Beware American Frogs (in the throat)

Count Smorltalk combats an invasive alien species You know what, for a man of few words, I don’t half talk a lot. It’s an occupational hazard for interpreters, talking a lot. Conversely, our punters do an awful lot of listening. Day in and day...

Bah! Humbug!

The Gospel according to Smorltalk  If you, like me, are afflicted by old fogeyism, you may also be a martyr to general grumpiness syndrome. It comes with age and is rarely more acute than at Christmas, when peace on earth and good will to men...

On German and Germans

October 21st, 2015. To some people this was the day Marty McFly arrived in the future, but I find myself celebrating an event fifty years in the past, namely one of my dearest friend’s birthday. Instead of opting for a more traditional party...

La vie érotique d’une traductrice

La traduction de la littérature est extrêmement difficile, elle exige énormément de travail et une connaissance très profonde des deux langues… C’est ce qu’on dit souvent. Je n’ai pas trop d’expérience dans le domaine de la traduction...

The Pentahedral chocolate bar trap

Count Smorltalk raids the minibar – again! British waistlines are testament to the fact that we are a nation of foodies. If any further proof were required of quite how food obsessed we have become, the runaway success of the BBC...

It’s just not cricket!

Count Smorltalk on another sticky wicket Just the other day on the radio they were talking about cricket, which, as you will know if you have ever lived in England, constitutes a very high proportion of total broadcast output of the BBC and is...

Translate this! TALL POPPY SYNDROME

Is there a term in your language to describe a phenomenon in which successful people are resented and criticised because their talent and achievements elevate them above others? PS Count Smorltalk tells me tall poppy syndrome is a bit like the...