professional experience. My first job as a linguist was an in-house position involving translation, interpretation, proofreading and voice over on behalf of a large restitution project for a foreign government. (This particular project also required national security clearance.) I have since worked as a self-employed freelance translator with an emphasis on marketing, medical, academic, culinary, corporate and tourism texts. At the moment, I spend most of my time translating medical and marketing texts in particular but am interested in incorporating creative content whenever possible.
What can you expect from me as a linguist? The main tenets of my writing include clarity, accuracy and flow. Particularly in an era of post-editing, it is important that writing sounds human and real. Quality is another must: my aim is to do the first job well so that clients keep coming back. I would rather turn down a job or client because I'm not the best match or can't accommodate it in time than set anyone up for disappointment. Lastly, I know your time is valuable so deadlines are nonnegotiable. These principles have served me well over nearly a decade and will continue to guide my approach to business.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I look forward to hearing from you and welcome any questions you may have.
Beyond my personal interest and dedication, I have a wealth of professional experience. My first job as a linguist was an in-house position involving translation, interpretation, proofreading and voice over on behalf of a large restitution project for a foreign government. (This particular project also required national security clearance.) I have since worked as a self-employed freelance translator with an emphasis on marketing, medical, academic, culinary, corporate and tourism texts. At the moment, I spend most of my time translating medical and marketing texts in particular but am interested in incorporating creative content whenever possible.
What can you expect from me as a linguist? The main tenets of my writing include clarity, accuracy and flow. Particularly in an era of post-editing, it is important that writing sounds human and real. Quality is another must: my aim is to do the first job well so that clients keep coming back. I would rather turn down a job or client because I'm not the best match or can't accommodate it in time than set anyone up for disappointment. Lastly, I know your time is valuable so deadlines are nonnegotiable. These principles have served me well over nearly a decade and will continue to guide my approach to business.
Thank you so much for stopping by! I look forward to hearing from you and welcome any questions you may have.