Richard Perez-Mongard

Question and Answer

• What is your name?
  • Richard Perez-Mongard
• Where do you live?
  • Santiago, Chile
• What made you decide to become a translator or interpreter?
  • The first 33 years it was not my decision, it was due to external demand, sporadic odd jobs. I wanted a career in photography, architecture, Veterinary Science or Marine Biology. I followed the last one. With the onset of the Internet I saw a change in the options for translation, and in 2003 started learning computing, internet and translation technology to build a career in that direction. In 2005 I started working as a full time translator.
• List one strength that you think sets you apart from your colleagues.
  • There is not one strength which makes me different, but the sum of the particular weight of each one, my full background. However, I do value my scientific education, from childhood to university, giving me habits, like: being meticulous, analytical, adventurous, and others.
• Name the one thing that you most enjoy in your translating or interpreting career.
  • Two. Translation itself: its challenges. Working online: its freedom or flexibility.
• We all have worked on those not-so-perfect assignments. Write about one such assignment that was not ideal and what you learned from it.
  • Post-editing MT: never accept a per word fee unless you have a perfect evaluation of the full file.
• If you could go back in time to when you were just starting out as a translator or interpreter, what advice would you give to your younger self?
  • Be more myself, not what others would like.
• Name one resource – such as a phone app, CAT tool, website, and so forth – that you find especially helpful in your translating or interpreting work.
  • A computer. There is nothing better than being able to copy, move, delete and paste. I only use a rubber now when drawing.
• What's the best book you've read this year?
  • Diagonales, Maori Perez, Editorial Cuarto Propio, Santiago 2009.