Professional
Vs. Unprofessional Interpreting
Here
are some characteristics of professional interpreting that
usually contrast with most of the ad-hoc, unprofessional interpreting
that takes place. They demonstrate that the word "professional"
describes a completely different and far superior
form of interpreting service.
Professional
interpreting is
- done
by people of guaranteed fluency in both languages being spoken. This assures
that nuances of meaning and context in a conversation will not be missed.
- done
according to a protocol which is insisted-upon by the interpreter.
All statements are interpreted without omissions, additions,
or editing of any type, and each speaker must pause between
phrases and speak directly to the other person (not
to the interpreter).
- confidential:
no record of the details of any interpreted conversation goes beyond the walls
of the room in which it's carried out.
These
qualities starkly contrast with the nature of most ad-hoc interpreting in practice.
These are qualities that need to be practiced and understood in order to work.
In practice, unprofessional interpreting too often ends up being the opposite
of each of them.
Unprofessional
interpreting, too often, is
- done
by people with limited fluency, or even downright incompetence,
in one or both languages being spoken. Sometimes, to
save face, complexities of meaning are glossed over or completely
missed. The results of this are described dramatically on
the "what happens when
there is no interpreter" page.
- done
according to no ordered set of rules or standards. Commonly
the two parties end up speaking to the interpreter, not
to eachother; they interrupt eachother.
- not
confidential: there is no guarantee
that the details of a prvate conversation will remain private.
The unprofessional interpreter is not bound by a code of
ethics, wheras the professional interpreter is.
For
more detail on these points, consult our training courses
page, and our intepreting code of ethics page.
Home
