2 Interpreters Test Their Interpreting Skills (Speed Challenge) | WIRED

Interpreters Barry Slaughter Olsen and Katty Kauffman face a series of challenges to test their abilities as interpreters. Can Katty translate a text message conversation in real time? Can Barry interpret a recorded speech that continually gets faster? See if these experts in their field are truly up to the task!

Barry Slaughter Olsen is the Professor of Translation and Interpretation at Middlebury Institute of International Studies.



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2 Interpreters Test Their Interpreting Skills (Speed Challenge) | WIRED

[AA-hghh]

That text conversation with everyone speaking over each other sounds like my internal monologue at all times

[nidodson]

Seriously, props to Katty. That was pretty awesome.

[altahir]

It killed me when you could see she knew she was making mistakes, but I really admire how she plowed on and didn't beat herself up. This job looks brutal

[Heorogargon]

Dude, that lady managed to translate a Chilean and a Cuban at the same time, that's pretty hard knowing how broken Chilean spanish is, also the accent in the Cuban, good job!

[uglysquid]

It’s amazing to see the difference between the actual translation of what the speaker is saying and what the interpreter decides to interpret. The interpreter still manages to convey what is being said while keeping up with the speaker. I can’t imagine how difficult and taxing it must be to do this and this video really shows the thought and practice necessary to properly interpret.

[boringguylikeme]

As a language nerd, absolutely amazed by them! Go interpreters!

[Ericadbury]

It wasn't a competition. It was a test. Two professionals sharing two different situations. The first one gave valuable info on what to do according to the speed of the speaker and the second did also a great job interpreting fast an unknown topic and talking about her own performance. Great professionals.👏👏👏

[natfingerboard]

The thing about interpreting is that when you speak a language fluently you think in that language, you are not translating it in your mind. As a native portuguese speaker I can instantly understand what an english speaker is saying and respond to it instantly, but I have a hard time translating it to portuguese. Sometimes you even forget the words in your own language. Being able to translate in real time is a real skill. Stress also comes into play.

[milton]

Learns First Language: *Brain Activates*

Becomes Bilingual: *Eyes are opened to a new dimension*

Learns to Interpret: *Transcends and gains access to the Multiverse. Can read people’s minds*

[peetiegonzalez]

I have been in a corporate environment where we used interpreters. They were absolutely amazing. I could understand the "other" language and I was so blown away by the natural translation provided by the interpreters, despite the speed of speech and complicated nature. This is a very special skill.

[drafeirha]

The word order in English and Spanish is very similar, which makes a instant translation a lot easier compared to a language like Korean where verbs come at the very end of the sentence, so the interpreter must wait until the speaker has finished their sentence before they can even start translating.

[zuko]

I'd like to see Katty Kauffman singing Rap God.

[angieliang]

I remember my French teacher told me that when she was at UN as a student one of the French ambassadors or something was speaking crazy fast French and the interpreter couldn’t really keep up so at one point she said “I don’t have time to say it but its a joke so can all of you laugh”

I don’t blame her though this job is nuts

[sarahkate]

My only criticism is that in the beginning they call it 'normal speed'. It may be normal talking speed in English, but never in my life have I witnessed a Spanish speaker talking that slowly 😂

[torrentraisin]

This was my dream job but now I'm giving up, thanks Wired!

[NiamhCreates]

High pitched: "ARE YOU KIDDING?!" LOL

[TheGreatCooLite]

"Hola"
Interpreter: Hello.
Google Translate: *wwhsissbsudi*

[fmm]

As an interpreter myself, I love that this video showed the nitty gritty of how the job of an interpreter works! It's a rough job, but there's never a dull moment!

[indrsennin]

As a beginner interpreter, I love how the comments are positive towards interpreting. While in my job it is not uncommon for some people to underestimate how taxing it can be and how it's 'just translating'!

[aarond]

Mid-way through translating I woulda been like "Bruh relax. Am I a joke to you?"