The art and practice of translating historical family documents

Family history research is booming, and the demand for skilled linguists who can accurately translate old hand-written documents is on the rise too. Try putting some of those records through AI-powered chatbots, and you may end up with entirely inaccurate stories that bear little resemblance to the original text!

In this webinar Yelena McCafferty will explore the practical and linguistic challenges of translating genealogical records, with real-life case studies. Drawing on examples, the session will examine how historical language, handwriting, cultural context and documentary conventions influence translation decisions.

By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Identify common types of genealogical documents and understand how their structure and purpose affect translation choices

• Approach difficult handwriting and non-standard records systematically, using both technical tools and analytical techniques

• Incorporate cultural and historical context appropriately, including calendar systems

• Understand the types of clients involved in genealogy-related translation work and their expectations

Yelena McCafferty MCIL and Chartered Linguist, is an award-winning Russian translator and interpreter with nearly 25 years’ experience in the UK. She has been featured in a range of media publications and on radio as a language expert, and has worked on high-profile projects including the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? Yelena runs the translation company Talk Russian Ltd (talkrussian.com), and regularly shares professional insights on LinkedIn (yelenamccafferty) and Instagram (@talk_russian_translations).