What exactly is interpreting? Part II

Why isn’t interpreting simply a one-to-one transfer of words from one language to another?

To ensure that seamless and accurate communication across languages takes place interpreters require not only excellent language skills, but they have to quickly analyse and understand how to transfer the meaning, tone and intent of the message from one language to the other. Jumping in register from one language where formality and status is coded into the language to another where first names and informality is expected can be challenging.

Different systems of logic and grammatical rules

Languages have different systems of logic and grammatical rules. One language (English) may have a “subject verb object” structure, another (Japanese) a subject object verb structure. Certain phrases and idioms are not directly translatable as they may historically stem from different contexts, and to convey their content may actually mean that a longer explanation is required. Some languages require more words to say the same thing. German and English are roughly a 1:1 mixture, but when going from German to Italian there may be up to 30% more words needed. Some languages have specific linguistic forms for males and females and others may actually have completely different sounds that have no equivalent. The interpreter also needs to know the socio-cultural context and, or read between the lines in order to decode meaning.

Interpretation requires a high level of skill and concentration

In end effect, communication is a highly complex process not only involving how something is said in words, but it is embedded in a wider context. How the interpreter comprehends and analyses what someone else means and how these thoughts and content are encoded before being transferred into a second language requires a high level of skill and concentration. Professional interpreters are able to transfer the appropriately changed socio-cultural linguistic content from the source language to the target audience without losing any of the original intent or meaning.

And, what is the future of interpreting?

Technical progress does not stop at interpreting either. Although there are increasing numbers of technological solutions offering alternatives to human interpreters, we still need real people doing the work if high quality and accuracy are required. Communication between humans is, after all, somewhat complex.