Interpreters can help negotiations, UN linguist says
Practice acts as moderator for problem solving
Theresa Schneider
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Campus News
In three separate presentations, held in English, French and Spanish, United Nations interpreter, linguist and lawyer James Nolan had one message - interpreting is an important form of international communication.
Nolan, who spoke Tuesday in Davies Theatre, was brought to campus through efforts from the Spanish for Business Association and was the last guest speaker for the group this year.
Nolan said interpreting is an essential form of communication between different countries because it can make problem solving easier.
Communication through a third party, such as an interpreter, can force the two parties trying to communicate to focus on the problem at hand rather than other issues, making negotiations more effective. The use of interpreters also places different languages on an equal plane, Nolan said, eliminating a dominate language and allowing all languages the chance to be heard. Nolan also said in the context of the UN, interpreters allow leaders and representatives to be chosen based on their abilities, assuring the most qualified person, regardless of language skills, is speaking.
Senior Shelby Carlson, member of SBA, said she thought this was one of SBA's most interesting speakers so far.
"I kind of want to be an interpreter now," she said.
Carlson said as a Spanish for business professions and business administration major with an international business minor, she plans to use her second language in a future career. Because Spanish speakers are such a growing demographic in the United States, it makes anyone who speaks Spanish an asset to businesses, she said, because the company isn't forced to find an interpreter. Spanish speakers in the workforce can assume the role of interpreters, she said.
Nolan said while the interpreting itself is an ancient need, the act of simultaneous interpreting, where an interpreter interprets from one language to another while a speaker is speaking, is a young practice. Simultaneous interpretation started after World War II during the Nuremberg Trials and has made significant advances in the past ten years.
The process of simultaneous interpreting is complex because an interpreter must listen, analyze a message and re-express that message in another language, all while maintaining the original tone, inflection, rhythm and meaning of the original message. Half the job of interpretation isn't in the literal interpretation, Nolan said, but in recreating the message.
Nolan said while interpretation in most settings isn't regulated, meaning it generally doesn't require a license or certificate to be an interpreter, it is an easy profession to get into, especially through volunteering.
"It's very easy to take the first steps."
Nolan, who spoke Tuesday in Davies Theatre, was brought to campus through efforts from the Spanish for Business Association and was the last guest speaker for the group this year.
Nolan said interpreting is an essential form of communication between different countries because it can make problem solving easier.
Communication through a third party, such as an interpreter, can force the two parties trying to communicate to focus on the problem at hand rather than other issues, making negotiations more effective. The use of interpreters also places different languages on an equal plane, Nolan said, eliminating a dominate language and allowing all languages the chance to be heard. Nolan also said in the context of the UN, interpreters allow leaders and representatives to be chosen based on their abilities, assuring the most qualified person, regardless of language skills, is speaking.
Senior Shelby Carlson, member of SBA, said she thought this was one of SBA's most interesting speakers so far.
"I kind of want to be an interpreter now," she said.
Carlson said as a Spanish for business professions and business administration major with an international business minor, she plans to use her second language in a future career. Because Spanish speakers are such a growing demographic in the United States, it makes anyone who speaks Spanish an asset to businesses, she said, because the company isn't forced to find an interpreter. Spanish speakers in the workforce can assume the role of interpreters, she said.
Nolan said while the interpreting itself is an ancient need, the act of simultaneous interpreting, where an interpreter interprets from one language to another while a speaker is speaking, is a young practice. Simultaneous interpretation started after World War II during the Nuremberg Trials and has made significant advances in the past ten years.
The process of simultaneous interpreting is complex because an interpreter must listen, analyze a message and re-express that message in another language, all while maintaining the original tone, inflection, rhythm and meaning of the original message. Half the job of interpretation isn't in the literal interpretation, Nolan said, but in recreating the message.
Nolan said while interpretation in most settings isn't regulated, meaning it generally doesn't require a license or certificate to be an interpreter, it is an easy profession to get into, especially through volunteering.
"It's very easy to take the first steps."
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