What a Client Expects of His Interpreter

The person who hires an interpreter first and foremost requires:

• a voice for him — the one who speaks his words, his way with his meanings;
• honesty and faithfulness;
• being on time, accurate and diligent;
• confidentiality — which is a requirement in many fields, e.g., in the world of high fashion, competitive corporation mergers, etc.;
• preparation ahead of time. If the speaker has a manuscript with many technical terms ask for a copy to preview and begin getting comfortable with it. Don’t be looking up words on the client’s time — if at all possible;
• eagerness to learn and help;
• being dressed appropriately for the job without bright make-up or obscene very casual outfit;
• being fresh and rested — tainted, smelling body, unbecoming appearance are absolutely inadmissible;
• speed, which implies high performance, a limited accent, expertise. A very intelligent individual to convey the message is wanted;
• fluidity — going with the flow, and fluency — large vocabulary with knowing jargon and nuances plus familiarity with words common to his profession and work;
• word of mouth recommendations (references) following a good performance often land the best of jobs.

The job of interpreter is highly competitive and highly sought after, so it is good for you to meet all of these requirements. You should have the heart to want to be the best, not in a competitive way, comparing yourself with another, but in a way of doing the best that you can do.

An interpreter is often like a surgeon’s assistant in surgery. The patient pays the surgeon for services. The patient never meets the assistant. He is unseen — the one who makes the surgery possible by supporting the surgeon’s needs. So is an interpreter — unseen and often relatively unthanked, but there to support the speaker in any way needed, in order to make the speaker’s message clear to the audience. If the client walks as he speaks you should walk with him. If he gestures as he speaks you gesture, too. If he raises his voice, you raise yours. If the client is sitting — you sit beside him so you hear clearly, and if he needs to say something to you in private, he may easily turn and do so. You should speak at the correct volume, keeping your head up and projecting your voice to your audience. You don’t speak over client’s voice, but after his voice if it is a step-by-step translation. If it is a synchronous interpretation — speak almost in parallel. But in both cases it is not a shouting match. When you go blank — and you will — just ask the client to please repeat for you. Interpreting is like an acting job: you do as you see your client do.