3 hacks To Become A Better Interpreter

Summary

In this video, Austine Delamora shares three practical hacks to enhance performance as an interpreter in any field. The first hack emphasizes the importance of recording yourself to self-evaluate and improve. The second focuses on better comprehension by ensuring you're ready to interpret before attempting to convey the target language. The third hack advises against focusing solely on word-for-word translation and instead encourages interpreting meaning to achieve legal equivalence. Austine also invites viewers to join an upcoming training for court interpreters starting April 1st, specifically for languages other than Spanish.

Takeaways

• 😀 Record yourself to get honest feedback and track your progress.
• 😀 Recording yourself allows you to reflect on your performance and identify areas of improvement.
• 😀 Relying on others' feedback can sometimes lead to insincerity or vague comments.
• 😀 Comprehension can be improved by fully understanding the message in the source language before attempting to interpret.
• 😀 Don’t rush to the target language until you have completely grasped the message in the source language.
• 😀 Incomplete comprehension is a common issue for interpreters and can affect the quality of their performance.
• 😀 There is no one-to-one equivalence between words in different languages.
• 😀 As interpreters, focus on conveying meaning rather than translating words directly.
• 😀 Legal equivalence is more important than word-for-word translation in interpretation.
• 😀 Interpretation should be focused on the overall message, not just individual words.
• 😀 Join specialized training for court interpreters to improve your skills, especially for languages other than Spanish.

Q & A

Why is recording yourself considered an important hack for interpreters?

Recording yourself allows you to review your performance, identify areas for improvement, and gain insights into how you deliver your interpretation. It provides objective feedback that others might not offer, such as specific details on what you said and how you said it.

How can feedback from others affect an interpreter's improvement?

Feedback from others can be insincere or vague. People might either exaggerate praise or fail to pinpoint what exactly went wrong in the interpretation. Recording yourself ensures that you get accurate and actionable feedback based on your actual performance.

What is the primary challenge in comprehension for interpreters?

One of the biggest challenges is incomplete comprehension, which often occurs when interpreters try to interpret the message before fully understanding it in the source language. This can lead to errors and misinterpretations.

What is the recommended approach to improve comprehension while interpreting?

The recommended approach is to focus on fully understanding the message in the source language before attempting to interpret it into the target language. This ensures a clearer and more accurate interpretation.

What is the common issue when interpreters claim they don't have the equivalent word in their language?

Interpreters often assume there is a one-to-one word equivalence between languages, but this is not always the case. This misconception can hinder accurate interpretation.

What is the key difference between interpreting words and interpreting meaning?

Interpreting meaning focuses on conveying the intended message, rather than translating individual words. Interpreters need to consider context, tone, and cultural nuances to ensure the message is accurately conveyed.

Why is it important for interpreters to understand the legal equivalent in their work?

Interpreters, especially in legal settings, need to focus on conveying the meaning of a message rather than finding exact word-for-word equivalents. Legal equivalence ensures that the message is accurate and comprehensible in the target language.

What is the role of an interpreter in terms of language equivalence?

An interpreter's role is not to directly translate words but to interpret meaning. They need to understand the essence of the message and convey it in a way that makes sense in the target language, including finding legal or cultural equivalents when necessary.

How does the message in the source language influence the target language interpretation?

The source language message serves as the foundation for the interpretation. If the interpreter doesn't fully grasp the meaning in the source language, the interpretation in the target language will be incomplete or inaccurate.

What is the significance of the training for court interpreters starting April 1st?

The training offers an opportunity to enhance skills for interpreters working in court settings. It's a chance for interpreters to learn how to do their job correctly and efficiently, with a focus on languages other than Spanish.