Interpreters and Translators Making a Difference

American Translators Association

29 Jun 201903:08

Summary

TLDRThe speaker, a bilingual individual, shares their journey as a translator and interpreter, highlighting the challenges and joys of the profession. They recount working on a telephone app, creating new terms now used by millions, and the profound experience of aiding asylum seekers in Greece. As a court interpreter, they emphasize the critical role they play in people's lives. The speaker also discusses the variety of projects, from subtitling commercials to working remotely, and the high ethical standards they uphold. They conclude by stressing the importance of language proficiency in global communication.

Takeaways

🌐 The speaker grew up in a bilingual household, which fostered an appreciation for languages and led to a career in translation and interpretation.
🏨 Specializing in tourism and hospitality, the speaker's early experiences traveling with their parents influenced their career path.
💻 A significant project involved creating new terms for a telephone app, impacting millions of German users.
🌍 The speaker worked as an interpreter for asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos in Greece, which was both challenging and rewarding.
🏛️ As a court interpreter, the speaker takes their role very seriously, understanding the impact they have on people's lives.
📺 A memorable translation project was subtitling adult diaper commercials, which was both interesting and led to humorous targeted ads.
📚 The speaker finds the work of translators and interpreters remarkable and believes in upholding high ethical and professional standards.
🏡 Living in a remote area, the speaker enjoys the flexibility of working from home and being their own boss.
🗣️ There is a common misconception among people in the speaker's area about the difference between translators and interpreters.
🌐 The speaker emphasizes the importance of being able to communicate in another person's language in today's globalized world.

Q & A

What is the speaker's background in terms of language and upbringing?
-The speaker grew up in a bilingual household where languages were appreciated and cultivated.
What led the speaker to specialize in tourism and hospitality?
-The speaker's extensive travel experiences with their parents influenced their decision to specialize in tourism and hospitality.
What was one of the speaker's most enjoyable translation projects?
-One of the most enjoyable projects was creating terms for a telephone app, which are now used by millions of Germans.
Can you describe a challenging and worthwhile interpreting project the speaker worked on?
-The speaker found working with asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos in Greece to be a challenging and worthwhile interpreting project.
What is the speaker's role as a court interpreter?
-As a court interpreter, the speaker sees their job as critical, holding people's fates in their hands.
What was an unusual and interesting translation project the speaker worked on recently?
-The speaker recently worked on subtitling adult diaper commercials, which was an unusual and interesting project.
How does the speaker feel about the profession of translation and interpretation?
-The speaker finds the profession of translation and interpretation interesting and never dull, as it always involves learning something new.
What does the speaker think about the daily work of translators and interpreters?
-The speaker believes that the daily work of translators and interpreters is remarkable and holds themselves and others to high ethical and professional standards.
Where does the speaker live and how do people react when they learn about the speaker's profession?
-The speaker lives in a remote area in Oregon, and people are often surprised to learn about the speaker's profession as a translator and interpreter.
What is the common misconception people have about the speaker's profession?
-People often mistakenly assume that the speaker must be traveling all the time, confusing the roles of translators and interpreters.
How does the speaker describe the work environment for translators and interpreters?
-The speaker describes the work environment as flexible, allowing them to work from home, set their own hours, and be their own boss.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Language Enthusiast's Journey

The speaker, raised in a bilingual household, developed a passion for languages early on. They pursued a career in translation and interpretation, focusing on tourism and hospitality due to their love for travel. They found the work challenging yet enjoyable, especially when creating new terms for a telephone app that millions of Germans now use. They also highlighted the importance and difficulty of their work as a court interpreter, emphasizing the ethical and professional standards they uphold.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Bilingual

Bilingual refers to the ability to speak and understand two languages fluently. In the context of the video, the speaker grew up in a bilingual household, which is a significant factor in their career choice as a translator and interpreter. The appreciation and cultivation of languages in their home environment laid the foundation for their expertise in translation and interpretation.

💡Translation

Translation is the process of converting text or speech from one language to another. The video script mentions that the speaker initially thought they could do translation work because they speak two languages. It's a core part of their profession, and the speaker shares an example of creating new terms for a telephone app, which millions of Germans now use.

💡Interpretation

Interpretation, particularly in the context of languages, involves the conversion of spoken or signed language into another language, often in real-time. The speaker specialized in tourism and hospitality, which likely required interpretation skills. They also mention working as a court interpreter, highlighting the critical role interpreters play in legal settings.

💡Hospitality

Hospitality refers to the reception and treatment of guests, particularly in the context of the travel and tourism industry. The speaker's specialization in this area suggests that they have expertise in translating and interpreting within this industry, which often requires clear and effective communication with international guests.

💡Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers are individuals who seek international protection and arrive in a country where they seek asylum. The script mentions the speaker's work with asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos in Greece, illustrating the humanitarian aspect of translation and interpretation work, where language skills can be crucial in assisting vulnerable populations.

💡Court Interpreter

A court interpreter is a professional who provides interpretation services in legal settings, ensuring that non-English speakers can understand and participate in legal proceedings. The speaker describes their role as critical, indicating the high ethical and professional standards required in this field, as they hold the power to influence the outcomes of legal cases.

💡Subtitling

Subtitling is the process of adding written text to video content, typically for the hearing-impaired or for translation purposes. The speaker mentions a project where they subtitled adult diaper commercials, which not only showcases the diversity of translation work but also the unexpected learning experiences that can come with it.

💡Ethical Standard

Ethical standards are principles of conduct that guide behavior in a profession. The speaker holds themselves and their colleagues to a high ethical standard, emphasizing the importance of integrity and professionalism in translation and interpretation work. This is particularly relevant given the significant impact their work can have on people's lives.

💡ATA

ATA likely refers to the American Translators Association, a professional organization that supports and upholds standards for translators and interpreters. The speaker mentions ATA in the context of raising the bar, suggesting that they value the organization's role in maintaining high professional standards within the industry.

💡Interpreter vs. Translator

The distinction between an interpreter and a translator is highlighted in the script, with the speaker clarifying that interpreters work with spoken language in real-time, while translators work with written text. The speaker identifies more as an interpreter, preferring to work in the field rather than behind a computer, which underscores the different skill sets and work environments within the language profession.

💡Remote Work

Remote work refers to the ability to perform one's job from a location other than a traditional office, often using digital tools to communicate and collaborate. The speaker lives in a remote area and works from home, setting their own hours and being their own boss. This aspect of the video emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of language professionals in the digital age.

Highlights

Growing up in a bilingual household, the speaker had a natural affinity for languages.

Specialized in tourism and hospitality due to a childhood filled with travel.

Found translation and interpretation to be a natural fit due to speaking two languages.

Worked on a challenging and fun project for a telephone app, creating new terms.

Terms created for the app are now used by millions of Germans.

Interpreted for asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos in Greece, a rewarding yet difficult experience.

As a court interpreter, the speaker feels a critical responsibility in their role.

Subtitling adult diaper commercials was an interesting and educational project.

The speaker finds the work of translators and interpreters to be remarkable and never dull.

Holds themselves and fellow interpreters and translators to a high ethical and professional standard.

Lives in a remote area of Oregon and often surprises people with their profession as a translator.

People often confuse translators with interpreters, not realizing the difference.

Prefers interpreting over translating and enjoys working in the field more than behind a computer.

Works from home, setting their own hours, and being their own boss, which is seen as cool by others.

Effective communication in another's language is essential in today's globalized world.