Interview with Mr Ian Newton, ILO Chief Interpreter By Maha El-Metwally The position of chief interpreter was one of the oldest at Oriental courts. At the Sultan’s court in Constantinople the position of baştercüman (grand, chief, or court interpreter) was one of the most highly respected court and government offices.1 Nowadays, chief interpreters do not work for … [Read more...]
United Nations Interpreters: An insider’s view – Part 4
In the fourth and final part of Sheila’s bird’s eye view of what it’s like to be a UN interpreter, she addresses mastering sight translation of complex written speeches and practicing interpreting “densely drafted speech.” Just another technique UN interpreters develop in their training, which requires tons of practice. I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of articles about … [Read more...]
United Nations Interpreters: An insider’s view – Part 3
In part 3 of Sheila’s first-hand account of life as a UN interpreter, she takes us through the fundamental objective of our profession—communication—through the UN lens, and also addresses the traditional interpreter–client relationship in the same setting. Stay tuned for the conclusion in part 4! Aleyna Maria Tusa, Contributing Editor Read Part 1 | Part 2 | … [Read more...]
United Nations Interpreters: An insider’s view – Part 2
The second part of Sheila Shermet’s reporting regarding UN interpreting is here! It focuses on the four main UN duty stations around the world with resident teams of staff interpreters and the substantive work of each. Sheila’s first article, published last year, was one of our most read articles, and this one is sure not to disappoint. Enjoy learning more about UN … [Read more...]
Interview with Anna Vianna – The Oscars!
By Aleyna Maria Tusa Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an interpreter? My name is Anna Vianna. I’m 52 years old and live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I have two children, ages 22 and 18. I am also an avid cyclist and wine and food enthusiast. I trained as an interpreter at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, … [Read more...]