Haggen Kennedy
The man behind the words.
I am a native Brazilian Portuguese speaker, born in Salvador, a beach-city in the state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. I started in this business over 25 years ago, even before I went to Translation school. I have been providing language services since 1996 to a great number of national, international, and multinational organizations, in both the private and public sectors, as well as to countless individuals.
Apart from majors in Translation, in Brazil; and in Archaeology, History & Ancient Greek in Athens, Greece, I also have an LL.B., and I am a certified lawyer in good standing with the BAR. If you are looking for proper translation services to your legal documentation, rest assured that they will find the perfect place with me, an active professional who habitually navigates both areas — translation and legal. Also, I am no stranger to sensitive information, so all of your documentation will be always fully protected, and kept in the strictest confidence.
Human Translation
The earliest translation examples we can find date back to some 4 500 years ago in Mesopotamia. Since then, much has changed, and technology brought us terms like “CAT tool,” “TB,” and “TM”, which should be present in every good translator’s vocabulary. Now, with the Fourth Industrial Revolution at our doorstep, the promising new tool of artificial intelligence (A.I.) is again demanding translators to quickly adapt to this new reality.
As we integrate these new technologies into our workflow, however, it is imperative that we do not lose focus. Bells and whistles are always fun, but we must never forget to keep our eye on the ball, for some things have not yet changed. And so it is that, in an era when A.I. is so prevalent, so too are the robotic and mistake-riddled texts it produces. While artificial intelligence is, indeed, a powerful instrument, we must never forget the soul behind the tool. That is why, even with all the rapid technological advancement today, human translation remains the gold standard for accurate and nuanced communication across languages.
A human professional translator will give you what machines cannot: cultural insight, context awareness, linguistic expertise tailored to your specific needs, and, more importantly, real, human language output. You need a provider who understands the subtlety behind idiomatic expressions, who can maintain your tone and style, and who will ensure that your translation genuinely, even emotionally, resonates with its intended audience. Simply put, your translation has to check all the boxes, and they need an authentic, beating heart behind every word.
There is a reason why human beings are still called upon to correct A.I.’s output. This is not only about navigating complex subject matter, or about adapting to specialized industry terminology. This is about providing truly creative solutions for challenging translations, while keeping the soul of your text alive into a different language. Avoid lifeless, robotic word-for-word conversion: go with heartfully crafted translations that truly mean every word you say, with all the impact they are meant to have. Choose human translation for unparalleled accuracy, reliability, and a personal touch that genuinely connects your product with your readers.
Give your translation the attention it rightly deserves:
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No automated output
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No “machine feel” to your text
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No funky grammar by “intelligent” systems
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Culturally and linguistically appropriate
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Truly creative solutions
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Polissemy treated the right way
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Accurate
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Reliable
All translations are 100% human.
Industry-leading CAT tools
I have over 15 years of experience with the leading CAT tool on the market. This ensures a comprehensive and skilled approach to your project, delivering precision and efficiency to every translation task.
Whether your project comes in XLIFF files; uses a WorldServer configuration; comes with integrated TMs; if you need to share an existing termbase, or even if one needs to be created for your project, I’ve got you covered. You will be backed by the full power of Trados, for seamless and efficient project execution.
- WorldServer
- Importable/exportable WS files
- TM
- Translation-memory deliverables
- XLIFF
- Ready for Trados packages
- TB
- Shareable termbases
Legal Expertise
10+ years in legal translation
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Contracts
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Tort
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Criminal Law
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Civil Law
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Business Law
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International Law
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Family Law
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Tax Law
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Real Estate Law
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Trademark / Copyright Law
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Patents
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Digital Law
…and more.
Avoid the most common pitfalls (and even some of the not-so-common ones) in legal translation by choosing someone who actually walks both worlds. Even the best of dictionaries will be of no avail when handling terminology with no direct equivalent in another, different legal system.
Conveying common law doctrines into a civil law system, or vice versa, can be very challenging. Remember, A.I. is only a tool: laypersons who depend on it, or on Google, to carry your important project to fruition, their best intentions notwithstanding, may unintentionally introduce erroneous — even dangerous — mistranslations with the power to skew and completely misrepresent your intent.
My legal experience enables me to navigate these subtle differences to ensure your translations will not only be linguistically accurate but also contextually appropriate and legally sound. My years as a lawyer and translator, translating, and revising the legal work done by other professionals, combined with my experience in legal research and attention to detail, all come together to produce high-quality, reliable translations that meet the exacting standards required in legal and business environments.
Tried and tested
For the last 20+ years, it has been my pleasure to take part in a myriad projects ranging from legal, to information technology, to mining & ore, to mechanical and electrical engineering, to oil and drilling, to marketing, tourism, photography, and more. All these years working across so many diverse industries have equipped me with highly specialized knowledge in multiple sectors. This, in turn, allows me to not only handle complex, technical content with ease, but also to put to use the very expertise that will deliver what you and your project need.
Changes in the landscape have steered us toward new technologies, and by integrating them into my workflow, I have developed the technological adaptability to approach highly advanced translation projects efficiently and accurately. This entails handling specialized content effectively, and making sure I have an efficient system and good time-management practices in place, to creatively provide the best solutions for even the most challenging projects.
As a lawyer, my familiarity with ethical standards and classified information has also provided me with a proven track record of maintaining client and project confidentiality. By adhering to the highest professional ethics and standards in the field, including ATA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, I keep every project adequately safe and secure.
Much like in the legal field, my up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and best practices, together with my ability to handle large projects and tight deadlines, with streamlined processes for consistent quality, all provide me with the necessary experience to handle urgent requests and last-minute changes, as well as the crucial ability to maintain quality under pressure.
In short, my language expertise is only the tip of the iceberg. This is what 20+ years working in translation can do for you and your project:
- ZDiverse industry knowledge
- ZAdaptability to technological changes
- ZStrong problem-solving skills
- ZAbility to localize content effectively
- ZEfficient workflow and time management
- ZAmple research & reference resources
- ZTechnologically current
- ZOptimal quality assurance
- ZMeeting client needs and expectations
- ZNever missing a deadline
- ZEthical standards and confidentiality
- ZContinuing professional development
- ZExcellent crisis management
- ZPremium quality, accuracy and reliability
LANGUAGE SERVICES
Languages
I offer professional language services in the following languages:
If you are looking for other language combinations, please see this page.
Language Services
- Translation
- The bread and butter in this business. The main solution for anyone trying to reach a new audience. 20+ years of experience. The best CAT tools. 100% human translation.
- Globalization, Localization
- Targeting a specific market? Cater to the audience of your choice.
- Transcription
- Transcribe and/or translate the contents of an audio or video file, with or without time markings.
- Interpreting
- Many options available, from onsite and liaison interpreting to chuchotage.
- Proofreading
- If you would like a fresh set of eyes to make sure your project is bullet proof, then proofreading should get you covered.
- Editing
- If you are looking for deeper structural changes than what simple proofreading can offer, then editing might be what you are looking for.
- Subtitling
- Make subtitles for your video, and reach wider audiences. SRT/STL files deliverable.
- Voice-over
- Use audio from a native speaker in your video or promotional material.
You will be in good company
Some of the names I have had the pleasure of servicing:
Contact Me
Please use the contact form below or e-mail me directly at haggenkennedy@gmail.com. Attach any files that may be relevant, as project estimates are also based on word count.
Please, doublecheck your e-mail address. If it has been written incorrectly, I will not be able to get back to you.