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The value of interpreters

The recent complaint about the interpreter by Mrs Hilary Clinton on her African tour highlights the dangers of not using well known, independent and experienced professional interpreters.

Like other professionals, they should be contacted directly. Would you go to an employment agency to find a good doctor, lawyer or accountant or do you try to find a professional with a good reputation? Do you want the best specialist or are you just looking for the lowest fee to save a few hundred rand when you are spending so much money on less essential aspects of your conference? Do you check credentials?

Most of the problems in the field of conference interpreting are due to the fact that professional and other conference organisers do not understand what interpreters do and how they work, the importance of using trained and/or experienced interpreters and sound providers and, most importantly - where and how to find these interpreters and the sound providers recommended by these interpreters.

The ability to speak two or more languages does not mean that one can interpret. Simultaneous interpreting is a complex neurological process and many skilled translators will not even attempt to interpret. A good conference interpreter must have the required verbal and mental agility, the ability to multitask and to handle stress and a good memory as well as an in depth knowledge of two languages.

There are points to watch so that you can avoid expensive mistakes that will waste money, adversely affect your credibility and cause you to lose work. The entire conference and tourism industry will suffer as visitors go away with the impression that South Africa cannot handle international conferences properly. This is not surprising when people who have never interpreted before claim that they can or want to interpret and then land up trying to do so and when equipment and sound levels are not properly monitored or are not used correctly because the sound provider is not present or does not really know what is required. South Africa has some very good, reputable interpreters and sound providers.

You need to know where to find accredited and experienced interpreters. There is no compulsory examination. Membership of a professional organisation is no guarantee of standard or ability and only means that the member has paid his or her membership fee.

The Translators and Interpreters Networks of Southern Africa, TINSA (www.interpreter.org.za) is a reputable, not for profit, professional interpreter organisation in Southern Africa. Its mission is to set standards and to educate clients on what interpreters and translators do, how they work and how to work with them. The South African Translators Institute, SATI (www.translators.org.za) is a not for profit, professional and reputable organisation that also accredits simultaneous conference interpreters and translators by means of a voluntary examination.

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