Rachel Ward
@racheltranslates.bsky.social
FITI, Literary & creative translator, German & French to English: children's/YA and crime fiction, history; proofreader, bookworm; food, crafts, history; cats; climbing; cycling; she/her; Twitter: @FwdTranslations Mastodon: @FwdTranslations@zirk.us
OK, I have only the woman in her PJs to go on #HiddenBooksGame and I am totally stumped. Apparently there's a book called Angry White Pyjamas, but it isn't that!
November 13, 2025 at 4:35 PM
OK, I have only the woman in her PJs to go on #HiddenBooksGame and I am totally stumped. Apparently there's a book called Angry White Pyjamas, but it isn't that!
How did I not know it's #HiddenBooksGame day?!
November 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
How did I not know it's #HiddenBooksGame day?!
Wordle 1,603 1/6*
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I need another new starting word!
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I need another new starting word!
November 8, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Wordle 1,603 1/6*
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I need another new starting word!
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
I need another new starting word!
Reposted by Rachel Ward
“In the end, it takes more time, energy, and could be more costly for clients in the long run to correct something a machine has translated badly.”
🤖 ‘They wanted me to make myself obsolete’: #translators find themselves at the sharp end of AI; here, one linguist talks about the challenges of working in an industry most at risk from automation
ft.com/content/50b1...
via @financialtimes.com
ft.com/content/50b1...
via @financialtimes.com
‘They wanted me to make myself obsolete’: translators find themselves at the sharp end of AI
One linguist on the challenges of working in an industry most at risk from automation
ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
“In the end, it takes more time, energy, and could be more costly for clients in the long run to correct something a machine has translated badly.”
Reposted by Rachel Ward
CAMBRIDGE! We are coming! Come see the wonderful Antti Tuomainen and I this Monday, Nov 10th at 18:30 at Bodies in the Bookshop. Dark Icelandic crime meets funny Finnish thrillers — the north in all its contrasts.
#authorsontour
@orendabooks.bsky.social
#authorsontour
@orendabooks.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
CAMBRIDGE! We are coming! Come see the wonderful Antti Tuomainen and I this Monday, Nov 10th at 18:30 at Bodies in the Bookshop. Dark Icelandic crime meets funny Finnish thrillers — the north in all its contrasts.
#authorsontour
@orendabooks.bsky.social
#authorsontour
@orendabooks.bsky.social
This story came up in my text this morning and I had to look up further details... How Bismarck almost drowned while swimming at Birarritz with his Russian princess mistress: www.theguardian.com/world/2006/a...
The things we learn while translating!
The things we learn while translating!
How France missed a chance to sink Bismarck
New documents found in a dusty town hall reveal that the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck nearly drowned while swimming at the French seaside resort of Biarritz, an event that could have profoundly...
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM
This story came up in my text this morning and I had to look up further details... How Bismarck almost drowned while swimming at Birarritz with his Russian princess mistress: www.theguardian.com/world/2006/a...
The things we learn while translating!
The things we learn while translating!
Patronising and infuriating email from school, which basically boils down to "congratulations, your child happens to have been healthy for half a term, well done you."
November 4, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Patronising and infuriating email from school, which basically boils down to "congratulations, your child happens to have been healthy for half a term, well done you."
Reposted by Rachel Ward
In 1107, King Henry's butler founded the abbey of Wymondham, & he donated 2 things to help the monks get by:
1. the right to salvage shipwrecks on a nearby coast
2. a rent of 2,000 eels per year
Time for an eel picnic on the beach!
🗃️🧪
1. the right to salvage shipwrecks on a nearby coast
2. a rent of 2,000 eels per year
Time for an eel picnic on the beach!
🗃️🧪
October 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
In 1107, King Henry's butler founded the abbey of Wymondham, & he donated 2 things to help the monks get by:
1. the right to salvage shipwrecks on a nearby coast
2. a rent of 2,000 eels per year
Time for an eel picnic on the beach!
🗃️🧪
1. the right to salvage shipwrecks on a nearby coast
2. a rent of 2,000 eels per year
Time for an eel picnic on the beach!
🗃️🧪
Went down a rabbit hole of the German prefix "ver" prompted by "verlieben" and a whole bit of grammar in the middle of my novel translation! #amtranslating
yourdailygerman.com/german-prefi...
yourdailygerman.com/german-prefi...
The meaning of German Prefix "ver" - The 1 Core Idea
'ver' is the most common prefix in German and there seems to be no logic to it. In this article, we'll discover its one core meaning and what we can do with it.
yourdailygerman.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Went down a rabbit hole of the German prefix "ver" prompted by "verlieben" and a whole bit of grammar in the middle of my novel translation! #amtranslating
yourdailygerman.com/german-prefi...
yourdailygerman.com/german-prefi...
Reposted by Rachel Ward
A reminder to fellow NT members - the Restore Trust lot are at it again, trying to insert ideology into NT’s curation of our heritage.
Don’t forget to vote for historical accuracy over politicised nostalgic fantasy
Don’t forget to vote for historical accuracy over politicised nostalgic fantasy
*Calling all members*
Get your votes in for our Annual General Meeting before it’s too late: buff.ly/reNDWPy
Voting closes midnight on 31 Oct.
Get your votes in for our Annual General Meeting before it’s too late: buff.ly/reNDWPy
Voting closes midnight on 31 Oct.
October 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A reminder to fellow NT members - the Restore Trust lot are at it again, trying to insert ideology into NT’s curation of our heritage.
Don’t forget to vote for historical accuracy over politicised nostalgic fantasy
Don’t forget to vote for historical accuracy over politicised nostalgic fantasy
Reposted by Rachel Ward
👋 Hello lovely Blueskyers! Do I (or you?) know any gothic novel fans (or even better, with links to the UK publishing industry)? A student I know is keen to ask research questions about British gothic novels by women authors over the years and their correlation with societal changes. And pls share!
October 29, 2025 at 8:54 AM
👋 Hello lovely Blueskyers! Do I (or you?) know any gothic novel fans (or even better, with links to the UK publishing industry)? A student I know is keen to ask research questions about British gothic novels by women authors over the years and their correlation with societal changes. And pls share!
And it includes children's books in translation too! 🥳
My good news has just come in! LOOK AT THIS! So pleased to see this! www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Booker prize launches £50,000 children’s award
Children will help judge the new prize along with children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
And it includes children's books in translation too! 🥳
Reposted by Rachel Ward
🔔FUNDRAISER ALERT🔔
AND, if our new-style merch is more your bag, shop now and help us support BIPOC translators. Mousepads, coasters, shirts, bags, and more--plus, no Jeff Bezos! #Christmas will be here before you know it, and we've got you covered! #xl8 #translation
translatorsaloud.com/shop/#!/
AND, if our new-style merch is more your bag, shop now and help us support BIPOC translators. Mousepads, coasters, shirts, bags, and more--plus, no Jeff Bezos! #Christmas will be here before you know it, and we've got you covered! #xl8 #translation
translatorsaloud.com/shop/#!/
Shop – Translators Aloud
translatorsaloud.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
🔔FUNDRAISER ALERT🔔
AND, if our new-style merch is more your bag, shop now and help us support BIPOC translators. Mousepads, coasters, shirts, bags, and more--plus, no Jeff Bezos! #Christmas will be here before you know it, and we've got you covered! #xl8 #translation
translatorsaloud.com/shop/#!/
AND, if our new-style merch is more your bag, shop now and help us support BIPOC translators. Mousepads, coasters, shirts, bags, and more--plus, no Jeff Bezos! #Christmas will be here before you know it, and we've got you covered! #xl8 #translation
translatorsaloud.com/shop/#!/
Reposted by Rachel Ward
"Almost half of everything AI assistants tell you is wrong" and "Oxford university gives AI assistants to all its students" are two headlines we are forced to accept as coexisting in this appalling timeline.
The response of UK universities to this is, almost universally, to say "Tch, what can you do?"
Or in some cases, to very overtly decide that the thing to do is join in...
Or in some cases, to very overtly decide that the thing to do is join in...
October 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
"Almost half of everything AI assistants tell you is wrong" and "Oxford university gives AI assistants to all its students" are two headlines we are forced to accept as coexisting in this appalling timeline.
Reposted by Rachel Ward
Ok, here's a weird one. Did you know that in Germany, we talk about 'Digitalisierung', but in English we have two words, and they mean different things. I often see DE companies write about the advantages of 'digitization' when they mean 'digitalization'.
englishtextservices.de/en/digitizat...
englishtextservices.de/en/digitizat...
Digitization vs digitalization: Why the German word “Digitalisierung” is often mistranslated
The German word “Digitalisierung” is often mistranslated – is digitization or digitalization the right word? Learn the difference between these two words, and how they relate to digital transformation...
englishtextservices.de
October 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Ok, here's a weird one. Did you know that in Germany, we talk about 'Digitalisierung', but in English we have two words, and they mean different things. I often see DE companies write about the advantages of 'digitization' when they mean 'digitalization'.
englishtextservices.de/en/digitizat...
englishtextservices.de/en/digitizat...
Reposted by Rachel Ward
Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 – in pictures
Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 – in pictures
From a red-throated loon touching down on water, to good and bad hair days, and an airborne squirrel, here is a selection of the finalists in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife awards
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 – in pictures
Reposted by Rachel Ward
The words "guilty pleasure" don't exist with books. No guilt, just pleasure. Books are there to enjoy.
Tell me your most life-affirming literary opinion.
October 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The words "guilty pleasure" don't exist with books. No guilt, just pleasure. Books are there to enjoy.
Reposted by Rachel Ward
A relevant repost from @martinader.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/heal...
October 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A relevant repost from @martinader.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/heal...
Reposted by Rachel Ward
Folks @ciol-linguists.bsky.social and #translators #t9n we have a real problem if an Oxford academic (Fabian Stephany) has no idea what we do and is advising MSM such as @skynewsrss.bsky.social incorrectly like this. I just hope he’s been misquoted 1/2
October 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Folks @ciol-linguists.bsky.social and #translators #t9n we have a real problem if an Oxford academic (Fabian Stephany) has no idea what we do and is advising MSM such as @skynewsrss.bsky.social incorrectly like this. I just hope he’s been misquoted 1/2
Reposted by Rachel Ward
If any of you lovely translators want to take part there is an interview series on my blog, a set of questions to ponder and if you want to be involved answer at least six, add some images, bio, and links to website/socials
There are three interviews already
bigbeardedbookseller.uk/questions-fo...
There are three interviews already
bigbeardedbookseller.uk/questions-fo...
October 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
If any of you lovely translators want to take part there is an interview series on my blog, a set of questions to ponder and if you want to be involved answer at least six, add some images, bio, and links to website/socials
There are three interviews already
bigbeardedbookseller.uk/questions-fo...
There are three interviews already
bigbeardedbookseller.uk/questions-fo...
Pretty much everywhere in Norfolk - Wymondham, Costessey, Happisburgh, Cley...
What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?
October 9, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Pretty much everywhere in Norfolk - Wymondham, Costessey, Happisburgh, Cley...
Hi to new followers, via the translators starter pack and the ETN discussion! #amtranslating #literarytranslation and #booksky are useful for finding likeminded people too... Let's keep the chat going :)
October 7, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Hi to new followers, via the translators starter pack and the ETN discussion! #amtranslating #literarytranslation and #booksky are useful for finding likeminded people too... Let's keep the chat going :)
Reposted by Rachel Ward
It's true. The Oxford comma, often said to eliminate ambiguity, can sometimes increase it. It’s not a panacea, and writers and editors shouldn’t treat it as one
stancarey.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/t...
stancarey.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/t...
October 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
It's true. The Oxford comma, often said to eliminate ambiguity, can sometimes increase it. It’s not a panacea, and writers and editors shouldn’t treat it as one
stancarey.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/t...
stancarey.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/t...
Reposted by Rachel Ward
being a cat person is so crazy bc you live with someone who is undeniably annoying and you're always thinking "maybe i should get another cat"
October 1, 2025 at 5:22 AM
being a cat person is so crazy bc you live with someone who is undeniably annoying and you're always thinking "maybe i should get another cat"
This #InternationalTranslationDay, I submitted my translation of Schwedenbitter/Sharks by Simone Buchholz to @orendabooks.bsky.social so decided to celebrate with a cycle and coffee. Added enough miles to earn the most decadent cake on the menu! Found some conkers along the way too.
September 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This #InternationalTranslationDay, I submitted my translation of Schwedenbitter/Sharks by Simone Buchholz to @orendabooks.bsky.social so decided to celebrate with a cycle and coffee. Added enough miles to earn the most decadent cake on the menu! Found some conkers along the way too.