Interpreters enable cross-cultural communication by converting one language into another. However, they do more than simply translate words; they relay concepts and ideas between languages, being sensitive to the cultures associated with the languages of expertise.
Being an interpreter is enriching and stimulating but can also be challenging and stressful at times. We always appreciate the moment when, at the end of a conference, the host and speakers acknowledge and thank the interpreters for their contribution : )
Here are some quotes from famous, and not so famous, people about interpreters:
“Ironically, the one person essential to have in the room may not be an official advisor at all, but your interpreter.” (Madeleine Albright)
“Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” (Corinthians 14:13)
“Interpreters are linguistic acrobats constantly walking on a tightrope.” (Jean Delisle)
“Translation is not a matter of words only: it is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture.” (Anthony Burgess)
“If I render word for word, the result will sound uncouth (strange), and if compelled by necessity I alter anything in the order or wording, I shall seem to have departed from the function of a translator.” (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
“What I very much admire in interpreters is their unending curiosity, their boundless thirst for knowledge and their almost painful precision of their work. But without a doubt all interpreters love talking. That certainly seems to be linked with the profession.” (David Bernet)
“Translators live off the differences between languages, all the while working toward eliminating them.” (Edmond Cary)
“Simultaneous interpretation is like driving a car that has a steering wheel but no brakes and no reverse.” (Preter Pyotr Avaliani)