Out of kilter: confusing times for translators

One of my first ever posts, “Translators’ time-warp“, was about the confusion that arises when you work with clients in different time zones and with different public holidays from your own.

Well, it’s happening again today. It’s bad enough getting back into work mode after the Christmas and New Year period (although to be honest I’ll be glad to get back to normal. And so will my waistline). But here in Scotland we’re out of kilter today not just with Europe and the rest of the world but with the rest of the UK too. That’s because 2 January is a Scottish bank holiday – no doubt the powers that be decided there was no point opening for business when most of the staff would still be nursing their Hogmanay (31 December) and Ne’erday (1 January) hangovers.

So, I’m working on my first projects of 2014 and today am “on call” for an Italian client, while the rest of the country is still on holiday. Then Monday 6 January will be a public holiday in Italy (the Epiphany or, in its modern incarnation, the “Befana“), but not here. What’s a translator to do?

Official public holidays in the UK.

Official public holidays in Italy.

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Grapes, lentils, black bun and first foots

For a clear New Year: a musical style guide from the EU Commission

By Marian Dougan

 

 

 

2 Responses

  1. Here in New Zealand, we have a public holiday on 2nd January, too. Most people are also taking 3rd Jan off, so we’re not back at work until next week. We’re a bit out of kilter with Scotland though because it’s summer here!

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