Dancing with interpreters

By Casey Lartigue Jr.

There's an old joke about an American businessman giving a speech in China that greatly amused students at the Seoul University of Foreign Studies training to become interpreters (I teach public speaking to them).

After the American businessman told a long joke in English, the audience laughed after hearing the interpreter's brief interpretation. The American businessman later asked the interpreter how she briefly interpreted his long joke. The interpreter explained she said, "The speaker just told a funny joke. Please laugh."

My students at SUFS insisted that a real interpreter would not do such a thing. From my view as a public speaker, the current odd process invites such shortcuts. Consider the oddity of the arrangement: Two strangers (speaker and interpreter) come together, but they don't talk in advance.

I wouldn't dare to advise interpretation professors and students about their intensive training process, but I do have a few recommendations about how public speakers can upgrade the quality of interpretation by partnering with interpreters as part of the speech process.

One, collaborate to get the speech and interpretation off to a good start. In sports, music, and public speaking, performers often script the first few minutes so they won't stumble at the beginning. I have heard interpreters say a bad start can have them psychologically scrambling to catch up. A good way to start well: Public speakers should let interpreters know how they plan to start the speech.

Two, don't stop there: let an interpreter know what to expect from a speech. Many speakers like to surprise audiences or to make it appear a speech was impromptu. Interpreters should know what is coming so they can enthusiastically translate a speaker's grand finale rather than wondering along with the audience where the speaker is headed. Speakers might want to share the speech script, outline, or a video of a previous speech.

Three, inform the interpreter about particular lingo and language. Interpreters set high standards for themselves, dissecting languages and cultures so they can be prepared for many situations. It isn't just vocabulary that interpreters sift through, but also slang, jokes, idioms, obscure references, historical figures, cultural differences, quotes by statesmen or numbers presented in a variety of accents, tones, and speaking styles while having to catch keywords and the overall theme. Even native speakers in their own language may reflect on the meaning or relevance of an idiom, lingo, or a Frederick Douglass or Frederic Bastiat quote. An interpreter is expected to know, immediately, and instantly communicate that.

Four, include interpreters as part of the process. I am not suggesting to lower standards for interpreters. Rather, as public speakers, let's communicate and partner with interpreters as part of the speech process. Of course, some speakers say things off-the-cuff, but with an interpreter knowing what is coming next, impromptu remarks or jokes are more likely to be understood in context.

Five, let interpreters know that working together doesn't mean you think they are incompetent. Speakers prepare their speeches through their careers or research, interpreters study to be prepared for what's coming at them. It is like a dancing duo, with the leader giving signals to the dance partner about the next move.

I have suggested to interpreters that they should approach public speakers as part of their preparation, but many say that could cause speakers to lose confidence in them before they have even started. Some worry they could be interrupting speakers still revising their speeches until the last moment and therefore not in the mood to talk. And nervous speakers may give negative responses ― surveys find that about 75 percent of people say they have glossophobia (fear of public speaking).

That means public speakers should embrace interpreters as part of the process by sharing information in advance, when there is a dry run to invite the interpreter to listen in, or at least talk a few minutes before a speech starts so the interpreter can be more prepared. They can even discuss practical things, such as how the interpreter can appropriately interrupt speakers for clarification and other reminders, such as giving interpreters time to interpret before speakers move on to the next point.

My suggestions won't fit every situation, some skilled interpreters may enjoy the challenge of interpreting spontaneously, and some conferences are too large for individualized teamwork. Still, is it better as a public speaker or event organizer to expect an interpreter to grasp every single point on the spot without advanced preparation and collaboration?

If public speakers don't take a few minutes to talk with interpreters, collaborating so both get off to a good start, preparing them for what is coming and warning them about slang or jokes, then they may have an interpreter say, "The speaker is now giving a good speech, please laugh every time I pretend to interpret."

Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) has been teaching public speaking at the Seoul University of Foreign Studies (SUFS) since February 2017. He is a keynote speaker with the A-Speakers bureau based in seven countries, including Denmark and the U.S.A.