1.

Overview of Translation
Beautiful translations are like beautiful women, that is to say, they are not always the most
faithful ones. Whatever one might think about this tongue in cheek comparison between beautiful
women and beautiful translations by the British literary critic and cultural philosopher George Steiner,
this quotation may serve as an illustration of the debate on free versus literal translations that have
dominated the world of translation for centuries. Translation theorists, critics and, of course, translators
themselves have been occupied with the problem of whether a translator should translate literally or
freely. But what do we actually understand by literal and free translations? This is just one of the many
fascinating questions that we will be discussing throughout the course. The course covers a wide range of
issues and debates in translation studies and aims to provide students with an overview of the history of
translation studies, different translation theories and various approaches to translating. Some translators
claim that they do not need to know anything about translation studies or theories, just as you do not need
to know anything about an engine to be able to drive a car. On the other hand, one might argue that if
translators are more aware of the different choices they have when making a translation whether it be a
novel, a poem or a legal document they will be able to produce a better translation. That is why this
course does not only focus on translation theory as such; in tutorials, we will also apply various methods
and approaches to different texts.
2. Introduction to Translation and Interpretation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of
an equivalent target-language text. While interpretingthe facilitating of oral or sign-language
communication between users of different languagesantedates writing, translation began only after the
appearance of written literature. There exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (ca.
2000 BCE) into Southwest Asian languages of the second millennium BCE.
Translators always risk inappropriate spill-over of source-language idiom and usage into the target-
language translation. On the other hand, spill-overs have imported useful source-language calques
and loanwords that have enriched the target languages. Indeed, translators have helped substantially to
shape the languages into which they have translated.
Translation is the transmittal of written text from one language into another. Although the
terms translation and interpretation are often used interchangeably, by strict definition, translation Refers
to the written language, and interpretation to the spoken word. Translation is the action of interpretation
of the meaning of a text, and subsequent production of an equivalent text, also called a translation, that
communicates the same message in another language. The text to be translated is called the source text,
and the language it is to be translated into is called the target language.
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 Translation must take into account constraints that include context, the rules of grammar of the
two languages, their writing conventions, and their idioms. A common misconception is that there exists
a simple word-for-word correspondence between any two languages, and that translation is a
straightforward mechanical process. A word-for-word translation does not take into account context,
grammar, conventions, and idioms.
Source Text: the process of translation between two different written languages involves the
translator changing the original written text.
Target Text (TT): Target Text is a translated text written in the intended Target Language, which is the
result of a translation from a given Source Text.
Word-for-word translation, Literal translation, direct translation: is the rendering of text from
one language to another one word at a time with or without conveying the sense of the original whole.
Sense-for-sense translation is the oldest norm for translating. It fundamentally means translating
the meaning of each whole sentence before moving on to the next Sense-for-sense translation is the
oldest norm for translating. It fundamentally means translating the meaning of each whole sentence
before moving on to the next.
3. Translators
Competent translators show the following attributes:
a very good knowledge of the language, written and spoken, from which they are translating (the
source language); an excellent command of the language into which they are translating (the target
language); familiarity with the subject matter of the text being translated; a profound understanding of the
etymological and idiomatic correlates between the two languages, including sociolinguistic register when
appropriate; and a finely tuned sense of when to metaphrase ("translate literally") and when to paraphrase,
so as to assure true rather than spurious equivalents between the source- and target-language texts.
A competent translator is not only bilingual but bicultural. A language is not merely a collection of words
and of rules of grammar and syntax for generating sentences, but also a vast interconnecting system of
connotations and cultural references whose mastery, writes linguist Mario Pei, "comes close to being a
lifetime job.
The complexity of the translator's task cannot be overstated; one author suggests that becoming an
accomplished translatorafter having already acquired a good basic knowledge of both languages and
culturesmay require a minimum of ten years' experience. Viewed in this light, it is a serious
misconception to assume that a person who has fair fluency in two languages will, by virtue of that fact
alone, be consistently competent to translate between them.

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 Translation and interpretation are the ultimate jobs for people who love language. However, there are a lot
of misunderstandings about these two fields, including the difference between them and what kind of skills and
education they require. This article is an introduction to the fields of translation and interpretation.

Both translation and interpretation (sometimes abbreviated as T + I) require superior language

ability in at least two languages.
That may seem like a given, but in fact there are many working translators whose language skills are not up to the
task. You can usually recognize these unqualified translators by extremely low rates, and also by wild claims about
being able to translate any language and subject.
4. The Skill Profile of Technical Translators

The differences in skills are arguably greater than their similarities. The key skills of the translator
are the ability to understand the source language and the culture of the country where the text originated,
then using a good library of dictionaries and reference materials, to render that material clearly and
accurately into the target language. In other words, while linguistic and cultural skills are still critical, the
most important mark of a good translator is the ability to write well in the target language.

Even bilingual individuals can rarely express themselves in a given subject equally well in both
languages, and many excellent translators are not fully bilingual to begin with. Knowing this limitation, a
good translator will only translate documents into his or her native language. This is why we at Language
Scientific absolutely require our technical translators only translate into their native language, in
addition to their subject matter expertise.

An interpreter, on the other hand, must be able to translate in both directions on the spot, without
using dictionaries or other supplemental reference materials. Interpreters must have extraordinary
listening abilities, especially for simultaneous interpreting. Simultaneous interpreters need to process and
memorize the words that the source-language speaker is saying now, while simultaneously outputting in
the target language the translation of words the speaker said 5-10 seconds ago. Interpreters must also
possess excellent public speaking skills and the intellectual capacity to instantly transform idioms,
colloquialisms and other culturally-specific references into analogous statements the target audience will
understand.

5. Translation vs Interpretation
For some reason, most laypeople refer to both translation and interpretation as "translation."
Although translation and interpretation share the common goal of taking information that is available in

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one language and converting it to another, they are in fact two separate processes. So what is the
difference between translation and interpretation? It's very simple.
5.1 Translation
Translation is written - it involves taking a written text (such as a book or an article) and
translating it in writing into the target language.
5.2 Interpretation
Interpretation is oral - it refers to listening to something spoken (a speech or phone conversation)
and interpreting it orally into the target language. (Incidentally, those who facilitate communicate
between hearing persons and deaf/hard-of-hearing persons are also known as interpreters.
So you can see that the main difference is in how the information is presented - orally in interpretation
and written in translation. This might seem like a subtle distinction, but if you consider your own
language skills, the odds are that your ability to read/write and listen/speak are not identical - you are
probably more skilled at one pair or the other. So translators are excellent writers, while interpreters have
superior oral communication skills. In addition, spoken language is quite different from written, which
adds a further dimension to the distinction. Then there's the fact that translators work alone to produce a
translation, while interpreters work with two or more people/groups to provide an interpretation on the
spot during negotiations, seminars, phone conversations, etc.

5.3 Translation and Interpretation Terms

Source language
Is the original language or is the language being translated from
Target language
The language of the resulting translation or interpretation. In translation, the target language is
the language being translated to; it is the antonym of the source language, which is
the language being translated from. In most professional settings, the target language is also the
translator's first language.
A. language - Native language
Most people have one A language, although someone who was raised bilingual may have two A languages
or an A and a B, depending on whether they are truly bilingual or just very fluent in the second language.
B. language - Fluent language
Fluent here means near-native ability - understanding virtually all vocabulary, structure, dialects, cultural
influence, etc. A certified translator or interpreter has at least one B language, unless he or she is bilingual with two
A languages.

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C. language - Working language
Translators and interpreters may have one or more C languages - those which they understand well enough
to translate or interpret from but not to. For example, here are my language skills:
A - English
B - French
C Spanish
For example, a person can translate French to English, English to French, and Spanish to English,
but not English to Spanish. In reality, he/she only works from French and Spanish to English. He/she
doesn't work into French, because he/she recognizes that his/her translations into French leave something
to be desired. Translators and interpreters should only work into the languages that they write/speak like a
native or very close to it. Incidentally, another thing to watch out for is a translator who claims to have
several target languages (in other words, to be able to work in both directions between, say, English,
Japanese, and Russian). It is very rare for anyone to have more than two target languages, although
having several source languages is fairly common.
6. Types of Translation
General translation/interpretation is just what you think - the translation or interpretation of non-
specific language that does not require any specialized vocabulary or knowledge. However, the best
translators and interpreters read extensively in order to be up-to-date with current events and trends so
that they are able to do their work to the best of their ability, having knowledge of what they might be
asked to convert.
In addition, good translators and interpreters make an effort to read about whatever topic they are currently
working on. If a translator is asked to translate an article on organic farming, for example, he or she would be well
served to read about organic farming in both languages in order to understand the topic and the accepted terms used
in each language.
Specialized translation or interpretation refers to domains which require at the very least that the person be
extremely well read in the domain. Even better is training in the field (such as a college degree in the subject, or a
specialized course in that type of translation or interpretation). Some common types of specialized translation and
interpretation are
o financial translation and interpretation
o legal translation and interpretation
o literary translation
o medical translation and interpretation
o scientific translation and interpretation
o technical translation and interpretation

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7. Types of interpretation
7.1 Consecutive interpretation (consec)
The interpreter takes notes while listening to a speech, then does his or her interpretation during
pauses. This is commonly used when there are just two languages at work; for example, if the American
and French presidents were having a discussion. The consecutive interpreter would interpret in both
directions, French to English and English to French. Unlike translation and simultaneous interpretation,
consecutive interpretation is commonly done into the interpreter's A and B languages.
Consecutive interpreting means a translation is provided shortly after the original text and is
appropriate for shorter speeches and addresses (e.g. dinner speeches) or for negotiations, in which the
presence of a translator can be especially valuable. When using consecutive interpreting the length of an
event can be double as long per language as with simultaneous interpreting.
This type of interpreting is commonly used in meetings or at formal events when one or two short
addresses are translated into one or perhaps more languages for a smaller number of participants. The
interpreter listens to a set number of phrases from the speaker and then gives their expert rendition in the
target foreign language. This type of interpreting will extend a meeting duration; however, it works well
with short formal presentations where time is not necessarily of the essence.

Several types of interpreting services are available to meet specific conference, meeting, or other
event needs. Our interpreters are able to assist in over 150 languages and use state-of-the-art equipment to
ensure complete accuracy. Whether the service is needed for an individual, small group, or large
presentation, we can supply experienced, qualified individuals for these types of interpreting services to
ensure all participants receive the same information in their native language. These services are essential
to ensuring attendees can fully participate in any event.

To allow the interpreter to render what was said into the target language, consecutive
interpreting relies on the speaker to stop speaking frequently, on average, every one to five minutes.
The speaker's pauses come at the end of a sentence or topic. While waiting, the interpreter listens and
takes notes as the speaker moves forward through the communication. A vital skill involved in
consecutive interpreting is note-taking, since few people can memorize a complete paragraph in a
single hearing without losing detail. This is the primary form of interpreting offered by the skilled
language services professionals.

In contrast to simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting does not occur at the same time
the source language speaker is talking. It is only when the speaker pauses (usually every 1-5 minutes) that

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the interpreter repeats what is being said in the target language. This type of interpreting is usually
employed in smaller business meetings and court hearings.
One of the most important skills a consecutive interpreter must possess is the ability to take notes. As it is
virtually impossible to memorize multiple minutes of speech, note-taking is essential to convey the
correct message. Consecutive interpreting is more than likely what people need when they think of
business interpreters.
The interpreter speaks after the speaker has finished. The speech is divided into segments, and the
interpreter sits or stands beside speaker, listening and takes notes. Whispered its like whispering
simultaneous, the interpreter sits or stands next to the person or people requiring interpretation (maximum
of two people)
7.2 Simultaneous interpretation (simul)
The interpreter listens to a speech and simultaneously interprets it, using headphones and a
microphone. This is commonly used when there are numerous languages needed, such as in the United
Nations. Each target language has an assigned channel, so Spanish speakers might turn to channel one for
the Spanish interpretation, French speakers to channel two, etc. Simultaneous interpretation should only
be done into one's A language.
The Interpreter sits in a soundproof room and translates as the speaker speaks. Simultaneous
translation should be used for larger events, conferences, involving two or more languages, as well as at
congresses where a time delay could cause problems. As this kind of translating requires high levels of
concentration it is necessary that the interpreter is replaced after approximately 20 minutes. This means
that an appropriate number of interpreters must be available to carry out an assignment.
Simultaneous interpreting, also known as Conference interpreting, requires elite skills with teams
of two or more interpreters needed per language. Each interpreter works in turn, relieving one another at
set intervals. The processes of shared listening and delivery ensure uninterrupted accuracy in translation.
Pairs of interpreters usually use electronic systems to simultaneously convey messages to delegates
wearing headphones/ear pieces while a presenter or participant is speaking.
In this mode of interpretation the interpreter listens to spoken content through headphones, and
speaks the translated words into a microphone. As soon as the interpreter understands the general
meaning of the sentence, he or she begins the interpretation. The simultaneous interpretation is
rendered to target-language listeners via their earphones.
At a simultaneous interpreting event, the interpreter has to listen to what is being said and
translate this into the target language at the same time. Some argue that the term is actually inaccurate as
an interpreter cannot translate a sentence until they more or less know what is being said it is thus never
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really simultaneous. Simultaneous interpreting is aimed at conveying the exact language instead of
paraphrasing and is used for big meetings, conferences and trade shows.
When interpreting simultaneously, the interpreter wears headphones and is located in a booth. He or she
talks into a microphone that is connected to the headphones of the target language speakers. As there is
no time to overthink translations, simultaneous interpreters must make decisions on the spot. Any
translation delays might result in the loss of words or phrases, which might influence the message the
targeted listener receives. Simultaneous interpreting is sometimes also known as conference
interpreting.
The interpreter renders the message as quickly as he or she can formulate it from the source
language, while the speaker continuously speaks; sitting in a sound-proof booth, speaks into a
microphone, while clearly seeing and hearing speaker via earphones.
7.3 Escort/Travel Interpreting
Escort/Travel interpreters can almost be regarded as foreign language speaking assistants. They
accompany travellers, often business people, on their trips and to meetings. Usually, escort/travel
interpreters are not only involved in the interpretation side of the trip, but also act as cultural
intermediaries who help their client coping with foreign culture.
This type of interpreting is usually only offered by an agency with interpreters worldwide.
7.4 Whisper Interpreting
Whisper interpreting can be compared to simultaneous interpreting, with the only difference that
with this type of interpreting, the interpreter is not in a booth wearing headphones, but is sitting next to
the person or persons that they interpret for. While the source language speaker is talking, they quietly
talk into the target speakers ear.
7.5 Scheduled Telephone Interpreting (Phone Interpretation)
This type of interpreting can be both consecutive and simultaneous. One aspect is fixed, however;
the interpreter is not physically present in the room, but translates via telephone. If the participants are
OK with only hearing the interpreters voice and not the one of the target speaker, OPI can occur
simultaneously. If they are not, the interpreting assignment will be conducted in a consecutive manner.
The accuracy of an over-the-phone interpretation is often lower than that of face-to-face interpreting
sessions. This has to do with the fact that interpreters conducting OPI cannot pick up on extra-linguistic
clues about the speakers meaning and context. Moreover, most over-the-phone interpreting assignments
are conducted in a consecutive manner.

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8. Interpreter Qualifications
Interpreting, just like translation, is fundamentally the art of paraphrasingthe interpreter listens
to a speaker in one language, grasps the content of what is being said, and then paraphrases his or her
understanding of the meaning using the tools of the target language. However, just as you can not explain
a thought to someone if you did not fully understand that thought, neither can you translate or interpret
something without mastery of the subject matter being relayed.
It simply cannot be overstated: when choosing an interpreter, his or her expert knowledge of the
subject matter is equally as important as their interpreting experience. (See the section Why Subject
Expertise Matters for Technical Translators for a more detailed discussion of the importance of subject
matter knowledge for technical translators and interpreters).
8.1. Language Scientifics interpreters possess the following skills:
- Thorough knowledge of the general subject to be interpreted
- Intimate familiarity with both cultures
- Extensive vocabulary in both languages
- Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely in both languages
- Excellent note-taking techniques for consecutive interpreting
- At least 2-3 years of booth experience for simultaneous interpreting
9. Translator Jobs
The demand in the translating field is greater than ever before. Many translators work as
freelancers and others are employed by international organizations as well as government agencies.
Nonprofit and religious organizations also hire or contract the services of translators for document
translation. Individuals who work as translators are highly intellectual.
You can find forums and boards on the Internet where you can find job advertisements. You'll be able to
benefit from other translators' experience and support. Other places to find document translation jobs are
newspapers and online job websites.
If you want to work independently, you may want to start by marketing your services to local
businesses. Insurance companies, hospitals, doctor's offices, and real estate companies are sectors in your
community that may benefit from your translating skills. One advantage of doing document translation is
that you can work from home.
To succeed in this field, you will need good organization and time management skills. The ability
to meet deadlines and set priorities is very important as well. The possibilities are infinite if document
translation is what you want to do.

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10. Five Steps to Becoming a Professional Translator
Since I work for a language services company, I often get asked whether we are hiring translators.
I dont mind the question. Weve all had to hunt for work, and these days far too many people are without
it. However Ive found that roughly 90% of those who inquire are not qualified to be translators or
interpreters. Being bi-lingual is an excellent skill, but as ESPN analyst Lee Corso would say, Not SO
fast, my friend! Fluency in another language means being able to comprehend, speak, read, and write in
that language at the level of an educated native speaker. Being fluent is only the first step in becoming a
professional translator or interpreter. Like any other profession, it requires practice, experience, and
training. Theres no one path to success, but here are some good guidelines:
Step 1: Get Certified
The first thing I tell people who want to know how to become a translator is to get some sort of
accreditation or certification. Having credentials provides documentation that you have the skills required
to translate or interpret professionally. Many universities offer advanced degrees and professional
certifications in translation, and we have a separate post dedicated to the subject: Top 10 U.S. Translation
Schools. Want to be a translator? The American Translators Association offers certification programs for
translators. Want to be a judicial or medical interpreter? Organizations such as the National Association
of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators and the International Medical Interpreters Associationoffer
certifications as well. Finally, check to see if your state offers accreditation programs for translators /
interpreters. Being certified through one of these organizations is also helpful because you will be listed
on their website directories, where potential clients requiring your services can find you. Overall,
certification may not be required to be a successful translator or interpreter, but if youre starting out in
this industry, it is the best place to start.
Step 2: Get Tested
Another resume builder is to take language proficiency tests such as the Defense Language Proficiency
Test (DLPT) or other language proficiency tests to show potential clients that you are indeed fluent in
your specific language.
Shameless Plug Alert: we also offer language proficiency tests and DLPT training here at ALTA.
Step 3: Gain Experience
The next step is to gain experience. All of us have had to start out doing internships or working
entry-level jobs in order to climb the ladder, and the language industry is no exception. If youre enrolled
at or live near a college, take classes in translation / interpreting and look for opportunities to perform
translation or interpreting work on campus for various departments. It is crucial to get experience where
you can show samples of your work to potential clients and get recommendations.
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Step 4: Market Yourself
After getting credentials and some experience, its time to market yourself to law firms, police
stations, hospitals, government agencies, and language agencies that may need translators or interpreters
in your area. Most translators / interpreters work for clients on a contract basis, not as full time
employees. A great way to market your services is to start a website or blog and join the active
community of online language professionals. Also, make sure you have your resume and rates ready! The
best indicator that an aspiring translator or interpreter is not a professional is when they have no idea
what their rates should be! If you dont know what rates to charge, call other interpreters and translators
and find out what theirs are.
Step 5: Keep Learning!
As you progress as a translator / interpreter, there are other areas to consider as well. What
specialized industry or industries can you translate or interpret for? Do you keep up with industry terms
and trends? Are you computer savvy and knowledgeable regarding translation memory software? Can
you provide simultaneous as well as consecutive interpreting? If you have had success as a translator,
maybe you could consider diversifying and becoming a certified court or medical interpreter. Overall I
hope I have not discouraged anyone from becoming a translator or interpreter. My purpose here is to
provide a helpful guide to entering this highly competitive industry. Below are some links to articles
about what its like to be a professional translator, and the paths others have taken to success. Good luck!
11. Five Challenges that Translators Face
11.1. Language Structure
The challenge comes when the language is complex. An English sentence comprises a subject,
verb and object. In some languages, the order is different. In Farsi for example, a sentence is made up of a
subject and an object before the verb. In other languages such as Arabic, the subject pronoun is written as
part of the verb, which then determines the voice of the sentence and the gender of the subject.
11.2. Culture
Many of the spoken dialects are woven into many languages, which can affect content. Culture
also plays a major part in the use of a language. Each language has a structure that is unique to it, and it is
this structure that directly affects the simplicity and level of accuracy of translation. If the language is
simple, the translation is also easier and simpler.
11.3. Compound words
Compound words are composed of two or three nouns and adjectives that are combined. There are three
forms of compound words:

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- Closed form (like keyboard, notebook, childlike, firefly)
- Hyphenated form (like six-pack, mass-produced, over-the-counter)
- Open form (like attorney general, full moon, real estate, post office)
Some of the compound words could be straightforward in reflecting their meaning, such as
underground, afternoon, seashore. However, there are compound words that only mean half of the term,
such as bookworm and bellboy. There are also words that provide another meaning altogether, as in the
case of butterfly, which does not mean butter or fly, or the word deadline that has nothing to do with line
or being dead.
11.4. Missing terms
There are languages where terms for certain objects or actions do not exist. In the United States
for example, an extra room in the house where guests are allowed to sleep is called a guest room. In
Greek, such a room is called ksnona, while in Italian, a guest room is called camera per gliospiti.
11.5. Words with multiple meaning
The use of a word or words in a sentence could give them different meanings. There are words
that sound alike (homonyms) such as scale (of a fish) and (weighing) scale. There are also words spelled
similarly that sound different (heteronyms), like windy (day) and windy (road). Some other examples
include excuse, polish, absent, alternate, minute, contest, record and many more such words. This also
applies to idioms, similes and metaphors.
What should a translator do when faced with these common issues? Translation work requires
meticulousness. The translator must be well read, have a good knowledge of vocabulary of both the
source and target languages and consult dictionaries, thesauruses and other reference books to find the
appropriate terms.
12. Four Challenges Interpreters Face
Its no secret that top interpreters jobs arent simple ones. While being able to connect people
together through language is rewarding, there are some challenges interpreters may face while on the job.
Besides making sure theyre constantly keeping their language skills up to par while dealing with
workload, weve listed 4 major challenges a professional certified interpreter may encounter at any given
time:
Challenge 1: Inability to hear the speaker
When doing a face to face or conference interpreting, a speakers audio equipment might fail, or someone
may say something softly that the interpreter might not have heard. In certain situations, an interpreter is
allowed to ask for the speaker for clarification, but while doing consecutive or simultaneous

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interpretations, its important that the interpreter is able to distinctly hear the entirety of what was said.
Interpreters cant interpret what they cant hear.
Challenge 2: Cultural Knowledge
Top interpreters have a responsibility to not only understand and be able to fluently speak the
target language, they must also have a deep-rooted sense of cultural awareness, regional slang and idioms.
Social evolution provides new words and phrases on a continuous basis, which means an interpreter is
tasked with being able to deliver any given word or phrase accurately into the target language.
Challenge 3: No Pre-Prep Materials
Top interpreters will spend a day (or two) before a meeting or conference going over materials
thatll be discussed or presented by a speaker. Last minute assignments and appointments can make a
normal situation stressful when an interpreter hasnt been properly briefed. Prep materials allow the
interpreter to go over terminology, familiarize with the topics content, and provide time for extra
research if needed. Without prep time or materials, an interpreter will go into the meeting or conference
with confidence that their skills and experience will be their main asset while interpreting.
Challenge 4: Interpreting Jokes, Humor, and Sarcasm
Its widely known that jokes and humorous sayings common to one language may lose its
meaning when received in another. In some cases, an interpreter will have an opportunity to obtain prep
materials or briefings thatll allow them to thoroughly go over what the speaker intends to cover. Success
of the interpretations also depends on whether the interpreter has understood the purpose behind the joke
or humorous line of dialogue. Humor, jokes and sarcasm become a challenge when used liberally
throughout a conversation, and the interpreter must accurately interpret the joke or line of humor while
keeping the integrity of the message intact.
The above challenges may initially prove to be difficult; however, top interpreters will be able to
utilize their years of training to overcome them. Looking for professional, certified interpreters who are
able to rely on their skills and experience to combat challenging situations? Choose a qualified interpreter
language service. Telelanguage offers over 4,000 certified interpreters that are able to rise above all
challenges, and are ready to speak in 300+ languages. Connecting to a Telelanguage interpreter is fast
and easy, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
Problems during consecutive interpretation
13. Problems during consecutive interpretation
Dear interpreters, could you name the problems that you face during consecutive interpretation? I
want to know what kinds of problems occur during your interpretation: for example. Note-taking

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problems, some distracting noise or maybe unknown words etc. and it would be great if you give some
examples from your personal experience! Thanks in advance!
13.1. Listening / Note taking
o Fast speaking speaker, hard to interrupt / to slow down if the chair doesn't signal him
o Speaker forgetting about the interpreter and going on and on
o Speaker stopping too often and/or too early (before you get to understand the idea he's explaining)
o Chair, panelists or delegates chatting while you're trying to listen
13.2. Reading / Remembering
o Bad links, not knowing who does what to whom / what has to be changed because of what and by
whom / ...
o Forgetting tenses (changes done, being done or to be done?)
o Indecipherable symbols or abbreviations - and putting on a perfect poker face instead of facial
expressions that would indicate to the entire audience that your are TOTALLY lost: Double effort.
13.3. Speaking
o Being listened to (lately, we had a room of 100, with 80 francophone chattering while my
colleague was trying to talk loud enough to be understood by the remaining 20 Anglophone
delegates).
o Not being interrupted by the speaker (they'll tend to take back the floor when you pause for longer
than 0.5 seconds. When you are trying to decipher your notes, the pause is often mistaken - people
think you're done).
o Managing to focus when your speaker turns out to be fluent enough in your target language to
interrupt you and to correct you (ah, legal conferences!) . And remembering at what point he
interrupted you. And getting going again. (And putting aside your pride. If you're confident
enough you won't really care and even be grateful if the speaker himself is kind and
understanding).
14. The Difficulties of Simultaneous Interpreting
Interpretation services are not the easiest to complete and it takes quite a bit of skill and
dedication to do this in an accurate fashion. After all, the interpreter has to take what the
speaker is saying and immediately interpret it so that they nonnative speakers can not only
understand the words, but also to convey the meaning. This can be even more difficult if
there is a huge audience that needs to have this interpretation. They have to be clean, concise
and have to make themselves understood the entire time they are working. The following are
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some other ways that this type of interpretation service can be more challenging and how a
quality interpretation company can overcome these challenges.
14.1. Long Lasting Conference Interpretation
Not all interpretation will last just an hour or two. In some cases, these can go on for
days and this can be challenging on an interpreter. They have to be on constantly and their
throats can get sore and they can get tired quite easily. One of the top ways for overcoming
this type of interpreting is to have two or three interpreters that work in shifts to make the load
easier on them. The interpreters will work in shifts of only a couple of hours at a time to
allow for times for breaks, meals and to rest the vocal chords. Without these breaks, the
interpreters would not be able to maintain their simultaneous interpreting skills.
14.2 Complex or Technical Vocabulary
Many times conferences have technical or complex terms and vocabulary that would
not be found in normal situations. In this case, the interpreters have to know and understand
the exact translations for these concepts in order to get the meaning across to those who are
non native speakers. In order to get through this type of interpretation, the interpreters have to
learn these words and concepts so it is up to the company to get them a transcript from the
speakers. This allows the interpreters to practice and work on the transcriptions before the
conference so they are ready to go. They should have the transcripts well before the event so
that they are not rushed into learning without having enough time to be well prepared.
15. Consecutive interpreting rules
1. Do not interrupt the speaker - the entire question or answer must be finished before you commence your
interpretation. Do not attempt to mentally interpret until you have heard the entire massage.
2. Do not add anything to the message no additions of any kind are allowed
3. Do not omit from the message do not leave anything that was said out of the interpretation.
4. Do not change the message- do not make changes to the message received
5. Use formal YOU-the tu form is prohibited
6. Take brief notes all concrete information such as names, description, colors, numbers, years, ect
7. No extraneous noises do not make any sounds such as uh, uhm, well, ok, etc
8. No double interpretations provide a one word interpretation for one word heard
9. Maintain the same register raise or lower your level of sophistication of the language in accordance to
what you have heard

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 10. Speak loudly, clearly and confidently you must project professionalism at all times
11. If you do not know the interpretation for a word or expression, make your best educated guess
12. When an idiomatic expression is utilized, then you must provide the equivalent expression to convey the
meaning and not explain the expression.
13. Interpret all fillers all filler words utilized by the speaker, such as well you know ok, they must
all be interpreted with equivalent filler word
14. Remember in what language you heard the source information so that you may go into the correct target
language when interpreting.
15. Remember the gender of all speakers this a must when going in to Spanish
16. Follow the story remember everything that has transpired in the story so that you may provide a better
interpretation of up-coming events. ( this includes terms used)
17. Interpret all profanity do not use more bland terms (euphemisms) for vulgarisms
18. Do not do any conversions when answers are provided in pesos or kilos or the 24 hour clock is used,
they will be interpreted in just the same fashion and not converted
19. You must wait at least two complete seconds before commencing your interpretation. You must begin yr
interpretation no more than seven seconds after the speaker has finished the question or the answer
20. You may ask for repetitions you will state, May the interpreter have repetition, please
21. No Spanglish is allowed. You may not say
22. Concentrate 100%. Visualize the message. Sound self-assured and poised
16. How to Become a Professional Translator and Interpreter
1. Get the right education and qualifications
Get a degree or a combination of degrees in translation/interpretation studies, foreign languages,
linguistics, comparative literature, or intercultural communication and all the qualifications and training
necessary.
2. Gain experience
This involves interning with an office or an organization or simply freelancing.
3. Join a local or national professional translation/interpretation society
Such organizations exist all over the world and serve as a means of providing proper certification
as well as professional development opportunities.
4. Choose an area of activity
Different careers require different things. If you do not want to freelance, you will need to get
signed with an agency, a translation office, publishing house, a large business or an organization, such as
the UN or EU.

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 5. Choose an area of specialization
Many translators only translate and many interpreters only interpret. Each field further more has
specialized sub-fields: technical translation, certified translation, film translation, literary translation,
simultaneous interpreting, court interpreting, medical interpreting, etc. Go with what you're good at. If
you have a degree in physics and German for instance, you may want to specialize in translating German
scientific texts, etc.
6. Get people to know you and get to know people
You need people to know your name in connection with the business you work in. Begin with
your friends and family, tell them you are in the business and have them recommend you to other people.
Also, get some advertisement if you can afford it.
7. Be quick and effective.
To succeed, you need to work fast, yet provide high quality services.
8. Be professional.
Always be professional to your clients and co-workers. You do not want to gain a bad reputation.
Never accept jobs you are not qualified for or accept too many jobs at the same time and always keep
your deadlines.
9. Work hard. Just like in any other business, you have to work really hard to succeed
To become really successful, you might (and probably will) have to work nights, weekends and
holidays
10. Practice
When you're not working on a contract or at a conference, exercise your translation and/or
interpretation skills for fun by rendering things like news broadcasts, news articles, short stories, etc.
11. Maintain your languages. Human language is a very fluid and constantly evolving entity
Travel to the countries/regions where your languages are spoken, watch films and soap operas,
befriend native speakers, read comic strips, newspapers, and novels etc. Interpreters in particular have to
be conscious of a language's dialects and different registers of speech. Also apply for a job that has
interpreters and translation.
Translation and interpretation also require the ability to accurately express information in the
target language. Word for word translation is neither accurate nor desirable, and a good
translator/interpreter knows how to express the source text or speech so that it sounds natural in the target
language. The best translation is one that you don't realize is a translation, because it sounds just like it
would if it had been written in that language to begin with. Translators and interpreters nearly always

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work into their native language, because it's too easy for a non-native speaker to write or speak in a way
that just doesn't sound quite right to native speakers.
Using unqualified translators will leave you with poor-quality translations with mistakes ranging
from poor grammar and awkward phrasing to nonsensical or inaccurate information.
And finally, translators and interpreters need to understand the cultures of both the source and target
languages, in order to be able to adapt the language to the appropriate culture.
In short, the simple fact of speaking two or more languages does not necessarily make a good
translator or interpreter - there's a lot more to it. It is in your best interest to find someone who is qualified
and certified. A certified translator or interpreter will cost more, but if your business needs a good
product, it is well worth the expense. Contact a translation/interpretation organization for a list of
potential candidates.

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Reference
https://www.thoughtco.com/introduction-to-translation-and-interpretation-
1364670http://www.languagescientific.com/the-difference-between-translation-and-interpreting/
http://www.academia.edu/8817262/CONSECUTIVE_INTERPRETING_RULES_1
www.wefindhelp.com

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