How A Government Interpreter Helps Keep The Peace In A Chaotic World
Script:
- Effective communication is critical to diplomacy.
- However, clear communication becomes even more important to diplomatic affairs when the parties involved do not speak the same language.
- In a world dominated by major nuclear powers such as the U.S. and China, translation or interpreting errors can lead to misunderstandings that increase tensions.
- One notable error occurred during the Cold War when a line from a speech by Nikita Khrushchev was literally interpreted by Western translators as “we will bury you” rather than the more figurative “we will outlast you”.
- As a result, the U.N. goes to great lengths to find the best government interpreter candidates for their interpretation service.
- Becoming A U.N. Interpreter
- Becoming a U.N. interpreter requires calmness under pressure, speed, and fluency in at least three of the six official languages of the U.N. (Mandarin, French, Russian, English, Arabic and Spanish).
- To ensure fast and accurate translation, interpreters use a relay system to quickly transform a speaker’s remarks into each of the official languages. Under this system, 12 interpreters in 6 booths (for each official language) work in tandem.
- For instance, if a U.N. delegate is delivering a speech in Arabic, a government interpreter fluent in Arabic will translate the speech into English for other interpreters who specialize in the other official languages of the U.N.
- This task can prove difficult for even the most experienced translators, especially when world leaders fail to speak in one of the official languages.
- Interpreter Shortages
- Understandably, the U.N. interpretation service is highly selective when it comes to hiring new interpreters.
- in 2009, only 10 out of 1,800 candidates for Chinese interpretation passed the U.N. language examination.
- In spite of the Service’s selectivity, in recent years, the U.N. has introduced new hiring initiatives to find interpreters fluent in critical languages such as Arabic, as many long-time U.N. interpreters have reached retirement age.
- Currently, the U.N. interpretation service employs 120 interpreters out of its total staff of 460 people.
- Clearly, the U.N. Interpretation Service provides a crucial function for humanity by demonstrating the importance of language to maintaining civil international relations between countries.
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