How interpreters juggle two languages at once - Ewandro Magalhaes

譯者: Sophie Wu 審譯者: SF Huang

In 1956, during a diplomatic reception in Moscow,

1956年， 在莫斯科的外交招待會上，

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev told Western Bloc ambassadors,

蘇聯領導人尼基塔．赫魯雪夫 對西方陣營國家的大使們說：

"My vas pokhoronim!"

「Мы вас похороним!」(俄文)

His interpreter rendered that into English as,

他的口譯員將這句話英譯為：

"We will bury you!"

「我們要埋葬你們！」

This statement sent shockwaves through the Western world,

這個聲明震驚了西方世界，

heightening the tension between the Soviet Union and the US

讓處於冷戰高峰期的蘇聯和美國，

who were in the thick of the Cold War.

兩國間的關係更雪上加霜。

Some believe this incident alone set East/West relations back a decade.

有些人相信，這個事件本身 造成東、西方的關係倒退十年。

As it turns out, Khrushchev's remark was translated a bit too literally.

事實上，赫魯雪夫的言論 有點太按字面直譯了。

Given the context, his words should have been rendered as,

對照上下文，他的話應該被譯為：

"We will live to see you buried,"

「我們會活著目睹你們自掘墳墓。」

meaning that Communism would outlast Capitalism,

意思是共產主義會比資本主義更長久，

a less threatening comment.

原是一個威脅性較低的言論。

Though the intended meaning was eventually clarified,

雖然，他的本意最終被澄清，

the initial impact of Khrushchev's apparent words

但赫魯雪夫言論的最初衝擊，

put the world on a path that could have led to nuclear armageddon.

有可能導致世界 走上核武戰爭的不歸路。

So now, given the complexities of language and cultural exchange,

現今，鑒於語言和文化交流的複雜性，

how does this sort of thing not happen all the time?

這類誤解為何沒有頻繁發生呢？

Much of the answer lies with the skill and training of interpreters

答案在於口譯員的技巧和訓練，

to overcome language barriers.

是克服語言障礙的關鍵。

For most of history, interpretation was mainly done consecutively,

在歷史上，逐步口譯占了大多數，

with speakers and interpreters making pauses to allow each other to speak.

講者和口譯員會暫停下來， 來讓彼此說話。

But after the advent of radio technology,

但，隨著無線電科技的問世，

a new simultaneous interpretations system was developed in the wake of World War II.

新的同步口譯系統 隨著第二次世界大戰興起。

In the simultaneous mode

在同步模式中，

interpreters instantaneously translate a speaker's words

口譯員在講者說話時，

into a microphone while he speaks.

就立刻透過麥克風翻譯他的話語。

Without pauses, those in the audience can choose the language

觀眾不需暫停就可以選擇

in which they want to follow.

自己想聆聽的語言。

On the surface, it all looks seamless,

表面上，它看起來無縫接軌，

but behind the scenes,

但在幕後，

human interpreters work incessantly

口譯人員不停地工作，

to ensure every idea gets across as intended.

以確保每個想法 都如預期般地傳達出去。

And that is no easy task.

這不是輕鬆的工作，

It takes about two years of training for already fluent bilingual professionals

就算原本雙語 就很流利的專業人士

也需要兩年來擴展他們的 單字量和掌握必要的技巧，

to expand their vocabulary and master the skills necessary

to become a conference interpreter.

才足以擔當會議口譯員。

To get used to the unnatural task of speaking while they listen,

為了習慣邊聽邊說的不自然任務，

students shadow speakers

學生跟著講者，用相同的語言

and repeat their every word exactly as heard in the same language.

重複他們說的每一個字。

In time, they begin to paraphrase what is said,

過一陣子，他們用近義詞 釋義講者的話，

making stylistic adjustments as they go.

並進行語言風格的調整。

At some point, a second language is introduced.

之後，再以第二個語言釋義。

Practicing in this way creates new neural pathways in the interpreter's brain,

用這個方法練習， 在譯者腦中創造新的神經迴路，

and the constant effort of reformulation gradually becomes second nature.

努力不懈的重組，使之變成習慣。

Over time and through much hard work,

經過長時間的認真學習，

the interpreter masters a vast array of tricks to keep up with speed,

譯者學會各式各樣的技巧 來跟上講者語速，

deal with challenging terminology,

處理艱深的專業術語

and handle a multitude of foreign accents.

和掌握多種的外國腔調。

They may resort to acronyms to shorten long names,

他們可能會縮寫過長的人名，

choose generic terms over specific,

選擇大眾化的字詞 而不是專業術語，

or refer to slides and other visual aides.

或運用投影片以及其他視覺輔助。

They can even leave a term in the original language,

在他們找到最準確的同義字前，

while they search for the most accurate equivalent.

甚至可以保留原語言的字詞。

Interpreters are also skilled at keeping aplomb in the face of chaos.

口譯員也具有即使面對混亂 亦能泰然自若的本領，

Remember, they have no control over who is going to say what,

要記得，他們無法掌控誰會說什麼，

or how articulate the speaker will sound.

或講者聽起來會多清晰、流利。

A curveball can be thrown at any time.

變化球隨時都可能出現，

Also, they often perform to thousands of people

而且他們時常在數千人面前口譯，

and in very intimidating settings,

在一個非常有壓迫感的環境裡，

like the UN General Assembly.

像是聯合國大會。

To keep their emotions in check,

他們為了保持情緒的平穩，

they carefully prepare for an assignment,

會仔細準備每一個工作，

building glossaries in advance,

在事前累積專門術語的辭彙表，

reading voraciously about the subject matter,

大量閱讀相關題材，

and reviewing previous talks on the topic.

並且溫習相關主題的演說內容。

Finally, interpreters work in pairs.

最後，口譯員成對工作。

While one colleague is busy translating incoming speeches in real time,

當其中一人忙著即時翻譯演說時，

the other gives support by locating documents,

另一位會提供支援，像找尋文件、

looking up words,

查單字

and tracking down pertinent information.

和搜尋參考資訊。

Because simultaneous interpretation requires intense concentration,

因為同步口譯需要高強度的專注力，

every 30 minutes, the pair switches roles.

所以每三十分鐘兩人會角色互換。

Success is heavily dependent on skillful collaboration.

成功與否仰賴於嫺熟的合作默契。

Language is complex,

語言很複雜，

and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation,

當抽象或有細微差別的 概念被誤譯時，

the consequences may be catastrophic.

結果可能是場大災難。

As Margaret Atwood famously noted, "War is what happens when language fails."

瑪格麗特．愛特伍的名言： 「當溝通失效，戰爭一觸即發。」

Conference interpreters of all people are aware of that

會議口譯員 最能夠體會到這一點，

and work diligently behind the scenes to make sure it never does.

所以勤奮地在幕後工作， 以確保此事不會發生。