Interpreters play a vital role in many communities by facilitating communication between people or groups who do not speak the same language, but there is usually a lot more to interpreting than meets the eye. Here are four things you might not know about the profession!
1. Interpreters and Translators are Different
While the words “interpreter” and “translator” are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, the two professions are separate and different from one another. Both involve conveying a message from one language (the source language) into another (the target language), but interpreters work with the spoken word while translators work with written text. Another difference is that interpreters often interpret speech in real time or close to it, while translators can work over a period of time to convert a written piece into another language. Additionally, translators often have access to resource materials such as glossaries and computer programs—interpreters, on the other hand, have to rely on their own knowledge and language comprehension in the moment.
2. There are Different Types of Interpreting
Interpreters are needed in a variety of different settings and environments, and there are several types of interpreting to fit each situation. Here are a few common types:
Simultaneous Interpreting
This type of interpreting is used in situations where the interpreter is expected to interpret what is being said as it is being spoken, such as in a meeting, conference, or other live event. This near-instantaneous interpretation is a mentally-taxing task and often requires two or more trained interpreters to work as a team in order to take breaks. Simultaneous interpreting also requires interpreters to think extremely fast and convey tone, sentence structure, and humor on the spot. It is also common to see sign language interpreters—commonly American Sign Language (ASL) in the United States—use simultaneous interpreting during live events or conferences.
Consecutive Interpreting
Consecutive interpreting is when the speaker pauses after a sentence or complete thought in order for the interpreter to convey the message in the target language. While this method takes longer than simultaneous interpretation, it gives the interpreter a moment to listen to the source language and relay the best reiteration to the audience. In contrast to simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation allows more time to relay tone, sentence structure, humor, and even idioms into the target language.
Relay Interpreting
Relay interpreting is used in more specific situations when there is not an interpreter who can directly interpret between the source and target languages. With relay interpreting, there are multiple interpreters involved; the first interprets the source language into a shared language between other interpreters, such as English, and then the other interpreters relay the message from the shared language into the target language(s). Due to the addition of another language and all its conventions, the original message has the potential to get changed slightly between interpretations—similar to a game of telephone.
Whispered Interpreting (Chuchotage)
Whispered interpreting—also known as “chuchotage,” after the French verb for whisper—is used in smaller meetings or situations where only one person requires the services of an interpreter. In these cases, an interpreter offers simultaneous interpretation to their client through a whisper or low volume in order to not interrupt the rest of the meeting.
3. Interpreters Should Be Familiar with the Subject Matter
Interpreters are asked to work in a variety of fields and interpret conversations about many different topics. It is often not enough for an interpreter to just be fluent in the source and target languages; they should also be familiar with the subject matter in order to convey topics accurately. For example, a medical interpreter should be qualified and knowledgeable about many health conditions and medical language, while a political interpreter should know how to correctly convey complicated or confusing policy language.
4. Interpreters Must Deliver Language Conventions
As briefly mentioned earlier, interpreters must also convey language conventions that are not strictly bound to words, such as tone, humor, idioms and/or slang, emphasis, emotion, and body language. To both listen and relay these conventions takes an incredible amount of skill, especially during simultaneous interpretation. Sign language interpreters especially lean into this component of interpreting, as facial expressions and physical emphasis are cornerstones of communication.
Interpreting is an extremely challenging but essential field that requires years of training and experience to fine tune. Did you learn something new about interpreting today?