| There are many possible nightmare scenarios in the | | | | us saw it here at the UN and it was very |
| life of an interpreter. Our interpreters at are supplied | | | | unfortunate for him," he said, "I think he was working |
| with an interpreting code of conduct to help them | | | | under very difficult conditions." |
| deal with some of the possible situations they might | | | | Incidents like this only serve to show just how taxing |
| find themselves facing. Refusing bribes, conflicts of | | | | simultaneous interpreting work can be at such |
| interest, confidentiality and impartiality are all in a | | | | high-profile events. Not only do simultaneous |
| day's work. But what do you do when the person | | | | interpreters have to think very quickly and translate |
| you are interpreting for just can't stop talking? | | | | at the same pace as the natural speech of the |
| Sometimes delegates at United Nations conferences | | | | person delivering the address, but they also have to |
| speak well beyond the expected 15 minutes or so, | | | | be meticulous as to the accuracy of the content of |
| with Cuba's Fidel Castro once delivering a four-hour | | | | their translation. Simultaneous interpreters say that |
| speech and an Indian politician, VK Krishna Menon, | | | | the mental effort of this kind of work takes its toll |
| managing a staggering eight hours on the podium. | | | | on them physically and can be very exhausting, |
| Libya's Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who uses a | | | | particularly when following a very long speech. |
| personal interpreter rather than taking advantage of | | | | Interpreters get around the problem of dealing with |
| a professional simultaneous interpreter, gave a 96 | | | | longer addresses by working in pairs, with the rule of |
| minute speech at last year's General Assembly that | | | | thumb being that they interpret simultaneously for |
| proved to be too much for Mr Fouad Zlitni. | | | | half an hour each, after which time it becomes harder |
| The New York Times reported the interpreter as | | | | to concentrate and the translation may start to |
| saying that he just couldn't take it any more. Angelo | | | | suffer in quality. Working for half an hour at a time |
| Macri, who is a simultaneous interpreter for the BBC | | | | with a half-hour break in between stints helps to |
| World Service, witnessed what happened. "Some of | | | | keep interpreters fresh and focussed. |