Misconceptions about Interpreting
Misconception #1: Anyone who is bilingual can be an interpreter.
Fact: In order to interpret, one must be fluent in two or more languages and have specialized knowledge concerning the consumers, their cultural, linguistic environment, and the physical environment in which one is interpreting. Interpreting takes special training beyond being fluent in two languages, including being familiar with codes of ethics in practice, maintaining a professional demeanor, knowing how to handle challenging circumstances, and continuing to stay informed about current topics and language in the field.
Misconception #2: Interpreting is simply changing one language to another.
* 'The Process of Interpreting: While maintaining awareness of environmental factors, the interpreter takes in the source language utterance. Lexical and semantic units are grouped into workable units or “chunks (in a process referred to as “segmentation”) and held until the interpreter has enough input to make sense or find meaning in what is being said or signed. The “chunk” is analyzed to identify the speaker’s intent, the goal s/he seeks to accomplish, explicit and implied ideas, and the multitude of contextual factors that “color” or influence the meaning of the source language utterance in that particular situation. There is the conscious and deliberate discarding of source language lexical units and communication behaviors. A mental note is made of the schema and experiential frame brought by both English-speaking/hearing and Non-English speaking/Deaf consumers and a search is made for equivalents of cultural norms, as well as cultural overlays of meaning. A search is made of the target language to identify lexical/semantic units and communication behaviors that can be used to produce an utterance in the target language conveying equivalent meaning, while maintaining the communication dynamics.'
* Excerpt from: “So You Want to be an Interpreter?” by Janice H. Humphrey and Bob J. Alcorn, 2001 H&H Publishing Company, Inc. Seattle, WA
Fact: In order to interpret, one must be fluent in two or more languages and have specialized knowledge concerning the consumers, their cultural, linguistic environment, and the physical environment in which one is interpreting. Interpreting takes special training beyond being fluent in two languages, including being familiar with codes of ethics in practice, maintaining a professional demeanor, knowing how to handle challenging circumstances, and continuing to stay informed about current topics and language in the field.
Misconception #2: Interpreting is simply changing one language to another.
* 'The Process of Interpreting: While maintaining awareness of environmental factors, the interpreter takes in the source language utterance. Lexical and semantic units are grouped into workable units or “chunks (in a process referred to as “segmentation”) and held until the interpreter has enough input to make sense or find meaning in what is being said or signed. The “chunk” is analyzed to identify the speaker’s intent, the goal s/he seeks to accomplish, explicit and implied ideas, and the multitude of contextual factors that “color” or influence the meaning of the source language utterance in that particular situation. There is the conscious and deliberate discarding of source language lexical units and communication behaviors. A mental note is made of the schema and experiential frame brought by both English-speaking/hearing and Non-English speaking/Deaf consumers and a search is made for equivalents of cultural norms, as well as cultural overlays of meaning. A search is made of the target language to identify lexical/semantic units and communication behaviors that can be used to produce an utterance in the target language conveying equivalent meaning, while maintaining the communication dynamics.'
* Excerpt from: “So You Want to be an Interpreter?” by Janice H. Humphrey and Bob J. Alcorn, 2001 H&H Publishing Company, Inc. Seattle, WA