For my December post I have decided to share one of my favorite movies, The Interpreter. Even before I decided I wanted to be an interpreter myself, I thought this movie was super cool because of the UN interpreting scenes. Here is a lovely YouTube video combining them (as well as throwing in some random scenes. Just ignore those)
So in the very first part of this clip, we see an excellent example of simultaneous interpreting, which is used most often in large, conference type gatherings where many languages are required, like at the UN general assembly. Also, Sylvia (the main character of the movie) is interpreting INTO English, which is her first language. This is a common practice of conference interpreters. The source language (what they listen to) is usually their second or third language, while the target language (what they speak) is their mother tongue. This is then very first scene of the movie and it is one of my favorite parts of the whole thing because you can see all the interpreters high up in their booths in the UN and everyone listening to his or her own language in their headphones. I think it's really cool.
In this second part of the video, we see a combination of simultaneous and consecutive interpreting. It's in a smaller setting which would more commonly use consecutive, and Sylvia is also taking notes, which is also used in consecutive. However, unlike consecutive, she interprets at the same time that the speaker is talking throughout the scene, making it not purely consecutive.
Well that's all for this post. If you haven't watched this movie, you should, because it's pretty good and now you know all about the interpreting in it!
Happy New Year!
