5 Sprachen fließend: Ein Einblick in den Arbeitsalltag einer EU-Dolmetscherin

Summary

In this insightful video, Katharina von Aufschneider, a 34-year-old interpreter from South Tyrol, shares her experiences working in Brussels. She discusses the complexities of interpreting at press conferences in multiple languages, including the challenges of emotional speeches and the need for neutrality. Katharina emphasizes the importance of context and understanding beyond mere words, highlighting the pressures of her role. As she navigates various situations, she also reflects on the responsibilities and nuances of being an interpreter in a diverse international setting, showcasing the vital role interpreters play in facilitating communication within the EU.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Katharina, a 34-year-old interpreter from South Tyrol, shares insights into her challenging profession in Brussels.
• 💬 She translates speeches in real-time for various clients, including government ministers, across multiple languages.
• ⏳ Time is of the essence as she prepares just minutes before a press conference starts.
• 📑 Preparation involves reviewing written speeches, but improvisation is often necessary due to unpredictable live discussions.
• 😤 Handling emotional speeches, like those related to the Ukraine war, can be particularly challenging for interpreters.
• 🤝 Interpreters must convey not only words but also emotions, maintaining neutrality without injecting personal opinions.
• 🔄 Katharina regularly switches between languages and topics, requiring intense focus and concentration.
• 📉 Poor audio quality and technical issues with international journalists add complexity to her job.
• 🙃 Despite challenges, she finds humor in mistakes, acknowledging that errors can have significant impacts.
• 🔍 AI may assist in translation, but human interpreters bring essential context and emotional understanding that technology lacks.

Q & A

Who is Katharina von Aufschneiter?

Katharina von Aufschneiter is a 34-year-old interpreter from South Tyrol, currently working in Brussels.

What are the main responsibilities of Katharina's job as an interpreter?

Her main responsibilities include translating speeches in real-time from multiple languages into German during conferences.

What challenges does Katharina face in her role?

She faces challenges such as dealing with emotional speeches, improvising during unexpected situations, and understanding speakers with varying levels of English proficiency.

How does Katharina prepare for her interpreting tasks?

She reviews written speeches provided before the conference, but also needs to be ready for spontaneous changes during the actual event.

What is required for interpreters besides language skills?

Interpreters must also possess the ability to understand context, emotions, and the subtleties of communication to convey messages accurately.

How does Katharina handle emotionally charged speeches?

While she empathizes with the content, she tries to maintain a level of emotional distance to deliver the translation effectively.

What is one notable mistake mentioned in the transcript?

A memorable mistake involved a colleague confusing Austria with a phrase that sounded similar in French, leading to a humorous but embarrassing situation.

How does Katharina manage her focus during long sessions?

She and her colleagues switch roles every 20 to 30 minutes to maintain concentration and effectiveness.

Why does Katharina believe AI cannot fully replace interpreters?

She argues that interpreters bring essential contextual understanding and the ability to read body language, which AI lacks.

What does Katharina do to unwind after a demanding session?

She takes time to decompress after the session by reflecting on the day and preparing for the next one.