Duncan Bell

I run a company specialising in software localisation and high-end engineeering and technical documentation. Specialist technical areas: automation, complex control systems, production systems, telecomms. Recent customers: Auerswald, Bosch, Dietz, FEIN, HELLA, KISSsoft, SAGE PLC, Siemens, teamtechnik and others.

I worked for a variety of customers as a freelance translator. Sectors: IT (Toshiba Germany), telecoms (France Telecom, Ferrari electronic), and others.

The company manufactured networking hardware (routers etc.). I had two roles: 1. Write documentation (in English): installation guides, detailed user manuals, software guides. 2. Arrange translation of product documentation and software user interfaces into French and German. For both languages, I worked with country subsidiaries to define suitable technical terminology for the different national markets. I had sole responsibility for the quality of the localised products.

I was employed as a graduate technical translator at SAP AG's headquarters in Walldorf, near Heildberg, Germany. I translated the user interface, online help, training materials, manuals and other paper documentation for SAP's R/2 System RV module (invoicing) and interfaces to related modules (purchasing, materials management, shipping and delivery, accounting). I was embedded in a development team and worked closely with them on interface design and user-friendliness.

I supplied freelance translations. I also did some jobbing DTP and market research work.

Market research assistant to the Marketing Director. Researched new markets for the company's high quality paper products, manufactured on site. Research performed in English, French and German.

I was responsible for industrial research into the markets for different electrical equipment (motors etc.) in the English-, French- and German-speaking markets. I wrote my own questionnaires to obtain data for bespoke market reports for company clients, carried out telephone interviews with suitable respondents and then wrote up the results for use in reports to clients.

Main subjects: French and German language and literature, with marketing Subsidiary subjects (1 year each): Medieval History, Philosophy, Russian Degree course included 6 months working in La Ciotat, France, and 9 months in Bregenz, Austria, as an English-language assistant.