Issue #6                                                                www.interprenaut.com                                                   November  2011   

Welcome to the 6th 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 is the best source of information to help me with continuing education as an interpreter?

A: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... or perhaps it's good news? The truth is that there is no single source! To be a competent and well-rounded interpreter, you need to tap into diverse sources of information. After all, interpreters never really know what term will come up next. Even if we understand the domain and are "briefed" on the assignment in advance, our lives are full of constant terminology surprises, and not always the good kind!

Thankfully, there is an array of resources for interpreters today -- and they keep multiplying! Some of the most important resources are right in your own backyard, in the form of trade associations and universities. Without these traditional foundation-layers, interpreters would not have much of anything to call a profession. I am often surprised by younger interpreters who feel that they do not need to be part of these somewhat "old school" groups.

However, I am equally surprised by how many veteran interpreters do not show an interest in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Not only are these great spaces to network with colleagues and learn about the profession, but they have the added advantage of being fun, too!

So, this month, challenge yourself to pick a source of information that you have not yet tried. It may just become a future favorite!

Do you have questions or issues of importance to the field of interpreting that you'd like to see Interprenaut address?  

Send them along. 

She was once described as "probably the best diplomatic interpreter in the world." She earned such praise due to one of the skills that you'll find in the Interpreter Skills Map mentioned above -- diplomacy.  

Her roster of accomplishments included not only her work as an interpreter, but as a prolific writer, broadcaster for the BBC, lady-in-waiting to a queen, a friend to a king, a member of an official peace delegation, and First Secretary interpreter and nurse (yes, nurse!) to a prime minister.  

This woman was none other than Nadejda Stancioff. Known as Bulgaria's first female diplomatic representative, she came from a family of diplomats to begin with, but her individual accomplishments were quite impressive, especially given her gender and the era in which she lived. She even went so far as to ride a bicycle (gasp!) Quite scandalous for a female at the time. She passed away in 1957.

The story of Nadejda and her family is told with greater detail in a book called Diplomats and Dreamers. Nadejda certainly did her fair share of both, leaving behind a great deal of writing and memories in multiple languages. The book is based largely on her own letters to her family, and offers a fascinating glimpse at history as viewed from the eyes of this family. 

Who inspires you?

• "You can listen and speak at the same time? How's that possible?"

• "I've only got a few minutes. Can you teach me how to interpret?"

• "Being an interpreter must be wonderful. All you do is walk around, talk and read."

• "Can you translate this document into Spanglish?"

• "Can you bring some of those 'radios' that do the interpreting?"    

• "You were interpreting the presentation? But what do you do for a living?"

• "So, you speak languages, right? Do you know them all?"

• "I'm not sure if you can interpret it, but has he had diarrhea recently." (Yes, other languages do have a word for this!)

• "How many dictionaries do you have to memorize to be an interpreter?"

• "You're an interpreter? What kind of music do you sing?"

• "You can interpret for him even though he isn't here, right?"

• "How many languages are you bilingual in?"

• "If you don't type his words into the computer, how will you know what to say?" 

• (to a sign language interpreter) Have you ever encountered a deaf person?"

• (to a Spanish interpreter) Do you speak Spanish?"

• (to a court interpreter) So you use that little typewriter thingy?"

• (to a telephone interpreter) The live interpreter is here now. I don't need you anymore." (Interpreter asks, "What am I, dead?")

Thanks to everyone for providing your feedback and enabling your fellow interpreters to have a good chuckle!