Outi Menna - Translator of the Month
Our Translator of the Month for November is Outi Menna from Finland. Since 1998, she has translated over 200 books from Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish into Finnish – mainly adult fiction, but also books for children and young adults.
Outi holds a Master’s degree in Nordic languages and literature from the University of Helsinki and has been working as a literary translator since her student days.
How did you end up translating Norwegian literature?
Literature has always been an important part of my life, and in high school, I fell head over heels for Tarjei Vesaas’s novel The Ice Palace (original title: Is-slottet). At that moment, I knew – crystal clear – that I wanted to become a translator. So after school, I began studying Nordic languages and literature.
I translated my first books while I was still studying – including, for example, Naïve. Super. by Erlend Loe – so translation is the only profession I’ve ever had.
You have translated books in various genres: fiction, crime, non-fiction, and children’s books. Is there a genre you would like to translate more of?
For me, the richness and essence of the translator’s profession lie in the diversity of genres and styles. Every book, regardless of genre, has a unique character, and it’s my responsibility to convey that to Finnish readers.
Read more
Learn more about Outi on Books from Norway
Those of you who understand Norwegian can read her interview in full here.
Other translators interviewed in the Translator of the Month series.
