Between Everywhere and Nowhere

Have you ever noticed that your favourite book, your favourite movie, or even the manual for your new air fryer speaks your own language so seamlessly—thanks to someone you’ve likely never thought about?

Meet the translator: an artist disguised as a professional. We exist in your world yet remain unseen—everywhere and nowhere.

Behind closed doors, we race against deadlines, fuelled by coffee and the unspoken power of words. And yes, here I am!

One way or another, translation has been around for millennia. Not that I intend to bore you with a history lecture here. But from ancient diplomacy to modern Netflix subtitles, it has evolved alongside civilisation. And yet, we remain largely invisible—rarely celebrated, often undervalued. Even today, our existence is being questioned, not by irrelevance, but by the rise of machines that aim to replicate our mental gymnastics.

But don’t be fooled by the digital gloss. No digital platform cried over a novel in the end. And let’s not forget—previous generations weren’t praised either.

The system may love the product, but it rarely acknowledges the creator. We’re expected to deliver emotionless perfection, as if we were mere language-processing robots.

Whether literary or technical, we are loyal to the lexical soul entrusted to us. We dance between the lines, from one idea to another, carrying across not just words but intent, culture, and meaning. It’s a craft, not a copy.

So, maybe it’s time we stopped hiding behind our keyboards. We, the translators, need to show up, speak up, and reclaim the value of our invisible labour.

What do you think?

Are we unseen simply because our work hides behind the surface of meaning? Or have we become too accustomed to saying “mission accomplished” and then moving on in silence? Does the harmony we create in words come at the cost of losing our voice? Or are our works simply our voice?

I’d love to hear your thoughts—loud or quiet. Your struggles, your joys, your moments of invisibility or pride. We’ve long translated the voices of others – maybe it’s time to translate our own silence into sound.

💌hello@betweeneverywhereandnowhere.com