We are not only translators!

Translation is the common word people usually use to describe the profession that transfers one language into another; and a translator is someone who works in this profession. However, the categorization is more delicate than that.

1. Simultaneous interpreting/conference interpreting:

When it comes to this topic about translation, one usually thinks of grand scale international conferences like the UN’s conferences, the G8 summit and many others where more than one country participates and many languages are used. This kind of translation is called simultaneous interpreting or conference interpreting/interpretation. According to the name it is not difficult to imagine that a simultaneous interpreter interprets from one language into another exactly the same time as the speaker speaks. Every two interpreters are allocated a soundproof booth according to the languages they speak. They, in most cases, interpret from a foreign language into their mother tongue and seldom vice versa, except for Chinese interpreters who have to interpret in both ways, because not many non-natives speak Chinese. However, this situation is changing as China begins to play a more and more important role in the global community and more people are attracted to Chinese culture and language. Nowadays many UK universities have Chinese studies and translation/interpretation studies in Chinese language with other languages. So now you can see more white interpreters in international conferences speaking Chinese. In each booth a remote signal emitter will transfer the interpreters’ voice through a certain channel to the audience whose receivers have been adjusted to this channel. An interpreter, by using the equipment, can choose either to listen to the conference speaker or to other interpreters. The second situation happens when the interpreter does not understand the speaker’s language, which, however, is interpreted by another interpreter into a language s/he is capable of; or when the interpreter has missed a part from the speaker and s/he listens to other interpretations to make it up. Two interpreters take turns on the basis of 15 to 20 minutes to ensure production quality due to the high workload. Simultaneous interpreters are considered highly in this profession for their extraordinary mastery of more than one language. And their payment is also comparable to other highly paid professions. However, only a few in the profession of interpretation and translation are qualified simultaneous interpreters.

2. Consecutive interpreting/interpretation

Another oral translation is consecutive interpreting for which the interpreter listens to the speaker, takes notes when necessary, and interprets within a slot after the speaker finishes a certain chunk of the speech. This is the most used method in various occasions. Governments and companies would rather choose consecutive interpreter rather than simultaneous interpreter if time is not the prior concern, because it is far less costly and easy to manage (there are no special requirements for equipment). A lot of interpreters are working at this level and contributing significantly to the international communications.

3. Translation

This is rather a discursive term as discussed at the very beginning used to describe all the professionals that work with transferring one language into another. In fact a translator is one who translates in written form. A larger number of professionals work as translators; however, it does not mean that translators are in any way inferior to simultaneous or consecutive interpreters. Although more people are capable of translating documents or correspondence for a company, quite a few are capable of literary translation. They are usually writers or poets themselves and have very high level of understanding of both the languages and the cultures embedded within them. They are usually scholars working in universities.

These three are the major kinds of translators and interpreters that we usually have in formal international interactions. However, there are still some other kinds of translation/interpretation in use.

4. Court interpreting

This is very similar to consecutive interpreting although high priority is given to accuracy rather than the language itself. Some universities provide courses in court interpreting, although, in practice, the clients’ relatives or friends can also be qualified as a court interpreter.

5. Whispering

Whispering is a kind of simultaneous interpreting but in a much casual way. It is used usually in such occasion when a very small number of participants who do not speak the language of the events and are not actively involved but just observing, such as in a performance. The interpreter is usually employed directly by the participant but not the event organiser.

No matter what they are called, and however different their work environments are, an interpreter/translator must be well capable of understanding at least two languages. That is only the minimum requirement. As Ye Zinan based in the US Monterey Institute of International Studies once quoted another scholar: translating is not simply a matter of language but in fact a way of thinking!