Translator Community Spotlight: Meet Luciana Monteiro

Here at Lilt, we’re focused on providing the highest quality translations possible, and that requires a large professional network of translators.

We've spent years building a community of experienced and quality translators, and we're excited to showcase the incredible individuals helping to lead the charge in building successful global experiences. Much like our Liltonian Spotlight series, we're sharing the backgrounds of the talented professionals in our community in our newest series, the Translator Spotlight Series. 

This week, we’re happy to introduce Luciana Monteiro, a mother, nature enthusiast, and talented translator. We sat down with Luciana to learn more about her background, how she started her translation journey, and her thoughts on the ever-changing translation industry.

What does your day to day look like?

I am an early riser! I am usually up at 6 AM. After breakfast and taking my two kids to school, I begin my translation work. I try to only look at my emails when I "get to the office," but sometimes it's the first thing that I do when I open my eyes. I'm working on having a specific time to start and finish the workday, but it's difficult since I work from home.

What languages do you speak or have you studied?

How and why did you become a translator?

I began translating 10 years ago as a side job to my dentist career. As a dentist, although realized and happy, I always felt the need to do something else — a different kind of activity that could use my other skills.

It was an interesting and natural path for me to become a translator. I had studied English since childhood, was always a good reader, and was interested and curious about many different subjects. I started writing as a hobby some years ago and put translation into the mix. Soon after, I decided to have proper and formal education in translation and did a graduate course. Today, I am very happy with my career choice as a translator.

Do you like to listen to music while you work? If so, what kind?

Not as a routine. When I do so it's only instrumental, like jazz, instrumental Bossa Nova. On a regular basis, I prefer to work in silence.

What is your favorite non-English word and what does it mean?

My favorite word is a Brazilian Portuguese word! It is "Esperança", which means "hope".

When you have an hour of free-time, what do you like to do to pass the time?

If it's just an hour I will relax, chat with my kids, read or watch a short episode of a series. If I have more time, I like to be close to nature, walk by the beach, and be outside. However, these couple of years have been a challenge. We have to be careful to protect ourselves and everyone around us, so being outside is not the same as it was some years ago.

What's one fact or skill that you've learned recently?

In early 2020, when I stayed indoors because of the pandemic, I began to learn how to play guitar though apps and the internet. I was doing well, but some months later, I gave up and now my guitar is lonely, sad, and asking for me. 

Has the translation industry changed in the last 10 years? Do you think it will change in the next 10 years?

The industry has changed a lot. While MT is a reality, it scared me at the beginning. Now, it doesn't. As a translator, I understand that all technology will evolve and that it will work by my side and not against me. It will be a continuous change but the human resource will still be the most valuable and precious at the end of that line.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts in both our Translator and Liltonian Spotlight posts! We'll continue to highlight people from across the company and our wonderful translator community.

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