Interpreter Breaks Down How Real-Time Translation Works | WIRED

Conference interpreter Barry Slaughter Olsen explains what it's really like to be a professional interpreter. Barry goes behind the scenes of his vocation, breaking down the many real-life scenarios he faces on a day-to-day basis. From simultaneous and consecutive interpretation to chuchotage and décalage, take a peek behind what it really takes to be a professional interpreter.

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


Footage of Muammar Gaddafi at the 64th General Assembly provided by the United Nations. (The views in the film are not those of the United Nations).

Conference Earpiece courtesy of Conference Rental.


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Interpreter Breaks Down How Real-Time Translation Works | WIRED

[fsf]

Doctors after seeing the interpreter's notes: Finally a worthy opponent!

[guyyouseewhenyoudie]

The note-taking part was fascinating to me

[mattnorman]

Title should be: Interpreter interprets interpreters interpretation

[Trillyana]

As someone who has studied many languages over the years, I legitimately don't understand how someone could handle being an interpreter. It's like wizardry to me.

[Lildizzle]

if someone said the joke is untranslatable please laugh now, I would genuinely find that funny and laugh

[cen]

"The speaker has shared a joke. It is untranslatable, please laugh now."
Something I'd probably do 😂😂

[Juliett_Novak]

These people have impressive brain skills... How can you freakin remember all they said / take notes / and suddenly start making a resume in another language on this? Crazy!

[cactusmom]

the actors and interpreters in this actually did such a good job!! super funny and entertaining while also being accurate and informative! well done

[boh]

"The speaker has shared an untranslatable joke please laugh now"
Is actually pretty funny.

[andiniwirawan]

"Please laugh... She just tell a joke"

My mom to my relatives

[gabeitch]

When your interpreter is secretly against you:

Diplomat: ‘’We are slowly losing large amounts of money and having such a difficult time”
Interpreter: “They told a joke please laugh now’’
Other Diplomat: LOL nice one fam

[mikegillert]

As someone who has bad short term memory and not fluent in any other language... this is beyond impressive and very stressful to watch at the same time lol.

[errorblah]

That seems like a super high stress job, especially if your boss is a ruthless dictator

[a.human.]

When you're a bilingual kid, and you translate real time for your parents everywhere

[SM-tucn]

Do Interpreters get into arguments between themselves for not translating correctly??? 🤔🤔🤔

[nicolascassie]

"Chuchotage.. meaning whispering in French"

Me being french and forgetting it's an English video - "Yeah I know"

[TheRealDrWho]

Anyone can be bilingual, but translating is a real talent!👑

[owenlo]

These interpreters deserve to be well paid. After all, interpretation is never an easy job.

Edit: thank you for 10k likes

[theofficialstig]

I have a friend who is an interpreter and fluent in seven languages, works at the UN, EU, WHO etc. and he has travelled the world alone
he's a fascinating man, he's also blind which makes it even more impressive, I'm not sure how he does note taking but he has an incredible memory.

[darenallisonyoung]

After five years overseas, I had a reasonable level of fluency in my second language (German). I received compliments on a regular basis. All the literature, TV, films, and music I consumed were in German. I often dreamed in German, even.

So, when we had American visitors for a large meeting with several German speakers presenting, I was happy to be asked to translate the talks for the visitors. Rarely have I been so embarrassed. There were so many idioms used by the speakers! I understood the majority of these idioms, but was completely unable to translate them on the fly. And yes, after about half of an hour (as noted in the video) I was completely exhausted. All I could do was apologize profusely to the visitors. They were very kind about it, but I never forgot that speaking two languages fluently and real-time translation between them were two extraordinarily different things.