Interpreters Help Bridge Cultures

  • April 12, 2010
  • |
  • Blog

When Toyota’s president, Akio Toyoda, testified before Congress last month about dangerous defects in many of the Japanese automaker’s popular vehicles, a crucial person was at his side: an Interpreter, who carefully translated his apologies and explanations. The Interpreter’s job, translating Toyoda’s statements from Japanese to English, was vital because Toyoda’s words had to be translated correctly, keeping in mind their cultural context.

“A good Interpreter is practically able to read a person’s mind and understand not just the language, but the intention behind the words,” says Mayumi Lincicome, a Japanese-English Interpreter who has worked for museums, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, telecommunications clients, and other organizations. “An Interpreter acts as a bridge between two cultures, conveying ideas and concepts between languages. Interpretation is a skill that needs constant practicing, just like tennis.”

While demand for Interpreters of romance languages, such as French or German, has declined, the State Department and the military have labeled Japanese a critical or strategic language, along with Russian, Chinese, Hindu, Urdu, and Korean. As the global economy and foreign service opportunities expand, employment opportunities for Translators and Interpreters are expected to increase 22 percent by 2018.

To learn more about this need for Interpreters, please visit Interpreters Help Bridge Cultures.

To find out how Language Services Associates can support your language needs, please call 1-800-305-9673 or visit our contact page.

Source: Link