📢 Welcome to The Translation Podcast! Today, I have the absolute pleasure of introducing Keith Wagner, a freelance American translator and PhD student in Comparative Literature based in Austin, Texas. His working languages are English, French, Italian, and Romanian. He is originally from Aurora, Colorado and holds a Certificate in Translation & Interpretation, a Bachelor's in Modern Languages, and a Master's in French Studies. He has also worked extensively as a language instructor and in various roles in the localization industry. In 2023, he was awarded a Fulbright grant which allowed him to dedicate 9 months to research in Bucharest, Romania.Keith conducts literary research on multilingual writers, with a particular focus on 19th and 20th century Francophone Romanian writers. He does not currently work as an interpreter, but never say never! The passion persists.🔹 Topics Covered in This Episode: ✔️ What sparked Keith’s love for languages and why he chose to study Romanian✔️ His research on Francophone Romanian writers and what drew him to this niche✔️ His experience living in Romania as a Fulbright scholar. ✔️ If he could translate any Romanian book into English, what would it be? ✔️ Study opportunities for aspiring literary translators (including a program in Dallas)✔️ How Keith’s experience in localization, translation, and teaching shaped his career✔️ The evolving role of interpreters and linguistic support for immigrants in the US✔️ AI in literary translation—can it be a creative partner, or does it take away human essence? ✔️ What’s next for Keith in research and translation