ABOUT
About Naughton Translations
Welcome to Naughton Translations! I’m Alastair Naughton, the face behind the name. I have always loved the German language, always loved travel, and always loved adventure. Yet tourism is now at a point where it must completely reinvent itself. It must, as a sector, recognise the harm it has caused to the environment, and the adverse effects it has had for local communities. Catering for affluent holidaymakers with no long-term interest in the wellbeing of the destinations they visit can no longer be an aim in itself. Indeed, it never could.
The time for a complete rethink is now. It is time for tourism operators to act in genuine partnership with service providers and communities, so that everyone wins; tourists experience ‘the real thing’ when they go on holiday, service providers receive a fair return for their goods and services provided, and the natural environment is preserved, and preferably enhanced.
Translation Experience
I have over 6 years’ experience in the profession, and have translated a wide variety of texts, across a broad range of sectors, including:
- Sustainability and ethics in the mining of precious metals
- Employment contracts
- Tax and legal issues relating to exports
- School reports
I have travelled all over Germany and Austria for leisure, academic study and work. My university studies took me to Hanover University as an undergraduate and the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf as part of my PhD in German Studies. I have gained experience in the luxury hotel sector in Aberdeen, Scotland and in an independent, family-owned hotel on Lake Constance, where Germany, Austria and Switzerland all meet.
I am an Associate Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) as well as a Member of ProCopywriters, the alliance of commercial writers. In line with best practices, I adhere strictly to the codes of conduct of both the above professional bodies.
Proofreading and Editing
A post-graduate colleague recently asked me to edit his thesis, in order for him to successfully gain his MSc in Political Studies from the University of Aberdeen. This involved:
- going through the work and ensuring there were no contradictions in the argument
- ensuring it was set out in a logical order
- going through the thesis with a fine-tooth comb to eliminate any errors in spelling and grammar
Copy and Content Writing
I maintain my own blog on various subjects relating to adventure and sustainable tourism and have written numerous articles for this.
I have acted as a content writer for a website in the Third Sector. My role here was to keep the news and events diary up to date as we received notice of these.
I acted as editor of Netzblatt, the in-house journal for the UK-wide quarterly newsletter for professional German <> English Translators registered with the ITI. In this role I collated contributions from readers, wrote an introductory letter for each edition, and contributed several pieces of my own.
I have also written content for the Scottish Network of Translators