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[personal profile] alexpgp
What if Khrushchev wanted peace, but his interpreter wanted war?
– Woody Allen

Nikita Khrushchev – whose "We will bury you!" became a Cold War catchphrase – is said to have once attended an international trade fair where he came upon a piece of machinery that won his admiration with its elegant lines and impressive appearance. He turned to his entourage and began to speak loudly and gesticulate, demanding to know why something like this – pointing at the machine – couldn't be manufactured in the Soviet Union.

Well, as it turned out, everyone – except Khrushchev – was uncomfortably aware that the machine in question had been made in the USSR, and it appeared that the Soviet leader was on the brink of looking foolish in front of the world press when journalists (who had been following Khrushchev around the exhibits) looked to the Soviet delegation's interpreter for some insight into Nikita Sergeyevitch's energetic outburst. The interpreter smiled as he turned to face them.

Now, there are several reasons why an interpreter may fail to communicate what was said by a speaker. Some interpreters find, too late, that they are out of their depth and don't understand what's been said. More commonly, an interpreter may simply misunderstand what is said (if speech is slurred), or may not hear what is said at all (if there is too much ambient noise or if sound equipment malfunctions).

However, there is one additional reason.

"Mr. Khrushchev said," began the interpreter, turning to point at the machine the way Khrushchev had done, "'This is the kind of machinery that places the USSR in the lead, industrially, in the world.'"

The press duly swallowed the deliberate fabrication hook, line, and sinker.

Some may quibble, but as an experienced interpreter, I have nothing but admiration for my long-ago colleague's successful attempt to save the boss from embarrassment. The problem is, such attempts have become more difficult as the years pass and technology improves.

Take the case of the 2002 press conference held to summarize the results of a summit between Russia and the European Union, during which Russian President Putin answered a reporter's question with some rather frank comments about the threat of Islamic terrorism:
...If you are a Christian, you are in danger. Even if you are an atheist, you are in danger, and if you decide to convert to Islam, that won't save you, either, because traditional Islam is inimical to the conditions and objectives set by [the terrorists].
According to the interpreter, Mr. Putin concluded his answer by saying:
If you want to become an Islamic radical, come to Moscow. We are a multidenominational and multiethnic nation. Please come, as Moscow is tolerant of everything and everybody.
As things turned out, given the high density of recording devices at the conference, it soon became clear that the interpreter had attempted to soften Mr. Putin's last remark, because what the Russian President had really said was:
If you are prepared to become a most radical Islamist and are prepared to circumcise yourself, I invite you to come to Moscow. I will recommend having the operation done so that that nothing will grow for you anymore.
Ouch!

As an interpreter, you can't plan to save the boss, but you must be ready to do so.

Back in 2000, I was at a space-industry gathering when a Russian space official – who was well on the way to a monumental hangover the next morning – approached the podium and began haranguing his American audience.

"You Americans don't know squat about exploring space," he began – in Russian, of course – and his drunken remarks went downhill from there.

After about a minute of this, the speaker's colleagues – who had turned pale at the VIP table – interrupted him with some rather frantic whispers along the lines of "Are you out of your mind? Have some decency! Sit down!"

At this point, my good friend Paul, who was interpreting for the VIPs that evening, stepped to the podium with authority and reached for the microphone. The Russian moved aside to give Paul room.

"Yes," said Paul, addressing the audience in a smiling aside, "it's important to let the interpreter interrupt from time to time." This got a laugh and provided a plausible explanation for the whispers from the VIP table. The room quieted.

"As I look out at my American colleagues in this historic enterprise of space exploration," began Paul, speaking in the first person on behalf of the Russian, "I can only marvel at the cooperative spirit that has led our two great space-faring nations..."

I stopped listening to what Paul was saying at that point, because all of us who have done this kind of work have said the same sort of thing many times, expressing lofty thoughts using words such as "peace," "historic," "progress," "brotherhood," and so forth. I looked out at the audience, which listened in rapt attention to the fine words Paul was saying, and I felt enormous admiration for my colleague's skill, both linguistic and diplomatic. When Paul finished, the audience burst into enthusiastic applause, which somewhat surprised the Russian, who by this time had regained his seat and was refilling his glass.

Of course, common sense draws lines that should not – cannot – be crossed by interpreters. We are, after all, tasked with facilitating communication between parties who do not speak a common language, and overwhelmingly, that's what we do.

Still, as in all things, there are exceptions, wouldn't you agree?

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Date: 2010-02-20 06:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] drjeff.livejournal.com
This was fascinating. :)

Date: 2010-02-21 03:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thank you!

I was hoping to achieve just such an effect!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-20 07:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dabhug.livejournal.com
Seconding drjeff. Thank you for this insight and history lesson. Excellent post.

Date: 2010-02-21 03:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thank you for your expression of solidarity, and your kind words!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-20 08:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stormkitty.livejournal.com
Excellent and enlightening entry!

Date: 2010-02-21 03:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thank you!

I'm glad you liked it!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-20 10:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] days-unfolding.livejournal.com
Interesting entry!

Date: 2010-02-21 03:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 01:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crimsonplum.livejournal.com
I love your repertoire of true stories, and I really enjoy the way you tell them. Also being a bit of a fangirl on matters of culture, etiquette, and language...well, you had me at hello. :)

Date: 2010-02-21 03:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks for the compliments!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 04:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] furzicle.livejournal.com
Compliments and thanks for your glimpse into a very specialized world!

Date: 2010-02-21 11:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 04:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hightekvagabond.livejournal.com
I wanted to use the word "Fascinating" to describe this but [livejournal.com profile] drjeff already used that, and so I thought I'd second it [livejournal.com profile] dabhug already did that... so I'm not sure what words to use to express how much I liked it but you are the translator so I'll let you pick the words for me, sufficed to say the tone of the translation should be positive.

Date: 2010-02-21 11:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Noted. Now just trying to figure out how many exclamation points to add. <grin>

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 04:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daphnis.livejournal.com

Fine anecdotage, young man. One wonders how many times interpreters have saved this planet of ours from going up in smoke and radioactive fallout triggered by "Free Speech" outbursts. You could pull together a book someday ~~ "Miracles Created of Whole Cloth" or some such ~~ in collaboration with other interpretatious persons.

Date: 2010-02-21 11:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Probably fewer times than we like to think. :)

Not to mention, all of the offset from the dopey stuff, as when Hillary Clinton handed her Russian counterpart a symbolic button that was supposed to say "reset" but instead used a word that commonly means "overload."

Thanks for the kind words.

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 10:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lawchicky.livejournal.com
I really appreciated this. My experience with interpretors has been overwhelmingly good, though I had one deposition which was a nightmare. The interpretor kept testifying on his own behalf instead of translating what was said. The witness, who spoke some English, kept interrupting to try to correct the interpretor. It was a mess. I felt badly, but I had to report the guy to the company I'd hired him through. He was terrible!

Date: 2010-02-21 11:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
I understand what you mean. I once hired an interpreter who had hung out a "technical" shingle, claiming extensive experience with computers, but when the conversation turned to the MIL-STD 1553 data bus (commonly referred to as "the 1553 bus"), the poor fellow thought we were talking about metropolitain mass transit lines.

Interpretation is, besides being a bilingual enterprise, a performing art.

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 10:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] russia-insider.livejournal.com
Great examples of tough choices for interpreters. Myself I work at the field where at most of the times you don't have to be diplomatic, but still there are moments when you have to alternate the original wording. And such decisions that's really something you can't learn in any university. Thanks again for great example with the reply to the whispering from the audience.

Date: 2010-02-21 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
No problem. I'm glad you liked it.

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 10:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] russia-insider.livejournal.com
Would you mind if I post a link to this entry in my LJ?

Date: 2010-02-21 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Feel free.

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-21 11:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] joeymichaels.livejournal.com
I had never heard that particular Khrushchev story before - he's a fascinating figure and the source of endless interesting anecdotes.

Anyhow, from my little experience with translation - largely from Chinese to English and back - your experience matches mine. There are times where its better to make a translation that works towards the goals of the parent organizations even if it doesn't match what the actual speaker is saying. Does that make sense?

Another great entry!

Date: 2010-02-22 01:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
It's always a judgment call. In the end, if the client thinks you've done a good job, then that's all that really matters.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-22 12:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rattsu.livejournal.com
Fascinating! I had no idea about these things, but now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense. Honestly one of my favorites coming from you.

Date: 2010-02-22 01:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks for the kind words!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-22 06:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crocotiger.livejournal.com
'well on the way to a monumental hangover the next morning' - nice expression! :)

Date: 2010-02-22 02:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-22 08:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tamaraland.livejournal.com
an interpreter may simply misunderstand what is said (if speech is slurred)

I knew that we travelled in similar circles.

Date: 2010-02-22 02:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
LOL!

It was the first word that came to mind, too!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-22 12:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] imafarmgirl.livejournal.com
I really loved this entry! I laughed thinking of the fools people could make of themselves. Also, what a neat job.

Date: 2010-02-22 02:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Left to themselves, people will be people. Among other side-effects, that means I have a whole different set of anecdotes that highlight the frustrations of the job, too. (One off the top of my head: The strange case of the guy who kept starting off his bad puns and many analogies to baseball with "This probably won't translate very well," to which I mentally kept responding "Then why not say something else?")

Cheers...
Edited Date: 2010-02-22 02:43 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-02-23 03:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fourzoas.livejournal.com
I always wonder what gets lost in translation. Really interesting post.

Date: 2010-02-23 05:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks!

What gets lost depends on a lot of factors, which is why I maintain that interpretation is a performing art.

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-23 04:05 am (UTC)
shadowwolf13: (Default)
From: [personal profile] shadowwolf13
I've always suspected that interpreters don't always translate word for word. ;)

Very nicely written, I really enjoyed it.

Date: 2010-02-23 05:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
One can try, but sometimes the goal is not easily attainable.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-23 01:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alycewilson.livejournal.com
Amazing. I really do love your translation stories.

Date: 2010-02-24 05:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-23 04:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] beautyofgrey.livejournal.com
Awesome. I really love the first-hand point of view here, you conveyed the build up of tension (and subsequent release) very well.

Date: 2010-02-24 05:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks for the kudos!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-23 11:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] onda-bianca.livejournal.com
You always have something enormously interesting and informative to write about...and that is something I envy. And they are all things I never really had much knowledge of before!

Date: 2010-02-24 05:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
I'm pleased you enjoy my entries. Thanks for reading!

Cheers...
(deleted comment)

Date: 2010-02-24 05:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Cheers...

P.S. Nice userpic!

Date: 2010-02-24 09:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] agirlnamedluna.livejournal.com
I find this fascinating ... I've never interpreted (mostly because I have 0 formal training in translating or interpreting actually) but even with text we sometimes already save the day and have to watch out for so many subtleties.

Date: 2010-02-25 07:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Amen, sister!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-25 12:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cacophonesque.livejournal.com
I loved this bit of insight into a field I know little about. And the anecdotes that you selected were highly entertaining.

Date: 2010-02-25 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
I'm glad you liked the piece!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers...

Date: 2010-02-25 03:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kutiechick.livejournal.com
Really interesting piece!

Date: 2010-02-25 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alexpgp.livejournal.com
Thanks!

Cheers...
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