Narratives of early American history often focus on the exploits of great heroes such as George Washington and Lewis and Clark. However, few historians have explored the role that interpretation services played in the creation and development of the American continent. Interpreters helped bridge linguistic divides and served as key facilitators of negotiations between different cultures. Despite this fact, interpreters also participated in many unsavory episodes of American history. Here are the stories of just some of the many characters who, despite their flaws, helped forge a nation.
Backwoods Translators
Being a professional translator in the American wilderness was an incredibly important job. Given the language differences between colonists and natives, professional translators were instrumental to establishing harmonious relations with native groups– an essential aspect to building an empire. France was perhaps the first colonial power to realize this fact. In contrast to other great powers during the 16 – 17th centuries that used conquest as a means of imperial expansion, the French colonial system relied upon a system of agreements and trade relations with Native American groups to form their empire. This system required exemplary global translation services. Therefore, French colonizers made a point to provide language training in native languages to colonists (usually by sending them to live amongst the natives) in order to create a corps of professional interpreters who were often stationed at French trading posts to facilitate the trading of beaver pelts. The British also recognized the importance of interpretation to the building of their own empire. As brilliantly acknowledged by Yasuhide Kawashima in his article, “Forest Diplomats: The Role of Interpreters in Indian-White Relations on the Early American Frontier,” in contrast to the French, the British used translators to provide conference interpretation services during negotiations of mutual defense agreements with native tribes. As a result, the British were able to create a system of alliances with powerful native groups such as the Iroquois Confederacy that proved especially useful during both the French and Indian Wars and the American Revolution.
Interpretation Services and Slavery
Yet interpreters also played a role in the terrible practice of slavery. The African slave trade began in the 15th century during the Portuguese exploration and conquest of the West African coast. After spending time in Portugal, some slaves were able to learn Portuguese and become professional translators, a position which often found them participating in the enslavement of their own people. Britain merchants also employed a number of interpreters as the slave trade continued into the 18th century. These interpreters were so valuable that numerous letters of recommendation were required in order to be hired as an interpreter. African tribes also employed interpreters, who provided conference interpreting for meetings with European merchants in order to negotiate the sale of slaves. Clearly, although professional interpreters often participated in some of the most terrible events in American history, they nevertheless played a key role in the development of the North American continent.
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