Polly Translation is…

Sonja Dormann, German Translator and Proofreader

Many people find out early on in their lives what special talent they were endowed with. I am no different – and my talent has always been languages. I was able to read at the age of 4; at 11, I began to write my diary in English, which I was just starting to learn; and in high school I was known for writing German essays with the most accurate spelling and for burying myself in English and French dictionaries during breaks. And the fascination has never worn off! I am still thrilled to be able to surround myself with language(s) every day – both professionally and in my free time, where I am an avid listener, reader and viewer of anglophone and francophone music, podcasts, literature, films and series.

My love of all things English and French as well as my constant striving for linguistic accuracy predestine me for the profession of a German translator and proofreader. My dream job!

I was born
to translate!

My professional milestones

2003-2010 2005-2006 01/2010 2011 2011–2015 Since 2012

University of Vienna: English and American Studies, elective subject French, both with a focus on Literature and Cultural Studies

Foreign Language Assistant for German in Perth, Scotland

University degree “Mag. phil.” (MA equivalent), final exam passed with distinction

CELTA (Cambridge Certificate for English Language Teaching to Adults) at BFI Wien, completed with top grade “Grade A”

Language Trainer (Business English, ESP, German), in-house and in-company

German Translator for English and French; trade license for language services, member of the professional group “Language Service Providers” at the Austrian Economic Chamber

Visit my LinkedIn profile for more details on my career path and current projects!

Some projects I am working on:

German translations from English and French as well as German proofreading for business and luxury hotels (website copy, destination guides, newsletters); 200,000+ words translated since 2015
English translations of German newsletters and website texts for an avant-garde designer fashion store in Vienna; 70,000+ words since 2015
German reviews and localizations for a leading global open-source software company (landing pages, user interface, marketing emails, apps and more), since 2019

In my free time, I like to…

play the guitar and sing in a choir
visit museums and exhibitions
play boardgames with friends
look for hidden treasures on flea markets
eat vegan burgers and tortillas
go running and do yoga

Others say I am…

… intelligent
… articulate
… detail-oriented
… creative
… eager to learn
… interesting
… friendly
… well-read
… loyal
… musical

Who is “Polly”?

“Polly” is a nickname that has accompanied me since the 1990s, when I borrowed it from a musician I admire to this day: Polly Jean „PJ“ Harvey.

What clients and colleagues say about Polly Translation:

Ms. Dormann always manages to translate our – often complicated – texts from the fields of fashion, philosophy and art into English, using the right tonality and authentically getting across metaphors and original quotes from German.

Toni Woldrich

Owner & CEO, eigensinnig wien

More references

I look forward to hearing from you!

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