DNA Language

DNA Language is owned and managed by me, Marian Dougan. Our core business consists of English-Italian translations, editing and proofreading, and language workshops.

The company is based in Glasgow, Scotland, but has strong links with Italy. I lived in Italy (Taranto, Rome and Anzio) for over 20 years and visit the country frequently. And our registered office in Bearsden is less than a mile from the Antonine Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site marking the northernmost limits of the Roman Empire.

About me

I worked as a policy analyst at the British Embassy in Rome for 15 years. In that job I enhanced my knowledge not just of the Italian language but also of the country’s culture, politics, economy, geography and people: knowledge that inspires and informs my translations today. 

More recently, I spent four years as an in-house translator and editor at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, honing my expertise in institutional communications and in finance, monetary policy and banking supervision.

I am a qualified member, and member of the Board, of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. I also hold user experience (UX) certification from the Nielsen Norman Group.

Our clients and what they say about us

We are very lucky to have some great clients who are a delight to work with. Here are some of the words they use to describe us and our work:

hugely appreciated – excellent – trust – scrupulous – great professionalism – super-appreciated – absolute best – uncanny ability – super-professional – valuable input – excellent (and demanding!) work – wonderful – meticulous – responsive – beautifully written – reliable – fantastic translation – perfect – magnificent – superb – impeccable – very helpful!!!!!

We apply strict confidentiality and security measures to protect clients’ data. We also have Professional Indemnity Insurance for added peace of mind. So if you’re looking for a translator you can trust with your documents and your reputation, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Our clients, past and present

Here are some of the organisations we’ve worked with over the years. We devote the same care and attention to each of our clients, from the Presidency of the Italian Republic to the European Central Bank to individuals needing their birth certificate or educational qualifications translated, so drop us a line for more information about our services or for a free quote.

Public sector

  • EU Commission, Directorate General for Translation
  • European Central Bank
  • Presidency of the Italian Republic
  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
  • Italian Chamber of Deputies
  • Italian Presidency of the G8 and of the European Union
  • Italian Ministry of Economic Development
  • Italian Ministry of the Economy and Finance
  • Italian Government's Interministerial Committee for Human Rights
  • Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente
  • Italian Antitrust Authority
  • Italian Prime Minister's office: Commission for International Adoptions; Department for Information and Publishing; Department for Equal Opportunities; Department for Innovation and Technologies
  • Italian Cultural Institute, Edinburgh
  • ISFOL (employment and training policy think-tank)
  • Puglia Region
  • University of Palermo

Private sector

  • John Venn & Sons (scrivener notaries and translators)
  • IRIA (insurance brokers)
  • Allied World Assurance Company (Europe) plc
  • UserTestLab (user experience consultancy)
  • Sciensus International
  • Banor SIM and Banor Capital (asset management firms)
  • Enel Group (Terna, Enel GreenPower, Enel Gas, Enel Produzione)
  • Gestore della Rete di Trasmissione Nazionale SpA
  • Institute of International Affairs (Rome-based foreign and defence policy think-tank)
  • Ref. (a Milan-based economic and financial think-tank)
  • Oxfam Action
  • Ros Schwartz Translations Ltd
  • Franchi Law LLP
  • Thorntons Solicitors
  • Paterson Holmes (legal firm)

Teaching and workshops on translation, editing and translating for the web

  • School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Glasgow
  • School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Stirling
  • Summer School for Financial Translators
  • Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI): workshops and webinars for the ITI's conference and for its specialist and regional networks
  • Translation Days by the Sea (conference)
  • Wordfast Forward (conference)
  • London Regional Group, Institute of Translation and interpreting
  • Law, Insurance and Finance Translation Network, Institute of Translation and interpreting
  • Scottish Network of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting