"Through her civic engagement and collaboration with external partners, Karen has made a significant contribution throughout her career to fulfilling Aarhus University’s vision of a research-intensive and collaborative university."

This is noted in the nomination from Aarhus University for Professor Karen Zethsen, who recently had an audience with the King to express her gratitude for her new title as Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog, which she received in the autumn of 2024.

Karen Zethsen holds a cand.ling.merc. from the Aarhus School of Business, is a state-authorized translator and interpreter, and earned a PhD in business language. She was the first female professor at the Faculty of Business Languages at Aarhus BSS and has held a permanent professorship for 17 years. She is a professor of translation studies, researching both translations between national languages and, in particular, expert-to-layperson translations within the same language—so-called intralingual translation. 

"For example, if you need to translate a specialist text into language that everyone can understand, you use some of the same techniques as when translating between national languages," she explains.

Karen Zethsen is among the leading international researchers in intralingual translation, with her theoretical articles considered defining in the field.

She expressed great honor at receiving her new title as Knight of the order of the Dannebrog.

"It is, of course, a wonderful recognition. I am proud of it. Being honored with a knighthood is truly an honor."

Accessible information as a democratic right

Aarhus University’s nomination highlights that Karen Zethsen’s research is driven by its usefulness for both individuals and society.

For many years, Karen Zethsen has led three major projects in the Baltic countries aimed at developing translator education programs in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Aarhus School of Business. She has also worked with several external partners such as the Danish Medicines Agency, the EU, the Institute of Forensic Medicine, and Aarhus Municipality’s Health and Care department to make expert knowledge accessible to laypeople.

"I believe expert-to-layperson translation is fundamental for our democracy. People have a right to understand important information about, for example, their health, their pension, and even their electricity bills."

She has particularly focused on intralingual translation within health communication. In addition to her teaching in the Department of English, she teaches health communication at the Department of Public Health Sciences in collaboration with colleagues from English.

An audience with the King

Karen Zethsen described her audience with the King as a memorable experience.

"Seeing the part of Christiansborg that houses the audience rooms, and of course meeting the King, was very exciting—you feel the wings of history; it is such an important part of our cultural heritage," she says, noting that, as a native of Southern Jutland, the royal family holds a special place for her.

The royal family has historically meant a great deal as a unifying symbol for people from Southern Jutland.

But this was not her first royal audience.

"Exactly 40 years ago, I had an audience with Queen Ingrid. As a 21-year-old student at the Business School South in Sønderborg, I was nominated for and received Queen Ingrid’s travel scholarship for young people from Southern Jutland and had an audience with her in Gråsten. That was also a great experience and amazing to receive such a generous travel grant at that age."

"But Margrethe is really my queen," says Karen Zethsen and points to the fact that since photographs are not allowed during the audience, a photo was taken instead with Queen Margrethe.

About Karen Zethsen

• Professor of English Business Communication, Department of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University

• Primary research areas: Translation studies (especially expert-to-layperson translation), health communication

• Recipient of the 2012 Hedorf Foundation Research Award for International Business Communication and Language

Contact:
Professor Karen Zethsen
Department of Communication and Culture
English Business Communication
Email: kkz@cc.au.dk
Phone: +45 40 95 27 45