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Issue #3 www.interprenaut.com August 2011
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 Welcome to the 3rd issue of The Interpreter's Launch Pad. This newsletter is designed to bring resources, tips, and a bit of fun to the lives of professional interpreters. Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for countdown! |
 Q: Interprenaut, what's it really like to be an interpreter?
A: So many individuals in our field have attempted to answer this question. The truth is, it's quite complex to describe what it feels like to walk in the shoes (or in my case, the boots) of an interpreter. Some compare us to a bridge that enables people to cross a gap. Others liken interpreters to an electrical current through which communication flows.
 | Interpreters stand in two hemispheres simultaneously
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In my time, I've seen interpreters envisioned as many objects -- a swing, a window, a funnel, a pendulum, a teeter-totter, a fabric, even a blade. For me, none of these metaphors are truly apt to describe what interpreters do, precisely because -- well, they're objects. Interpreters are human beings. And, even if we someday become more reliant on machines to augment our work, there will always be humans running those machines.
What's interpreting really like? In Ecuador, there is a monument to the mitad del mundo (middle of the world), the line that divides the earth into two equal hemispheres. There is a line on the ground leading up to the monument to represent the equator line itself.
Being an interpreter often feels just like that, like standing with one foot firmly planted in each hemisphere. We're in two languages and two cultures at the same time (especially when we're doing simultaneous interpreting!) We may sometimes lean to one side or another, but ultimately, it's up to us to remain equally grounded in both sides at the same time.
To me, that's what interpreting is really like.
 Do you have questions for Interprenaut?
Send them along.
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 Do you have the right personality to be an interpreter? "To be a good interpreter, you need to have complete mastery of two or more languages and... " How would you finish that sentence? Chances are, the words, "You need to have the right personality" would not be the first thing to jump to mind. However, this month's featured resource, a paper that looks at interpreter personality types, examines exactly this question. The researcher, Nancy Schweda Nicholson from the University of Delaware (USA), used the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in order to see which personality types would be most common among a sample of interpreter trainees (individuals who self-selected as having the right skills to do the job of an interpreter). For those who are unfamiliar with it, the MBTI is a psychometric questionnaire based on the theories of Carl Jung in his book, Psychological Types. The 16 types are based on four areas -- how people focus their energy, how they make decisions, how they perceive the outer world, and how they deal with the outer world.  Nicholson had a relatively small sample, but found that the trainees in her sample displayed an array of different personality types. She found that the most common type for interpreter trainees was ISTJ (Introverted-Sensing-Thinking-Judging), making up about 18% of the interpreters in the sample. By comparison, other studies have shown that individuals with this personality type make up about 6% of the general population. If Nicholson's findings are valid, it would appear that this type is more common among interpreter trainees. Nicholson's line of research raises many other questions: Do different types of interpreting (e.g. conference interpreting, legal interpreting, medical interpreting) attract interpreters with different personality types? Does interpreter personality type affect quality? Are some personality types more likely to make some types of mistakes (such as omissions) than others (such as embellishment)? Are certain types more likely to "step out of the role" of the interpreter? Are the best interpreters introverts or extroverts? It will be the job of researchers to more fully explore these kinds of questions. Until then, if you're interested in seeing if you're an ISTJ or some other type, you can take an online assessment here. (Interprenaut is an INTJ, by the way). Do you have a resource you'd like to share with other interpreters? Send your ideas. |
 Ever heard of the "O.T."?
The O.T., which stands for "Oriental Translator to the Government," was a kind of super-linguist who was able to speak multiple languages and was given all kinds of special privileges because of it. The O.T. worked under the diplomatic arm of the British Indian Government. The person carrying out this position had to interpret and translate between several languages, including Hindustani, Gujarati, Marathi, Persian, and other tongues.
The O.T. oversaw language examinations, recruitment of linguists, reports from native press (known as "foreign media analysis" today), conducted translations of official correspondence, compiled glossaries, and of course, interpreted. As an esteemed linguistic and cultural adviser, the O.T. also had the rather strange duty of determining the acceptability of any Indian who desired to attend a government social event, somewhat like a social secretary.
 | A more recent photo of the Oriental Translator's Office from 1948.
This month's source of inspiration, Shankar Pandarang Pandit headed up the office in the late 1800's.
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This month's source of inspiration is Shankar Pandarang Pandit, one of the first Indians to ever hold the position of O.T., which had traditionally been filled by an Englishman. At the age of 18, Shankar worked as a village bookkeeper earning two rupees per month. He had no money to pay for schooling, but he eavesdropped near outdoor classes in order to learn.
One day, a wealthy man noticed him and offered to finance his education. He had an incredible talent for languages. Just 10 years later, he had obtained a Master's degree from Bombay University, a highly-regarded scholar in English, Sanskrit, and Latin, and was proficient in 10 Indian and European languages. No other O.T. could ever match his accomplishments. Shankar worked in this official capacity from 1879 to 1894.
Note: If any readers from India (or elsewhere) have access to an image of this famous and inspiring O.T., please let me know, and I'll feature it in a future newsletter.
Who inspires you? Send your suggestions for inspiring interpreters you'd like to see featured here. |
 Last month's question was:
"What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you while interpreting?"
Here are some responses from our professional interpreter colleagues (who preferred to remain nameless):
- Working like a dog: "One day I was interpreting in the courtroom, and out of nowhere, a dog ran into the room. It was the strangest thing. I was so surprised that I completely lost my concentration. I had to request a repetition. Someone got the dog out of the room, but it started barking outside while I was interpreting, and again, I got distracted. The whole situation was surreal, but also quite funny in hindsight."
- Not quite the Terminator: "I had a client who, in addition to constantly addressing me directly, kept referring to me as 'the interpretator.' He would say things like, 'interpretator, can you ask him...' and 'interpretator, I want you to tell him...' I never did correct him, but I noticed that many people chuckled when they heard him say that."
- The omnipresent interpreter: "Once I was interpreting remotely over the phone for a doctor's office, and the doctor told the patient to remove his clothes and put on the gown so he could examine him. I heard the doctor shut the door and leave the room. Several minutes later, the doctor came back into the room and asked the patient why he had not changed clothes. He replied, 'Because I was waiting for the interpreter to leave the room.' The doctor had to explain to him that I was on the phone and could not see him -- he must have thought I had a video camera set up in the room."
Thanks to these interpreters for sharing their stories!
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Now, for this month's question!
Last month's newsletter asked about situations that have made you laugh. This month, Interprenaut wants to know:
Have you ever been driven to tears by your work as an interpreter?
Perhaps you got a great compliment or interpreted something meaningful or beautiful. Conversely, maybe you were faced with a sad, unfair, or frustrating situation (like this interpreter who had to render some especially upsetting testimony).
And, some researchers are interested in this topic too, finding that it takes a high degree of emotional stability to work as an interpreter. Hey, interpreting isn't easy!
E-mail me to share your answers, and I'll include some of your responses in the next issue of the Launch Pad. (Names will not be shared without permission.)
Do you have a question you'd like to get input on from colleagues around the world?
Send me your suggestions.
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 If you ever wondered how simultaneous interpreting came about, you need to read The Origins of Simultaneous Interpretation, a book by Francesca Gaiba. Gaiba's book focuses on the role of simultaneous interpreting at the Nuremberg Trials, a series of military tribunals for prosecution of Nazi military and political leaders.
The Nuremberg Trials would not have been possible without interpreters. Yet, as Gaiba writes, "When 42 volumes of transcripts from the Nuremberg Trial were published, they contained an estimated six million words, not a single of which was devoted to the role of interpretation." Gaiba's book goes a long way to filling that void and giving some proper attention to interpreters.
 Here are some interesting facts from the book:
- Interpreters were assisted by "monitors" for quality control who listened to the interpretation and flashed a yellow light if quality began to degrade, usually due to the speaker speaking too quickly. This served as an alert for the speaker to slow down. A red light was flashed if the interpreter had a coughing spell or could not interpret for some other reason.
- Average interpreting speed was 130 words per minute, with peaks of 200. Dictation speed, by contrast, is 60 words per minute. This meant the interpreters were able to "translate" 15 double-spaced legal-sized pages per hour.
- Many interpreters experienced vicarious trauma, reporting that they had nightmares, for example, about the horrors of the films the U.S. army had recorded upon entering concentration camps.
- Neutrality was also an enormous challenge due to difficulty with subject matter. As Gaiba writes, "Some of the interpreters had been in concentration camps and were considered the best personnel to interpret the material regarding the camps, but it was hard for them to be brought back to those experiences."
- Monitors also listened to the rhythm and breathing of the interpreter. When an interpreter began to slow down and breathe hard, it was a clear sign that he or she was running out of energy and would need to be replaced soon.
- Gaiba shares one hilarious anecdote: "The judge got very cross about this [interpreters not rendering everything] on one occasion and gave the interpreter a going-over in front of everybody saying, 'Now look here, I want you to translate everything I say, exactly... Do you understand?' The interpreter nodded, and the judge signaled to me to proceed, saying 'Yes, Mr. Pine?,' whereupon the interpreter rendered the remark literally, 'Ja, Herr Tannenbaum?'" ("Tannenbaum" means "pine tree.")
- Perhaps my favorite part of the book is the list of all the Nuremberg interpreters at the back of the book where you can read descriptions of each of them. Each individual has such a unique but interesting background.
This is a fairly slim book (about 150 pages) but full of interesting information about the history of the profession. Highly recommended! To find out how to obtain the book, click here.
Do you have a book you'd like to see reviewed here? Send your suggestions.
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 Interpreting in the entertainment field requires a unique individual -- someone who isn't camera-shy, who does not get nervous around celebrities, and who can convey a sense of confidence even when under pressure -- such as during a live performance. Just ask Jack Jason, the interpreter for Oscar-winning Deaf actress Marlee Matlin (to see a recent feature article on Jack in the Huffington Post, click here). To get a sense of the skills required to interpret in a talk show, watch this video of Jack with Marlee of a recent interview.  | ASL<>English interpreter Jack Jason interprets for Marlee Matlin on The Talk, a U.S.-based daytime talk show
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Contrast this with an interpreted interview on the David Letterman show with Chilean miner Edison Peña, and you'll notice several differences. Because the interpreter is working with two spoken languages, she uses simultaneous whispered interpreting when the host speaks, then switches to consecutive when Edison speaks, ensuring that people can fully focus on him and appreciate his expressions, tone of voice, and movements. However, many interpreters (especially those who speak Spanish) will note that the interpreter embellishes, changes meaning, and adds words that Edison did not actually say, in an effort to make him sound good. At one point, the interpreter even uses the word "funky" in English, leading David Letterman to ask if "funky" is a South American mining term. The interpreter manages to handle the situation without revealing to the audience that the talk show host's question would not really make sense if interpreted faithfully.  | | A Spanish<>English interpreter makes David Letterman's audience laugh while interpreting for Chilean miner, Edison Peña |
What do both of these interpreters have in common? They make the talk show guest seem more endearing and interesting, so that the audience will have a positive opinion of them. In short, interpreters in entertainment settings also have to keep in mind the importance of engaging the audience and keeping them rapt with attention. What are your favorite interpreting-related videos?Share them and they may be featured in a future issue. |
 After spending countless hours on Facebook (in the name of research, of course!), Interprenaut has found that the best place to connect with interpreters from around the world on Facebook is Interpreting the World, a page from AIIC.
 This page has all kinds of interesting posts and threads, including a recent one that urges interpreters to share the strangest places they have ever interpreted. Visit the page, and you'll find interpreters working from inside a helicopter, on a beach, in a canoe, on a farm, in a turbine workshop, at a fashion show, wearing a hard hat, and one interpreter who shared that she even interpreted during her own labor -- yes, while giving birth!
You can visit AIIC's fun and informative page here.
How are you connecting with other interpreters?
Share your favorite forms of staying in touch with your colleagues.
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 Dragomen: Interpreters in the Ottoman Empire
Have you ever heard the term dragoman? It's perhaps one of the most fascinating tales of the history of interpreting. The term comes from the Ottoman Empire, in which, for about 300 years, the dragoman was a key diplomatic figure to maintain the relationships between Eastern and Western Europe.
 | | "The Dragoman of Mr. Moore, English Consul at Beyrout" a Lithograph by David Wilkie (1841) |
There was an entire class of dragomen who enabled communication for the Sultan and his bureaucracy. They were paid well and even had apprentices. They wore a special uniform that would enable them to be easily identified, with shoes that were red and blue. They played an important role in negotiations of treaties.
In some families, the dragoman profession was hereditary, which had the consequence of close relatives serving for different nations that disliked each other, causing all kinds of ethical dilemmas. One family of dragomen, the Cruttas, became the "first family of interpreting."
The word in Arabic is ترجمان (tarjumān), and in Turkish tercüman. The word entered European languages in the Middle Ages in forms like dragman (Middle English), drugeman (Old French), and dragumannus (Middle Latin). The German word dolmetscher, which is used for interpreter today, comes originally from the same root. Do you know of an interesting interpreting-related item?
Share it so that interpreters around the world can find out about it!
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 Ready for launch? Before you head into orbit, please observe the following pre-launch announcements from Mission Control...
Just look how far Interprenaut has traveled! In just three months, the newsletter has reached interpreters in 39 countries! New countries since last month include Azerbaijan, Israel, Slovakia, Togo, Ukraine, and Costa Rica! If you live in a country that isn't listed here, send in your mailing address via email to receive a postcard from Interprenaut! 
Subscribe and get a free book! If this email was forwarded to you by a friend or colleague, why not sign up? Just click here to subscribe, or SMS (text) message the word INTERPRENAUT to 22828. All new subscribers will receive a free digital copy of the book, Telephone Interpreting: A Comprehensive Guide to the Profession. Your comments are welcome! Do you have a resource you'd like to share with your colleagues? A book you would like to see reviewed? An inspiring interpreter you believe should be featured? Do you want the world to know how much you love the newsletter? Email your suggestions, observations, and reactions.    Connect with Interprenaut!
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"Modern interpreters contribute to world harmony."
-- Jean Delilse
"Interpreting is an ancient human practice which
clearly predates the invention of writing."
-- Franz Pöchhacker
"While they are occasionally in the limelight, interpreters and their work are not, I suspect, well understood by the general public or even those who make use of them."
-- Igor Korchilov
"How do they do it? How do the interpreters manage, with no more than a split second's delay, with such precision and such apparent nonchalance at one and the same time..."
-- Nicholas, a character in The Interpreter, a novel
"The interpreter must be just as cognizant of what is *not* being discussed."
-- Andrew Dawrant
"To be, or not to be an interpreter. There is no question."
-- Interprenaut
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(C) 2011 Nataly Kelly www.interprenaut.com Issue #3 - August 2011
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