Ruth Simpson is a French to English translator specialising in wine, cosmetics and personal development.
Who are you? Please introduce yourself
Hi, I’m Ruth Simpson, a British translator based in Chablis. I help French brands create fluent, natural English, mostly in wine, beauty, and personal development. When I’m not at my desk, you’ll find me wandering through the vineyards or making music with my jazz band. I’m also right in the middle of creating a training organisation to teach specialised English to wine professionals (www.winewords.fr). Since I’m based in France and need to get special certification to access training funds, I’m experiencing the delights of the French administrative system.
Do you translate, interpret, or both? What are your areas of specialism?
I translate. I did train as an interpreter as well as a translator, and I’ve done a spot of interpreting here and there, but I prefer to leave that to the specialists. My areas of expertise are wine, beauty and personal development. I spent several years in Paris working at L’Oréal’s Luxury Division and teaching English to employees there, so a specialisation in cosmetics was a natural decision when I set up as a translator in 2008. Wine came later. My husband’s family have been making wine here in Chablis since the early nineteenth century, so it’s all around me. In 2010 I decided to take my burgeoning interest in the subject more seriously, and eventually worked through all four levels of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s programmes, finishing up with their notoriously challenging Diploma in 2013. I’ve also trained other translators in wine and spirits, which has been enormously satisfying.
Why did you decide to get into translation or interpreting?
I loved teaching adults in Paris, but when my life’s path wound its way to rural Chablis, I decided that an online profession was the way to go. This was in 2008 before we all became skilled Zoomers. Having a flexible schedule was a godsend with my young children and hard-working husband. Before my exodus from the French capital, I trained as a translator and interpreter for a year with the University of London Institute in Paris in preparation for my career move. I started out slowly, but soon built up my business. I love the variety it brings, but most of all I love the translation community and people I get to know at annual events.
What’s your favourite type of project?
I enjoy projects that mix knowledge with creativity. Tasting notes can be informative yet utterly engaging, product descriptions for the luxury industry can really capture a brand’s personality, and personal development texts can provide motivation on a dreary Monday morning. I particularly enjoy long-term collaborations where I can get to grips with a brand’s true voice.
What do you do outside of translation or interpreting?
Music is my first love. I sing jazz in a seven-piece band, play the ukulele and violin, and I’m a huge musical theatre geek. I get to combine music with translation when I direct the choir at the Mediterranean Editors and Translators annual conference. I try to keep fit by hiking in the vineyards at the weekends, but inevitably I end up going home to cook a meal in my beloved Thermomix and all my effort goes out of the window.
My two children also keep me very busy, especially now my son is at lycée in a nearby town. I’ve just taken on the role of President of the parent’s association at my daughter’s collège, which is going to keep me extra busy over the next four years!
