 Member since Jan '10
Working languages: Spanish to English
Spanish (monolingual)
|    Fiona Kirton
Over 10 years in science and IT
Scotland, United Kingdom Local time: 04:22 GMT (GMT+0)
Native in: English  | | |
Spanish to English translator with over 10 years experience in science, IT and business | Freelancer,  Verified member | | Translation, Editing/proofreading | | Specializes in: | | Astronomy & Space | Telecom(munications) | | Science (general) | Physics | | Mathematics & Statistics | Management | | IT (Information Technology) | Engineering (general) | | Business/Commerce (general) | Computers (general) |
| Also works in: | | Aerospace / Aviation / Space | Linguistics | | Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.) | Metallurgy / Casting | | Mining & Minerals / Gems | Nuclear Eng/Sci | | Other | Printing & Publishing | | Manufacturing | Automation & Robotics | | Internet, e-Commerce | International Org/Dev/Coop | | Computers: Hardware | Computers: Software | | Computers: Systems, Networks | Construction / Civil Engineering | | Economics | Energy / Power Generation | | Environment & Ecology | General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters | | Human Resources | Meteorology |
More Less | | GBP | | PRO-level points: 484, Questions answered: 312, Questions asked: 9 | | Wire transfer | Sample translations submitted: 3 Spanish to English: Good people in an evil time - Interview with Svetlana Broz (extract)
General field: Other
Detailed field: Journalism | Source text - Spanish
Svetlana Broz: La importancia de documentar la Paz
Las terribles imágenes de la guerra en los Balcanes que dieron la vuelta al mundo hace ya una década, mostraron el regreso de la limpieza étnica a Europa, y motivaron la intervención de las fuerzas internacionales para detener una guerra que se saldó con 200,000 vidas y miles de refugiados y desaparecidos.
En medio del horror, esta cardióloga y periodista se adentró en el centro mismo del conflicto para contar una historia aparentemente imposible: la presencia de una paz ciudadana y multiétnica, que sobrevivía en el interior de un territorio asolado por el odio racial.
Esta es la entrevista que Svetlana Broz, la nieta pacifista del Mariscal Tito, concedió en exclusiva para Corresponsal de Paz.
Cristina Ávila-Zesatti – Corresponsal de Paz
Hace 10 años, el 24 de marzo de 1999, las fuerzas aliadas de la OTAN (Organización del Tratado del Atlántico Norte) iniciaron los primeros “bombardeos humanitarios” en la región sur-europea de los Balcanes, enfrentada desde 1991 en un conflicto étnico que hizo temblar al mundo, ante el fantasma de la 2ª Guerra Mundial.
En 1992, Svetlana Broz (Belgrado, 1955) ejercía como cardióloga en la Academia Militar de la antigua Yugoslavia, que ya sufría los primeros enfrentamientos de una cruel guerra civil, y que terminaría partiendo su territorio en complicados fragmentos.
Movida por su deseo de ayudar desde su profesión médica, Svetlana se apuntó como voluntaria y se trasladó a los lugares del conflicto, pero una vez ahí, la realidad la arrojó nuevamente al oficio de periodista, y su inicial objetivo de curar las heridas físicas de sus pacientes, se transformó en una tarea mayor: se propuso sanar el corazón mismo de un país dividido ¿Cómo? contando una historia de paz, que la violencia de la guerra dejaba velada.
Gente de Bien en tiempos del mal
En medio de la barbarie racista, ella se encontró con innumerables anécdotas de víctimas que eran en realidad héroes.
Gente que –arriesgando su vida- había salvado a sus “supuestos” enemigos, y había desafiado a la propaganda de odio emitida desde la clase política, el ejército, y los medios de comunicación…. Personas que individualmente, habían enfrentado el miedo y los ánimos de guerra, y habían optado por el peso de un sentimiento más arraigado: la solidaridad.
Así, con la guerra en su apogeo, pero con la tesis de “la posibilidad de la paz” fija en la mente, Svetlana Broz recorrió 6 mil kilómetros de la ex Yugoslavia, en un periplo que le tomó alrededor de 6 años, durante los cuales buscó y documentó las historias de bosnios, albaneses, kosovares y serbios que se salvaban y ayudaban los unos a los otros, mientras sus milicias católicas, musulmanas y ortodoxas se enfrentaban en la peor batalla que ha vivido Europa desde la Alemania nazi.
Finalmente, en 1999, después aquella primera idea, publicó el libro “Gente de bien en tiempos del mal; retratos de complicidad y resistencia en la guerra de Bosnia” (Good People in an evil time: Portraits of complicity and resistance in the Bosnian war).
Originalmente publicado en bosnio, serbio y croata, se ha traducido ya a 6 idiomas (inglés, francés, checo, italiano, español y polaco). Su interior, narra 99 historias documentadas con testimonios, de ciudadanos normales en quienes prevalecieron los lazos internos de amistad y humanidad, por encima de los estruendos externos de la guerra. | Translation - English
Svetlana Broz: The Importance of Documenting Peace
The terrible images of the war in the Balkans that were broadcast around the world a decade ago showed the return of ethnic cleansing to Europe and motivated international forces to intervene to bring an end to a war that cost 200,000 lives and resulted in thousands of refugees and missing people.
In the middle of all the horror, cardiologist and journalist, Svetlana Broz, went to the centre of the conflict in order to tell an apparently impossible story: that of the presence of multiethnic and community peace, which had survived within a region torn apart by racial hatred.
This is the interview that Svetlana Broz, pacifist and granddaughter of Marshal Tito, gave exclusively to Corresponsal de Paz.
Cristina Ávila-Zesatti – Corresponsal de Paz
Ten years ago, on the 24th March 1999, allied NATO forces (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) began the first “humanitarian offensives” in the Balkans, which had been embroiled since 1991 in an ethnic conflict that shook the world, still haunted by the ghost of the Second World War.
In 1992, Svetlana Broz (born 1955 in Belgrade) was working as a cardiologist at the Military Academy in the former Yugoslavia which, already suffering the first clashes of the brutal civil war, would end up splitting into complex fragments.
Moved by her desire to offer medical assistance, Svetlana signed up as a volunteer and went to where the fighting was taking place. However, once there, the reality of the situation drew her back to the world of journalism and her initial aim – to cure her patients’ physical injuries – was replaced by a much greater task: to set about healing the very heart of a divided country. How? By telling a story of peace, overshadowed up to now by the violence of the war.
Good People in an Evil Time
In amongst the racist barbarity of the war, Svetlana came across innumerable stories of victims who in reality were heroes.
People who had risked their own lives to save their “supposed” enemies and had spurned the hate propaganda put out by the political classes, the military and the media…People who had individually confronted the fear and destructive forces and had responded to a more deeply-ingrained feeling: solidarity.
And so with the war at its height, but with the idea of “the possibility of peace” fixed firmly in her mind, Svetlana travelled six thousand kilometres across the former Yugoslavia, a journey which lasted six years, during which time she sought out and documented stories of Bosnians, Albanians, Kosovans and Serbians who had saved and helped each other, while Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox militias fought each other in the worst conflict seen in Europe since Nazi Germany.
Finally, in 1999, following that first idea, she published the book, Good People in an Evil Time: Portraits of Complicity and Resistance in the Bosnian War.
Originally published in Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian, it has now been translated into six languages (English, French, Czech, Italian, Spanish and Polish). The book contains 99 different stories told through testimonials, of ordinary people within whom the internal bonds of friendship and humanity prevailed over the thunderous extremes of war. | Spanish to English: Comment/Letter to charity workers (extract)
General field: Other
Detailed field: General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters | Source text - Spanish
Ayer en la madrugada toda mi familia salió a la calle en pijama para observar la última luna llena de este año. La llamada luna azul, la número trece, que venía además, acompañada de un eclipse.
Y mientras nuestros ojos miraban hacia arriba, en algún momento pude ver que la gente que pasaba por la calle nos imitaba, buscando en el cielo, el motivo de nuestro asombro… y el hecho me pareció mágico, porque pensé en lo fácil que resulta a veces contagiarnos los unos a los otros de un sentimiento; también me pareció trascendente, pues reparé en que casi nunca somos conscientes de nuestro poder de influencia, ni de la naturaleza de los sentimientos que contagiamos a los otros con nuestras acciones
Mi padre solía contar una historia, sencilla como era él mismo, y sabia como todo lo que es simple. Una historia que resume la única elección vital que nos define, en particular y en general, y que hoy, he querido compartir con ustedes, que son, a fin de cuentas, la familia que el destino ha elegido para mí, al cruzarlos en mi camino:
“En un atardecer cualquiera, un abuelo jugaba con su nieto en el patio. De pronto, el abuelo calló súbitamente. Sorprendido por el silencio repentino, el niño preguntó qué le sucedía. –Shh… -murmuró el anciano, -no hables ahora, pues dentro de mi cabeza y de mi corazón, dos lobos han comenzado un feroz enfrentamiento: uno de ellos –dijo con teatralidad- representa al odio, al rencor, a la avaricia, la culpa, la arrogancia, a la mentira y el resentimiento… -el pequeño abrió los ojos con asombro y dejó que el abuelo continuara. -El otro lobo que dentro de mí pelea, es un lobo de paz, de esperanza, de compasión, de justicia y tolerancia, de verdad y de perdón…. - ¡Abuelo! -Dijo el niño emocionado: ¿Y quién crees que ganará la batalla?- … el viejo guardó un momento más de silencio… luego, le respondió a su nieto: -el lobo que ganará esta batalla en mi interior, será sin duda aquel a quien yo decida alimentar más-
Creo sinceramente que esta “pelea de lobos” está sucediendo actualmente en todos y cada uno de nosotros, y le ocurre también al conjunto de la humanidad.
El 2009 será recordado por muchos como “el año de la crisis”. Y sin embargo yo, que en estos 12 meses me dediqué a buscar (y a encontrar) historias de solución, de alternativas, de reconciliación y de paz, lo recordaré siempre como la etapa en que elegí alimentar al lobo de la esperanza, hacia adentro mío primero, y hacia afuera después.
Soy periodista de profesión, y contadora de historias por vocación, y porque la palabra escrita es el don que me ha sido otorgado, he decidido usarlo por fin para alimentar a ese lobo bondadoso que sé de cierto que todos (todos) llevamos dentro. | Translation - English
Yesterday, in the middle of the night, my whole family went into the street in their pyjamas to observe the last full moon of the year. The so-called ‘blue moon' – the thirteenth full moon – was also accompanied by an eclipse.
And while we were looking up, I became aware that people on the street were copying us, looking at the sky to find the cause of our amazement...and to me this seemed magical, because it made me think about how easy it is sometimes to pass our feelings on to one another; it also seemed to me very significant since I realised that we are hardly ever aware of the power we have to influence others or of the nature of the feelings that we communicate to others through our actions.
My father used to tell a story, simple like him, and wise like all simple things are. A story that sums up the only important choice that defines us, in particular and in general, and that I want to share with you all, who are after all, the family that destiny has chosen for me when it made our paths cross:
“One evening at dusk, a grandfather was playing with his grandson in the patio. Suddenly, the grandfather fell silent. Surprised by the sudden silence, the boy asked what was wrong.
‘Shh…,’ whispered the grandfather, ‘don't speak now, because in my head and in my heart two wolves have begun fighting furiously: one of them,’ he said theatrically, ‘represents hate, resentment, avarice, guilt, arrogance, lies and bitterness.’
The little boy’s eyes widened in amazement and he let his grandfather continue. ‘The other wolf in this fight is a wolf of peace, hope, compassion, justice and tolerance, of truth and forgiveness…’
‘Grandfather!’ said the boy, excited, ‘who do think is going to win the fight?’
The old man remained silent for a moment…then, he replied, ‘the wolf that wins this battle within me will be, without doubt, the one that I decide to nurture more.’”
I truly believe that this “wolf fight” is going on right now within each and every one of us, and the same is happening to the whole of humanity.
The year 2009 will be remembered by many as “the year of the crisis”. I, however, having dedicated myself in these last 12 months to looking for (and finding) stories of solutions, of alternatives, of reconciliation and of peace, will remember it as the point when I decided to nurture the wolf of hope, first within myself and then outside of myself.
I'm a journalist by profession – a story teller by vocation – and since the written word is the gift that has been given to me, I finally decided to use it to nurture this kind-hearted wolf, which I know for certain we all – everybody – carries within us. | Spanish to English: Understanding Development (extract)
General field: Social Sciences
Detailed field: Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. | Source text - Spanish
Desarrollo bien entendido
Extracto de “Desarrollo: Comunicación, Información y Capacitación”, J. Manuel Calvelo Rios, Instituto de Investigación en Comunicación para el Desarrollo, runa, 2001.
El Desarrollo debe ser endógeno, autogestionado y sustentable.
Entendemos el desarrollo como un proceso endógeno, autogestionado y sustentable, que tiende a incrementar la calidad de vida material, intelectual, cultural y afectiva de toda la humanidad y, en particular, de aquellos que hoy en día ni siquiera alcanzan los niveles básicos de la supervivencia biológica debido al hambre, las enfermedades y los déficit de nutrición y salud. La sustentabilidad, como una de las condiciones del desarrollo, debe darse en cuatro niveles: económico, ecológico, energético y social, o equidad.
Los aportes básicos requeridos para generar un proceso de desarrollo pueden, añadiríamos que deben, provenir del exterior al universo de sujetos a desarrollar. Pero deben tener un carácter estrictamente catalítico y no ser permanentes o recurrentes. Si así fueran, el proceso carecería de la necesaria autonomía y sus líneas serían trazadas desde el exterior. Faltaría la participación real, de esfuerzos y aportes, que asegura la continuidad…
Nadie mejor que los propios sujetos de desarrollo para ejercer su gestión en forma autónoma. Es una de las pocas formas reales de saber si es el "beneficiario", y no el "perjudicatario" de la intervención. Tratarlo como minusválido intelectual porque desconoce los modelos abstractos de gestión que se le proponen, en vez de capacitarlo para ello, frenará o detendrá cualquier intento de desarrollo. Echarle en cara sus limitaciones en el manejo de los recursos disponibles, en vez de capacitarlo para ello, hará más desarrollados a los agentes de la intervención y acentuará el nivel de subdesarrollo de los sujetos.
La sustentabilidad económica responde al principio de que las inversiones realizadas para desencadenar un proceso de desarrollo deben operar como insumo catalítico y deben retornar, en la misma o mayor cantidad, para ser invertidas en nuevos procesos. Está claro que los retornos no son meramente financieros, ya que será necesario tomar en cuenta la rentabilidad social, así como la ecológica y energética. Y está claro, también, que los plazos de retorno son históricos (sociales), no urgentes (urbanos), y menos políticos electoralistas.
La sustentabilidad ecológica responde al principio de que debemos manejar, y no explotar, los recursos naturales renovables, manteniendo una base de recursos estable para utilizar los intereses o excedentes generados regularmente por los procesos biológicos y su correcto manejo. Responde, además, a la imperiosa necesidad de: reducir y llegar a eliminar la erosión de los suelos y del capital genético, la polución de todo tipo y en todo ambiente, incluyendo el social; reducir e invertir los procesos acelerados de deforestación; y contribuir al mantenimiento de las diversidades, sociales, naturales y culturales, como uno de los elementos básicos del desarrollo.
La sustentabilidad energética responde a varias consideraciones. Estamos consumiendo a un ritmo acelerado y agotando en plazos muy breves los combustibles fósiles (gas, petróleo, carbón) que el sistema Tierra generó en plazos geológicos. Los estamos consumiendo hasta el agotamiento y de la forma más ineficiente: quemándolos. […] Un factor clave del problema es que todos los países llevan sus contabilidades en términos financieros y tanto los costos como los beneficios son calculados y expresados en base a modelos monetarios. Salvo algunos casos como el de Georgescu Roengen, casi ningún economista ha pensado en, y tratado de, expresar los balances en términos energéticos.
En cuanto a la sustentabilidad social, o equidad, no sólo son válidos los principios y criterios de carácter ético. Tanto o más importantes son los de carácter económico. Según los datos que todos los países aportan a las Naciones Unidas, el año 1998 la distribución del Producto Interno Bruto a nivel mundial era la siguiente: el 20% de la población mundial capturaba el 86% del PBI; el 60% de la población recibía el 13% del PBI y el restante 20% sólo alcanzaba el 1% del PBI. Estos datos, por mucho que desconfiemos del PBI como indicador de desarrollo, nos dicen que estamos excluyendo del mercado de bienes y servicios a un porcentaje sustantivo de la población; casi el 80%. | Translation - English
Understanding Development
Extract from: ‘Development: Communication, Information and Training’, J. Manuel Calvelo Rios, Research Institute for Development Communication (Runa), 2001.
Development should be endogenous, self-managed and sustainable.
We understand development as an endogenous, self-managed and sustainable process which strives to improve the quality of life – material, intellectual, cultural and emotional – of the whole of humanity and in particular, of those who nowadays cannot even attain the basics of biological survival due to hunger, disease and a lack of nutrition and health. Sustainability, as one of the conditions of development, must exist on four levels: economic, ecological, energetic and social (or equity).
The basic contributions required to generate a process of development can – we would add must – come from outside the universe of subjects to be developed. But they must be of a strictly catalytic nature and be neither permanent nor recurrent. If they were, the process would lack the necessary autonomy and its progress would be determined externally; there would be an absence of genuine participation, in terms of effort and contributions, required to ensure its continuation.
There is nobody better placed than the subjects of development themselves to take charge of its management in a way that is autonomous. This is one of the few genuine ways to be sure that they are the ‘beneficiaries’ and not the ‘sufferers' of the intervention. To treat them as though they were intellectually incapable because of a lack of familiarity with the abstract management models proposed, instead of providing training, will hold back or stop any attempt at development. By emphasising limitations in relation to the management of available resources, instead of providing training, the agents of the intervention will appear more developed and the underdevelopment of the subjects will be accentuated.
Economic sustainability derives from the principle that any investment in the process of development must act as a catalytic input and must offer returns, either of the same or of a greater amount, which can be reinvested in new processes. It’s clear that the returns are not simply financial since it is necessary to take into account the social profitability, as well as the ecological and energetic profitability. It's also clear that the returns on investment are historical (social), non-urgent (urban) and not political.
Ecological sustainability derives from the principle that we must manage and not exploit renewable natural resources, retaining a stable base of resources that can be utilised for the interests and demands regularly generated by biological processes and the correct management thereof. It also derives from the vital need to: reduce and ultimately eliminate both erosion of land and of genetic capital, and pollution of all kinds in every environment, including social; reduce and reverse the accelerated process of deforestation; and contribute to the maintenance of diversity – social, natural and cultural – as a basic element of development.
Energetic sustainability derives from a number of factors. We are consuming at an accelerated rate, and depleting over short timescales, the fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal) that the Earth created over geological periods. We are consuming these resources to the point where they will be exhausted, and in the most inefficient manner: we burn them. […] A key factor in the problem is that all countries consider profitability in monetary terms and both costs and benefits are calculated and expressed in terms of financial models. With the exception of a few, for example Georgescu Roengen, virtually no economist has thought (or tried) to express the balances in terms of energy.
Regarding social sustainability, or equity, it is not only ethical criteria and principles that are important: just as important, if not more so, are those of an economic nature. According to data given to the United Nations, in 1998 the distribution of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at a global level was as follows: 20% of the world population received 86% of GDP; 60% of the population received 13% of GDP; and the remaining 20% received only 1% of GDP. These data, no matter how much we may mistrust GDP as a measure of development, shows that a substantial percentage of the population is being excluded from the goods and services market: almost 80%. |
More Less | | Graduate diploma - Open University | | Years of translation experience: 2. Registered at ProZ.com: Sep 2008. Became a member: Jan 2010. | | Spanish (The Open University, verified)
| | ITI, Royal Astronomical Society (UK), Institute of Physics (UK) | | Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office Pro, Microsoft Word, LEd (LaTex Editor), Powerpoint, Wordfast | | http://www.fionakirton.com | | Fiona Kirton endorses ProZ.com's Professional Guidelines. | | About me Spanish to English Translator
Science : Technology : Business : IT
Associate of the Institute of Translation and interpreting
An experienced IT professional and science graduate, I offer Spanish to English translation services for science, technology, business and IT
Visit my website
As a translator and proofreader I have worked on technical specifications, questionnaires, academic papers, website copy, newspaper and magazine articles, funding applications, interviews, letters, CVs and official documents, among other things. Through my varied career, I have gained knowledge and experience in diverse fields, including astrophysics, software development, IT and business consulting, and teaching.
Science and Technology
I hold a degree in physics and astronomy and have spent time working in astrophysical research. As a Member of the Institute of Physics and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, I maintain an active interest in the sciences and have expert knowledge of scientific terminology and writing styles.
Business and IT
I hold a master’s degree in business information technology systems and have many years’ experience working in the IT consulting industry. I have written, edited, proofread and/or translated IT and business documentation, including design specifications, test documentation, presentations, project proposals and user manuals.
Language and teaching
I spent a year living in Spain where I taught English as a foreign language. I regularly visit the country to keep up to date with the language and culture.
Below are some comments made by previous clients about their experience working with me:
"Fiona Kirton has worked on several translations for Corresponsal de Paz and I am very proud to have her work on our website. She is a very enthusiastic and professional translator."
Cristina Avila-Zesatti, Corresponsal de Paz
"Thank you so much for your work on the translation of our Spanish website into English. Not only is the translation of very good quality, but we were particularly impressed because the information on the Bolivia site is so technical. You have done a great job and I will be recommending you for any future translation work we have."
Barry Perks, Communications Coordinator, International Service
"Thank you so much for your speed, help and information. It has been great and if I know of anyone else needing anything translated, I will recommend you!!"
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Total pts earned: 512
PRO-level pts: 484
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| | Top specific fields (PRO) | | Engineering (general) | 48 | | Business/Commerce (general) | 43 | | Construction / Civil Engineering | 35 | | Energy / Power Generation | 28 | | Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting | 24 | | Marketing / Market Research | 20 | | IT (Information Technology) | 20 | | Pts in 37 more flds > |
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Nov 17, 2011 |
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