Between the Lines: The Art & Science of Translation (Part I) featuring Miriam Hurley

“Even if you’ve done it for 24 years, every translation, almost every sentence, is a challenge, and that’s what makes it fun.” Miriam Hurley

It was such a treat to sit down with Miriam Hurley to discuss her path to Italy, why she came and stayed, the ins and outs, and challenges and rewards of her more than two decades of experience as an American Translators Association certified Italian to English translator.

Join us for the first part of our conversation which traces Miriam’s path from Oregon to Florence and looks into the life in Italy that she’s found in translation. In addition to musings on the rigorous and meticulous nature and importance of her work, Miriam and I also delve into the nuances of language, and the art, science, and creativity involved in translating. We also touch on topics like AI and technology, keeping up with the rapid evolution and diffusion of new words, capturing the subleties of regional dialects and slang, and what the world of translation looks like today.

Miriam Hurley Biography & Links

I grew up in Astoria, Oregon, known to some as land of The Goonies. For college, I escaped to New York and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1996 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with focuses on cultural anthropology and foreign languages. Over two decades of full-time professional experience as a certified translator from Italian to English. Certified since 2001 by the American Translators Association specifically to translate from Italian to English. I also speak — but do not translate — Dutch (rusty but once fluentish), French (pretty decent), and Spanish (downright abominable). I organize language exchange events in Florence so I can brag about being multilingual (and work on improving my languages). Studied in Florence in 1994 at the Sarah Lawrence program and the University of Florence. Based in Florence, I keep one foot still in the U.S., spending long stretches there, keeping my native tongue fresh.