Our story
"So, what is this matter with... North... ling, did you say, hmm?"
A few years ago, we visited a little fishing village called Bugøynes in Northern Norway. That’s where we came across this lamp post, standing on the shore of the Arctic Sea.
It must have stood there for quite a few years already, weathering all kinds of storms and protecting daring swimmers from tripping over and hitting their nose in the sand.
The idea of this little source of light at one of the furthest edges of the world is somehow consoling – and inspiring, too. That’s how these northern-most corners of the world came to serve as the inspiration for the visual look of our website and the name of our little family business.
We try go back to Bugøynes every summer, and if we’re feeling particularly courageous, we dip our toes in the ice cold Arctic Sea (running frantically straight into the water from a wooden-heated sauna that’s right on the beach and then just as frantically back).
"NorthLing" reminds us of where we come from
Not that we’d forget it that easily! But anyhow, “NorthLing” refers to our roots and background: we’re two seasoned linguists from the northern-most part of Finland.
Our name also reflects the qualities we wish to bring across in our work: just like the bare beauty and clearness of northern nature, we want to create content that is crisp and clear in meaning, but still inviting and straightforward in its beautiful plainness.
About us
Meet the team
Our team is based not quite that far north as that lamp post, but in a city called Oulu in Northern Finland. The work we do extends across Europe and beyond to different time zones to wherever you are in the world.
Please note, however, that during local nighttime we are usually in sleep mode even though we come from the land of ”nightless nights”.
Language specialist, LIFE & BUSINESS coach
Päivi Vuoriaro
I’ve always had a particular fondness for words and languages, and English is closest to my heart. I’ve got heaps of experience in delivering language services for everyone from big companies to family-owned businesses.
My list of published translations contains a number of titles from children’s literature, plus one a slightly darker stint, an insider’s guide to the world of vampire warriors (in the The Black Dagger Brotherhood series). I’ve also subtitled thousands of minutes of movies and TV shows, including big hits such as Baby Reindeer, The Walking Dead (continuing the line of darker treads), Gilmore Girls (back to a much brighter place), Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, Top Gear, and many, many more.
Päivi holds a Master’s Degree in English Philology and is a certified coach.
Copywriter, translator, coach
Mirka Pohjanrinne
I’m an experienced copywriter and happy to craft anything from three-word slogans to 50-page style guides. I’ve been through somewhat an exciting ride in working in fields as diverse as higher education, advertising systems, mobile phones and wearable sports devices.
Oh who am I kidding. It doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but it was fun while it lasted.
Anyhow, when I was an in-house copywriter (in two global companies), I became very closely acquainted with conversational wordsmithing and how to make products and brand speak in a voice that is not only professional and to-the-point, but also playful and fun.
Mirka has a PhD in English Philology and a vocational degree in Audiovisual Communication (further qualification). She’s also a certified coach.
occupational safety MANAGERS, life coaches
Dusty & Tippi
Meet our occupational safety managers, Dusty (née Springfield) and Tippi (née Hedren).
Their responsibilities include ensuring workplace security, monitoring statutory breaks and collecting and analysing data from the yard.
They also design, suggest and enforce improvements to the work environments and various procedures. They work as specialists who inspect workplaces and adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment.
Dusty and Tippi hold a Master’s degree in barking, tail wagging, purring, napping and spreading joy all over and overall loveliness of life.