Interprète - Mon métier en 2 minutes

Summary

The speaker is a bilingual interpreter with extensive experience working for ministers, international organizations, and private companies. They highlight the challenges of the profession, which requires not only fluency in multiple languages but also deep preparation and knowledge of specialized fields. The speaker shares their personal journey, from a childhood dream of working in tourism to studying languages at university. They emphasize that interpretation is more than just translation—it’s about conveying ideas accurately. A humorous anecdote adds a personal touch, reflecting the speaker’s passion and dedication to their craft.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has experience working as an independent interpreter for political meetings, international institutions, private companies, and artists.
• 😀 The speaker enjoys learning every day through their work, with each conference requiring days of preparation, especially for large-scale events like those with the United Nations.
• 😀 When working with international organizations, interpreters must understand complex international relations and technical language specific to various industries (e.g., automotive terms like 'head gasket' in English).
• 😀 At 15, the speaker's dream was to work for the Clermont-Ferrand tourist office, but their passion for languages and communication led them to pursue a degree in Applied Foreign Languages.
• 😀 The speaker's university course in interpretation provided foundational training and guidance from a professor, which solidified their interest in becoming an interpreter.
• 😀 Being bilingual (English from their father and French from their mother) has been an advantage, but the speaker emphasizes that interpretation is far more complex than simply speaking two languages.
• 😀 Interpretation requires substantial preparation, training, and practice beyond just translating words—interpreters must convey ideas effectively.
• 😀 The speaker uses various tools in their work, such as the interpretation booth and note-taking for consecutive interpretation, where the speaker talks for a few minutes, and the interpreter then restates their points.
• 😀 A humorous anecdote is shared about a mistake where the speaker accidentally spoke French in the English channel, causing discomfort among the British participants.
• 😀 Despite being bilingual, interpretation is challenging because it involves much more than direct translation; it requires the ability to convey the meaning and context of a message in real-time.

Q & A

What types of clients does the speaker work with as an independent interpreter?

The speaker works with a wide range of clients, including political ministers, international institutions (such as the United Nations), large private companies, and artists or musicians who appear in television interviews.

Why does the speaker enjoy their work as an interpreter?

The speaker enjoys the fact that they learn something new every day, as each event or conference requires different knowledge and preparation, offering constant intellectual stimulation.

What is the primary challenge of being an interpreter, according to the speaker?

The primary challenge of being an interpreter is that it’s not just about translating words but about conveying ideas accurately. This requires significant preparation, practice, and deep understanding of the subject matter.

How much preparation is required for a three-day conference, as described by the speaker?

The speaker notes that for a three-day conference, there is an equal amount of preparation required. For example, working for the United Nations means understanding the relations between different countries to interpret effectively.

What is an example of specialized knowledge an interpreter might need, based on the speaker's experience?

The speaker gives the example of the automotive sector, where an interpreter might need to know specific terms, such as how to say 'head gasket' in English.

How did the speaker’s interest in languages and communication develop?

The speaker grew up with a passion for languages, partly due to their bilingual upbringing (English father, French mother). They initially dreamed of working for the tourist office in Clermont-Ferrand but later pursued a degree in Applied Foreign Languages, which led them to a career in interpretation.

What advice did the speaker receive during their university studies?

While studying Applied Foreign Languages at university, the speaker's professor advised them to pursue a career in interpretation, which set them on the path they follow today.

How does the speaker’s bilingual background contribute to their work as an interpreter?

The speaker’s bilingual background (with an English father and a French mother) gave them a natural advantage in language skills. However, they emphasize that interpretation still requires significant practice and effort beyond simply speaking two languages.

What humorous incident does the speaker recount from their career?

The speaker humorously recalls an incident where they accidentally spoke in French in an English-language channel during a conference, leading to a brief moment of confusion as the British participants turned toward the interpretation booth with disapproving looks.

What is the role of preparation in interpretation, according to the speaker?

Preparation is crucial in interpretation. The speaker mentions that interpreters must not only understand the language but also the context and subject matter of the discussion. This is especially important in conferences where complex topics and specific vocabulary are used.