Holly Holmes, PhD, DipTrans

Language Artisan

Crafting ideas, word by word

A boutique Portuguese-English translation and grant writing firm on the US-Canada border.

I leverage two decades of industry expertise in education, social science, and media & entertainment to produce crystal-clear texts with artful precision.

The best translations don’t read like translations at all.

Rather, they convey the original text’s message and ensure flow, style, and cultural context in the target language.

Translation Services

  • A photo of a collection of Portuguese translation dictionaries and reference books.

    Portuguese-English Translation


    Are you certified?
    Yes! I have a Diploma in Translation certification for Brazilian Portuguese from the Chartered Institute of Linguists (London, UK). That’s what the “DipTrans” stands for after my name.
    I also have a Diploma in Translation studies from the University of Westminster (London, UK).

    Is it just you?
    While Language Artisan is my firm, I collaborate with native Brazilian Portuguese speakers.

    They can provide editing, proofreading and extra support for large-volume projects, and bring expertise in IT, marketing, and literature.

    Why Language Artisan?
    Artisanal - I approach translation with technical precision and warm craftsmanship.
    Collaborative - I embrace collaboration with clients and colleagues to understand their unique contributions, values, and needs.
    Innovative - I believe in the craft of translation in synchronous step with technological innovation. Professional development is essential to providing efficient, accurate, and artful service.

  • Holly Holmes in Caraça, Minas Gerais

    Industry Expertise


    Social Science
    I have a PhD in Ethnomusicology and am proud to have been a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where I lived for two years.

    Education
    I worked for twelve years in higher education and non-profit management. I used my award-winning writing and research skills to manage successful fundraising campaigns, provide education services to disadvantaged youth, and support researchers in publishing their work.

    Media and Entertainment
    I began my working life as a jazz singer and recording artist, singing and translating Brazilian music and lyrics.

    Alongside my passion for the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture, my varied background brings tenacious research skills, impeccable time management, and a wide network of industry colleagues.

  • Holly Holmes posing in front of colorful sawdust street art celebrating Easter in São João del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Creative Translation


    More than transmitting the meaning of a text, transcreation delivers fidelity of emotion of a given text.

    When translating creative work—like marketing campaigns, song lyrics, books, and film & television—the style, tone, rhythm, character, and cultural context are critical for it to land with the target audience.

    As a jazz singer and composer of song lyrics, I respect the deep relationship between words and music. See my Lyrics page for samples of my transcreations of song lyrics by dynamic Brazilian artists for the North American market.

    Does your project involve subtitling or transcription work? Some of my most satisfying projects have been subtitling a documentary of an internationally-acclaimed musician or agricultural field interviews, and transcribing interviews for the publication of non-fiction literature or academic articles.

For Details — See my ProZ.com Profile

Testimonials

~Dr. Javier F. Léon, Director of the Latin American Music Center, Indiana University

“Holly was an absolute pleasure to work with. Not only did she work quickly and diligently, but her extensive knowledge of academic Portuguese also allowed her to provide a number of very useful and insightful editorial suggestions and clarifications that in many cases provided models for how we handled other challenging pieces with which other translators were working.”

~Kristoff Silva, Musician and composer

“Translating a song, especially songs with more elaborate lyrics, is always a risk. In Brazil, songs can be short love songs or even philosophical texts, brief but wide-ranging. In translating my songs, Holly Holmes did much more than I could have hoped: she knew how to magically transport my original verses, including alliterations and rhymes, and, when this wasn’t possible, she recreated verses that gained new life in English like the rebirth of a Phoenix.”

~April Howard, Editorial Collective Member, Upside Down World

"With practical experience as a researcher and a passion for human rights issues, Holly consistently selects stories of vital interest to the magazine. Her command of the Portuguese language ensures that her translations are not only accurate, but that the broader context behind an event is comprehensible to a North American readership. We look forward to a long collaboration."