Wie we zijn

Yvette Blankvoort

I love a challenge: the more difficult the text, the happier I am. The fact that I’m legally trained as well as a translator makes legal translation a logical choice for me.

Translation is a technical discipline. A good translator understands more than one language and is also good at analysing, interpreting, problem-solving and establishing links. Which is precisely why I enjoy translating more than anything.

As well as a love of languages, my other interests include architecture, design, Japan, Feyenoord football club and psychology. I also run an average of 20 kilometres a week.

Bard Jansen

My interest in language stems from my bilingual upbringing in England, which has given me a fascination with the power of language – whether it’s an exciting story, a novel or a business document.

As a lawyer-translator, I increasingly appreciate the wise words of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein: “A word’s meaning is its use”; in other words, it’s not so much what you say as how you say it and the context in which you say it. Words are all about how they’re used.

Translation allows me to combine my work with my boundless love of classical music. I also enjoy hiking in the countryside at weekends.