About Me

Hi, I'm Taylor Finney, a Chinese-English linguist based in Taipei, Taiwan.

I have worked in Chinese-English translation since 2020. Beyond the typical language transfer that comes to mind when we think of translation, I am interested in how the field of translation can help elucidate the complex communicative phenomena of our modern world.

Professional Background

After earning my Bachelor of Science in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design in 2013, I started my career as a product developer working in the fashion industry in Los Angeles, California. During company trips, I received my first exposures to East Asian languages and cultures. The curiosity those trips sparked never left me.

In 2018, I relocated to Taipei, Taiwan to study the Traditional Chinese language, completing two years of intensive language education. I went on to graduate from National Taiwan Normal University's Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation in 2023 with a Master of Arts in Translation and Interpretation Studies. I have translated for various mobile game distributors and localization studios and contributed to well-known game franchises, including James Cameron's Avatar, Street Fighter, Age of Empires, and Don't Starve.

Today

I currently work as a full-time translator and editor for a media company in Taipei, where I contribute to original Taiwanese documentary, culture, culinary, and lifestyle programs for YouTube and broadcast television.

In 2024, I edited Taste of Life, a six-part documentary series about culinary culture in Taiwan, which won a Bronze Tower at the 2024 New York Festivals Television & Film Awards. In 2025, another culinary program I edited, Veggie Island, won Best Ethnic Lifestyle Series at the 16th Annual Taste Awards. I attribute my continued success and growth as a professional linguist to my natural curiosity, attentiveness to detail, strong communication skills, and relentless pursuit of knowledge.

In my free time, I enjoy reading and creating in a variety of media. Through my writing, I explore themes related to language, communication, and culture, while my love of fashion finds expression through my art practice.