ABOUT ME
My Credentials
My name is Jana Garnsworthy and I am a freelance translator specialising in Czech–English, Slovak–English and English–Czech certified and general translations. I have lived in South-West England since 1999 and for the last 15 years have provided accurate, reliable translations for clients across the UK and worldwide.
Professional background
My professional background combines academic study of English, German, Russian, French, Latin and Spanish with extensive hands‑on translation experience. I hold the Diploma in Translation (Business and Law), a benchmark qualification in the translation industry, and am a full member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL reg. no. 42497). My translations are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).
Expertise
I specialise in certified translation of a wide variety of documents, including personal, legal, medical, academic, financial and business documents. You will find a full overview of the documents I translate on the Home page.
Why choose me
In a non-personal world that we live in, I pride myself on delivering a friendly, human service. Clients value my precision, responsiveness and approachability. Whether you need a certified translation for UK authorities or a nuanced rendering of personal documents, I deliver work that is both professional and sensitive.
My Journey
I was born in Eastern Bohemia and since 1999 have been privileged to call the beautiful South-West of England my home. My journey to becoming a freelance translator wasn’t straightforward — but it was always driven by a love of languages.
Love at first sight
I first fell in love with English in Year 3 at primary school and soon added German, Russian, French, and Latin to the mix. After grammar school I studied English and French at Charles University in Prague but, being the rebel I was, my dream of becoming a translator took a detour when I moved to England as an au‑pair. What was meant to be a one‑year adventure turned into a new life: marriage, children and work outside languages.
From dream to reality
For years I worked in healthcare but the dream of translation never left me. Eventually, I decided to turn my dream into reality. I passed the Diploma in Translation exam, learned how to design websites and launched my own translation business.
And the rest is history
Since then, I’ve translated hundreds of documents — from specialised medical reports to deeply personal family letters. Some projects have been profoundly moving, such as helping a client uncover his father’s hidden wartime story through a suitcase of Czech letters hiding in the attic. Moments like these remind me that translation is not just about words but about connecting people with their histories and futures.