By Jonathan Downie

I think we missed the point of interpreting

If I wanted, I could take a course on interpreting every day for the next year. From AI courses to consec technique, from marketing to terminology management, we can grow just about any interpreting or interpreting-related skill we like.

All that is great. There are more training opportunities than ever before. 

Interpreting is about people sharing their stories with those who don't speak their language

But I am worried that we might be missing the point.

Interpreting isn't about flashy technique or shiny technology. It isn't even about sparkling terminology or handovers smoother than a Gillette advert.

Interpreting is about the companies that conclude contracts because we were there. It's about the people who got to share their stories with those who don't speak their language. It's about the worried mum managing to get antenatal care in a country she wasn't born in. It's about the fearful defendant being able to plead their case or the hurt victim getting justice.

Interpreting is about people

Interpreting is about churches that can now serve their entire communities. It's about factory tours that allow people to share their knowledge and expertise so that everyone gets better. It's about farmers in Africa learning how to use tech to improve crop yields or victims of war crimes receiving justice.

It's the joke that miraculously is funny to people who didn't grow up watching US TV or the Q&A session that helps people learn. It's EWCs that make working conditions better for everyone and training webinars that make everyone better.

Interpreting is about people. It's about people even before it's about language, communication or even training. Interpreting is about people and it allows people to make the whole world better, one tiny bit at a time.

We can never afford to forget that.
 

Dr Jonathan Downie is an interpreter (French to English and English to French), researcher and speaker. Jonathan's new book Dr Downie and Mr Stick's Guide to the Future of Interpreting, is available to buy here.

Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.