Arts & Literature Translation
& Humanities
Novels, poetry, screenplays, subtitles, video games: our literary translators, authors and researchers themselves, recreate the soul of every work in the target language, in 70+ languages.
Literary translation:
recreate, not merely translate
Translating a novel is far more than converting words from one language to another. It means recreating a voice, a world, an emotion in a new language. It means finding the word that carries the same weight, the sentence that keeps the same rhythm, the image that produces the same effect on a reader from another culture.
At TranslateBE, our literary translators are themselves authors, poets, critics or researchers in literature and the humanities. They have published, they have taught, they know the cultural codes of the cultures they translate. Their work is that of a cultural bridge-builder between two worlds, not a mere linguistic converter.
Author & critic translators
The author's voice, preserved in every language
The entire arts & literature world translated
From fiction to subtitling, academic texts to video games, we cover the full spectrum of cultural creation.
Literature & Fiction
- Novels, short stories & poetry collections
- Plays & opera libretti
- Comics & graphic novels
- Children's literature & illustrated books
- Science fiction, fantasy & crime fiction
Humanities & Academic
- Theses & dissertations in arts & humanities
- Academic works & essays
- Humanities journal articles
- Philosophy, history & geography
- Religious & spiritual texts
Culture & Heritage
- Exhibition & museum catalogues
- Cultural press packs & guides
- Heritage texts & archives
- Performance programmes & seasons
- Cultural & institutional websites
Media & Audiovisual
- Film & series subtitling
- Dubbing & script adaptation
- Video games & interactive narrative
- Newspapers, magazines & cultural press
- Podcasts & audio content
Genres & disciplines covered
From poetry to video games, from arthouse cinema to cultural journalism, our translators cover every territory of creative expression.
A dialogue between two cultures
Literary analysis
We analyse the genre, the author's style, the register and the cultural stakes of the source text to select the literary translator best suited to your work.
Native literary translator
Your text is entrusted to a native-language literary translator who is themselves an author, critic or researcher in letters. They capture the voice, rhythm and nuances of the original.
Stylistic revision
A second expert reviews the translation to assess its fluency, stylistic coherence and literary impact. The goal: a translation that reads as an original work in the target language.
Delivery & editorial formats
Delivery in the required editorial formats (Word, InDesign, EPUB, PDF). We comply with the requirements of publishers and distributors for each type of content.
Your guarantees for literary translation
Author & critic translators
Our literary translators are themselves writers, poets, critics or researchers in literature and the humanities. They understand the mechanics of literary creation and know how to recreate in the target language the stylistic effect intended by the author.
Respect for literary cultures
Every culture has its own literary codes, intertextual references, wordplay and cultural allusions. Our native translators adapt these elements so that the translation resonates with the target readership without betraying the original.
The author's voice preserved
Style, the cadence of sentences, the choice of words, humour or melancholy, is what distinguishes an author. Our literary translators are trained in stylistic analysis and are committed to preserving the singularity of each author in their translation.
Subtitling & AV localisation
Subtitling imposes unique time and space constraints. Our audiovisual specialists are proficient in subtitling software (Subtitles Workshop, Aegisub), readability standards (characters per line, display duration) and adaptation to oral rhythm.
Video game localisation
Video game localisation combines narrative translation, cultural adaptation, interface localisation and voice-over. Our gaming localisation experts master the technical constraints (string lengths, variables) and the universe of each franchise.
Editorial deadlines respected
Publication date, festival submission deadline, script delivery: we understand the pressures of editorial and audiovisual schedules. Our express service guarantees compliance with your publication deadlines.
Rates tailored to every project
Per-word pricing for literary translation, per-minute for subtitling. Free personalised quote within 2 hours.
Literary translation
from €0.12
/ word
Novels, short stories, poetry, essays
Subtitling & AV
from €8
/ minute
Films, series, documentaries
Gaming localisation
On request
Video games, interfaces, voice-over
Indicative prices all-inclusive. Minimum order: €50. Preferential rates for publishers & cultural institutions.
Your questions about literary translation
Your work deserves
a translator equal to the task
Novel, screenplay, subtitles or museum catalogue: our literary translators, authors and critics themselves, recreate the soul of every work in the target language.
No commitment · Preferential rates for publishers & institutions · Secure payment