It is common to confuse
the work of a translator and an , after all, both work
with the transmission of ideas from one language to another. However,
the way this translation work is performed is
quite different.
Read also: Do you know what an interpreter does?
Interpreters work with
oral translation or sign language and their work can be face-to-face or remote
(with the help of communication technologies). They are usually present at
conferences with foreign speakers, business meetings and government events,
such as the visit of rulers and dignitaries from other countries.
Recently, the presence of
interpreters of sign languages in shows has given more visibility to the
profession and led more inclusion to these events. As has been the case
of the interpreter of ASL(American Sign Language)
and Amber Galloway Gallego, whogives a real show with
his interpretations of famous rappers .
Despite increased
visibility into the profession, interpreters are not often reminded among emergency
professionals in a crisis situation, such as the Syrian War or the U.S.
migration crisis, for example. They have a key role in ensuring that the
population in need of assistance can understand and communicate with doctors,
nurses, soldiers, lawyers and social workers.
Considering the example of
the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the country was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake on
the Richter scale, which caused the mass destruction of homes and buildings and
resulted in the loss of more than 200,000 Lives. Soon after the
disaster, the country received volunteers from around the world, including from
the United States and Latin America. However, as haiti's two official
languages are Creole and French, and many volunteers did not speak any of these
languages, it was necessary to attend volunteer interpreters to
create a bridge and facilitate this communication.
Another example of
this bridge created by interpreters is the recent case of Doctors
Without Borders,a non-profit organization that provides medical care
around the world. The organization created a project in the West Bank to
provide psycho-therapeutic services to a population that deals with complex
problems and pressures. The West Bank has been occupied militarily by
Israel for more than fifty years, has a precarious economy and is a
conservative society in transition.
Although
most of the project's psychologists are Palestinians, two are foreigners and do
not speak Arabic. In these visits, MSF uses interpreters in
the sessions between the psychologist and the patient,so that they act as mediators. In addition to the
words and emotions of the patient, it is important that the interpreter also
explains the cultural and linguistic context so that the psychologist can
better understand his patient and help him more efficiently.Contact for Professional translation services
