To be a successful in the field, regardless of what your specialisation is (medicine, conferences, etc.), there are several skills you must have. Interpreters need to be able to listen and communicate effectively, remain objective and impartial, and maintain a professional attitude in any situation.
Additionally, interpreters should possess knowledge of the cultures of all languages they work with, as well as technical language knowledge for more specialised industries.
Is being a people-person one of the key interpreter skills?
Although it’s not a mandatory one, and maybe we would not consider it a skill in itself, but a personal characteristic, we could say that it definitely is practical in certain situations.
For example: an older patient needs a procedure, but they fear being in an environment they are not familiar with, with people that speak a language they don’t understand. On occasions, although the job description does not contemplate it, the medical staff may ask you to accompany the patient, or you may be asked to hold their hand.
Interpreter skills that are a must in any professional environment
Cultural Knowledge
It’s important to understand the cultures of the languages in which you’re interpreting. This is because misunderstandings and misinterpretations can easily be caused by cultural differences, even if the interpreter understands both languages fluently. For example, expressions commonly used in one language may not have a direct equivalent in another language. As an interpreter, it’s your responsibility to recognise any such nuances.
However, if you are not 100% certain of whether you understood something or not because maybe the person you’re interpreting for is from another region or country, you can always ask nicely and respectfully. They will be glad to explain it to you.
Multilingual Proficiency
Being an interpreter with multilingual proficiency is essential, as you’ll have to be able to understand and convey the correct meaning of both languages while also staying true to the cultural context. You should have thorough knowledge of both languages you intend to interpret, have experience in linguistic nuances of both, and be proficient in different dialects and styles used by people from various regions. Building your vocabulary relating to multiple topics, especially those related to technical fields, will also make understanding easier. Additionally, you should always read content in both languages regularly for increased comprehension.
If you are not 100% certain, and you are working with consecutive interpreting, you may ask the professionals you need to work with, just to make sure that you have what you need to complete the task successfully. It’s always better than making mistakes! And if you are in doubt or forgot a specific term, try to explain it to the client/patient instead. If you are clear enough, they will know what you mean!
Cognitive Awareness and Memory
Working as an interpreter requires sharp attention to detail and the ability to vividly recall information from conversations. Interpreters must also apply knowledge when conveying information not just accurately but in appropriate context, without making any assumptions about the conversation which can result in misunderstandings. As different people may have different ways of expressing situations, interpreters must be able to familiarise themselves quickly with a speaker’s style for contextual accuracy in addition to grammatical accuracy.
More often than we think, people will either speak fast or give you too much information at once. In that case, and to be able to retain the key information, having a small notebook with you at all times can be incredibly useful (always destroy the information afterwards, especially if it contains personal details). Moreover, asking the person to try to vocalise or speak slower may help you grasp every detail.
Listening & Comprehension
Listening and comprehension skills are the most basic and essential interpreter skills. Interpreters must pay special attention to what is being said by both the speaker, and the non-speaker parties in a given situation. Interpreting necessarily requires a full understanding of each language spoken as well as awareness of subtle differences between formal, informal and conversational phrases. Without full comprehension, an interpreter cannot accurately complete their duties, making listening and comprehension abilities key attributes.
Adaptability
We should also consider that there is no such thing as an ideal environment to interpret. You may be in a place with loud background noises, or work with people that may speak too much or too fast, or worse, that can distract you. For example, if you work with children, they may simply think you are there to play with them. Every so often, you may be able to ignore these factors, but not always, so learning to get used to working in different environments will certainly help.
Communication Skills
As an interpreter, you must compose a concise and accurate representation of the speaker’s words. This requires exquisite writing and communication talent, as well as an understanding of each language’s syntax and grammar rules. Interpreters will typically utilise technology such as shorthand or specialised software programs to maintain accuracy in their work. You should also be able to communicate ideas clearly regardless of what language you are using. Good communication skills involves actively listening to the speaker, picking up on nuances in conversation, and constructing appropriate answers to questions.
Furthermore, a key interpreting skill would be to make the parties involved feel included in the conversation. If you fear that the doctor is using a very technical level of language and the patient may not be able to understand it, you should either rephrase it in a way that can be easily comprehended by everyone. That or, even better, ask the doctor if they can refrain themselves from assuming that the patient has the same level of knowledge (do it nicely, though!) and interpret accordingly.
What should you do, or never do, as an interpreter?
Paying attention to those interpreter skills that you will need is important, but, as in any job, there are things that you should do or not do.
Let’s summarise them!
| YES | NEVER |
| Talk respectfully, to everyone. | Be late (if think you might be, call the agency or client to let them know). |
| Ask the client to repeat what they said in case you didn’t hear it properly. | Patronise people (this applies to everyone). |
| Explain to the beneficiary of your interpretations things they may not fully understand, especially if it’s because they haven’t received an education. | Give people your personal details. Stay professional at all times. |
| Take your time to make sure that all the information discussed is clear. | Shame or judge anyone. You don’t know their circumstances. |
As you can see, there are several interpreter skills to pay attention to, but if you really like the idea of becoming one, with these pieces of advice and a proper professional training, you’ll be fine. Best of luck!
Finally, please keep in mind that it is possible to address people personally, and at the same time, choose words that don’t discriminate.
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