Professional English to German translator and editor since 2015

Die Übersetzerin Claudia Voit trägt ein grünes Shirt und steht vor einer blauen Tür, Foto © Daggi Binder, maizucker.de

Hi! I’m Claudia, and I’m a translator, content strategist, and editor working in the worlds of marketing, e‑learning, and literature.

German is my native tongue, and I’m based in northern Bavaria, Germany.

I translate from English to German and I specialise in translating, transcreating, and editing marketing texts and e-learning content. As a literary translator, I also translate novels, short stories, and non-fiction.

I’ve been awarded several grants for my literary translations and I received the Bayerischer Kunstförderpreis 2022 in literature, which is a prestigious Bavarian arts and literary prize awarded by the Bavarian Ministry of Science and the Arts.

I’m a Chartered Linguist and a member of the Association of German-speaking Translators of Literary and Scientific Works (VdÜ), the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), and the Women in Localization network.

To offer you the best possible service, I’m always up to date with new developments in my fields and regularly take part in workshops and seminars.

Qualifications

MA in literary translation from English into German from the University of Düsseldorf (2023)
BA in German language and literature with English and American linguistics, literature, and culture from the University of Bamberg (2015)
Global Study Program (communications and psychology) at the University of California, Davis
English-German translation certificate from AKAD University
Academic background in the education sector thanks to 1.5 years of studying an education and teacher training degree program
In-house experience at two book publishing houses in the digital marketing, blogger relations and PR departments
Several grants awarded for my work as a literary translator
Consistently polishing my skills with seminars and workshops for translators and editors
Regular courses and seminars about marketing and SEO
CIOL Member (MCIL) and Chartered Linguist (Translator) as well as a member of the Association of German-speaking Translators of Literary and Scientific Works (VdÜ) and the Women in Localization network

Awards and grants

2023

Literary translation grant awarded by the German Translator Fund for my translation of “Bodies of Light” by Jennifer Down

2022

Bayerischer Kunstförderpreis, a prestigious arts and literary prize awarded by the Bavarian Ministry of Science and the Arts, for my German translation of “Axiomatic” by Maria Tumarkin and “Objects of Desire” by Clare Sestanovich

2022

Literary translation grant awarded by the German Translator Fund for my translation of “Strangers to Ourselves” by Rachel Aviv

2022

HHU Mobility Grant from the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf for a term abroad at the University of California, Davis

2021

Literary translation grant awarded by the German Translator Fund for our translation of “The Transgender Issue” by Shon Faye (joint translation with Jayrôme C. Robinet)

2021

Literary translation grant awarded by the German Translator Fund for my translation of “Objects of Desire” by Clare Sestanovich

2021

Junge Kunst und neue Wege – grant awarded to young artists from the Free State of Bavaria

2020

Johann-Joachim-Christoph-Bode-Stipendium – translation grant awarded by the German Translator Fund for my translation of “Axiomatic” by Maria Tumarkin

2020

Shortlist Stipendium HORIZONT-Stiftung – shortlisted for a scholarship awarded yearly to one student in the marketing and media industries

2019 – 2021

Deutschlandstipendium Chancen nutzen – grant from the University of Düsseldorf awarded twice in a row for outstanding achievement in my literary translation MA studies

2019

Travel grant from the University of Düsseldorf

2018

Berliner Übersetzerwerkstatt – grant and mentoring program at the Literary Colloquium Berlin (LCB)

Marketing and editing – workshops, seminars, certificates

2022

SEO Certification Course – HubSpot Academy

2020

Text Optimisation: Editing with Style – three-part webinar, hosted by the German Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators BDÜ

2020

Master Digital Marketing – 40-hour course, LinkedIn Learning

2020

Social Media Marketing – 14-hour course, LinkedIn Learning

2019

Fundamentals of Digital Marketing – Google, The Open University

2018

Translating, Editing and Copywriting for Online Marketing – online course provided by a UK marketing agency

2017

PR in Publishing – workshop on the fundamentals of public relations, organized by the association for PR and publishing Arbeitskreis Verlags-PR e.V.

2016

Editing Fiction for Publishing Houses – seminar hosted by Dr Martin Hielscher, C. H. Beck Verlag, University of Bamberg

2015

Culture Management – seminar hosted by Bernd Goldmann, former head of the Künstlerhaus Villa Concordia (an institution that aims to promote the arts), University of Bamberg

Marketing and SEO certificates

Certificate: Claudia Voit is SEO certified by the Hubspot Academy

Claudia Voit's Certificate in Fundamentals of Digital Marketing by Google

Claudia Voit's Certificate of Completion: Become a Social Media Marketer LinkedIn Learning

Literature and translation – workshops, seminars, conferences

2022

Digital Training Series from the German Translator Fund – including webinars on translating non-fiction, translating literature for children and young adults, digital editing and proofreading, working with editorial teams, tense, translation theories, spoken language and dialogue, syntax, and wordplay (puns)

2021

Translating Gender – translation workshop for professional translators at Château de Lavigny, hosted by Centre de traduction littéraire in Lausanne and Antje Rávik Strubel

2021

Über Kreuz (Crossover) Workshop for Translators and Editors of Literature for Children and Young Adults – hosted by Ulrike Schuldes and Tobias Scheffel at the Translation House Looren

2021

Translate Better – The Original – five-week online workshop on literary translation from English into German, hosted by Dr Ina Pfitzner

2021

Who’s Talking? Literary Translation between Colonial Heritage and Political Correctness – conference at the Literary Colloquium Berlin (LCB)

2021

Dialogue – What Can Prose Translators Learn from Theater and Films? – conference hosted at the Literary Colloquium Berlin (LCB)

2021

How to Solve Systemic English-German Translation Problems Efficiently – three-part online course by Karin Königs

2020 – 2021

Translate Better – seven-part webinar series on common problems in translating from English into German, including language, tense and modality forms, text economy, syntax, neologisms, and improving your language skills. Hosted by the German Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators (BDÜ) and Dr Ina Pfitzner

2019

Literary Translation Summer School: Literary Translators and the Digital World – hosted by the University of Düsseldorf

2018

Hieronymus-Programm – mentoring programme for ten literary translators at the International Translators’ Center EÜK Straelen e.V.

2018

How to Deal with Intertextuality and Quotes in Literary Translations – hosted by Dr Barbara von Bechtolsheim

2018

Literary Translation Summer School: Editing, Poetry and Flash Fiction – hosted by the University of Düsseldorf

2018

Symposium: Gatekeepers, Pioneers, Creators of Worlds. The Role of Translators in Children’s Literature – hosted by Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur e.V. (German Association for Young Adult Literature)

I also regularly attend the three-day annual conference organised by the Association of German-speaking Translators of Literary and Scientific Works (VdÜ). As part of these events, I take part in workshops on various topics, e.g., translating crime novels, thrillers and mystery fiction, the conjunctive and translating names in popular fiction, etc.