How do You Do That?!

Snoopy and Charlie Brown sitting on the floor, contemplating a castle of cards they built.

The conference opens with an address in a foreign language. The speaker launches headlong into a highly complex subject at breakneck speed. The talk is replete with terms whose spelling I can only guess, most of which encoded in the alphabet soup of acronyms. To make matters worse, he insists on cracking jokes as culturally-specific […]

Portable Interpretation Equipment: What to Get and Why

A case containing the Digi-Wave System, by Williams Sound (an open case showing portable transmitters and receivers plus headphones)

Portable interpretation systems get a bad rap, and the names used to designate them leave no doubt: tour-guide system; bidule (the thingy); valisette (the briefcase). Yet there are settings where they are the only practical solution available, which explains their increasing popularity with many international organizations for use on field missions and in meeting rooms […]

The Accidental Protagonist: Book Review

a book open flat on the table, seen from the bottom, with the pages sticking out in the shape of an arc

Endearing, controversial, genuine or stereotypically mean, a relatable character is key to any book plot. It helps if the protagonist’s life is eventful and glamorous, or if her job is somehow awe-inspiring or tinged with a hint of mystery. Add a drop of mischief and intrigue, some eavesdropping and world-changing encounters, and the magical spell is cast. Perhaps partially for that reason, […]

7 Things a Chief Interpreter Wishes You Knew

A hand-drawn flowchart, with boxes and rectangles connected by arrows and lines.

There are arguably some disadvantages to being a chief interpreter. One doesn’t get to interpret as often. One has a clock to punch, reports to write, long staff meetings to sit through, and scores of managerial chores that are not necessarily fun. And while one free-rides occasionally on collective success, failure is no longer circumscribed to one’s own mistakes. If an interpreter on […]