The art of interruption

 

In the past two weeks I’ve completed six interpreting assignments in consecutive mode, each presenting its unique set of challenges. Those recent experiences made me reflect on the paradox of my task – providing unobtrusive service and interrupting the dialogue. Sometimes interpreters are referred to as "professional interrupters" even though our primary objective is to facilitate seamless communication, being unobtrusive and accurate. I appreciate that working with an interpreter must be frustrating at times. However, there are circumstances when it is necessary for an interpreter to intervene.  Let’s investigate the various scenarios:

1.     Requesting repetition:

Interpreters might ask you to repeat information if they have not heard it or missed a crucial detail like a quoted date or number. This could be due to unexpected noise, parties speaking too fast or simultaneously, or a momentary lapse in concentration.

2.     Seeking clarification:

Interpreters may be unfamiliar with a term or a phrase and require clarification. Most interpreters specialise in specific areas, but it is impossible to be well-versed in the jargon of all subjects. The scope for legal interpreting, which I specialise in, can veer into diverse topics, for example, medical terms in personal injury claims.

3.     Requesting a pace adjustment:

Interpreters have a well-developed phonological loop, but we are not machines. Interpreting is a highly skilled job, requiring time to process information from one language to another, memorising input while simultaneously processing it.

4.     Alerting to possible misunderstandings:

Like in any other conversation, parties could mishear or misunderstand something. In cross-cultural communication, there is a risk of missing cultural inferences, and it is the interpreter's duty to highlight such potential risks.

5.     Preventing interruptions:

It is crucial to allow the interpreter to finish interpreting to avoid losing information in translation (yep, that phrase again, lost in translation), potentially leading to misunderstandings. Only one party should speak at a time.

6.     Addressing concerns about safety:

Interpreters may raise concerns about the risk of harm to themselves or any other party involved.

7.     Alerting to practical interference:

External noise or the need for one of the parties to speak louder can practically interfere with the interpreting process, and the interpreter should bring attention to such issues.

8.     Requesting a comfort break:

Interpreting demands intense concentration and is a tiring process. It is important to recognise the need for occasional breaks to recharge our brains and rest our voices.

Interpreters enable and manage a conversation flow within linguistic and cultural contexts. Intervention allows us to do our job effectively. The art of interruption is an indispensable skill. We are not machines; we are much better than machines.

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