Not so long ago I undertook a piece of interpretation work that perfectly illustrated the real and unexpected difference that a good interpreter can make in their work.

It was a cold, grey day and the interpretation took me to a school in a disadvantaged area of the city.  As I searched for an intercom to let myself in and heard what sounded like the cries of distressed children, I quickly realised that I was walking into a situation that I was not fully expecting.  Once inside, I saw that the children were not all the young ones I was anticipating, some were teenagers twice my size (although I am quite petite) and it dawned on me that this school was for children with learning disabilities.

I sat and waited, wondering what was in store.

The door opened and I came face to face with the parents of the child that the interpretation case concerned.  We smiled as we recognised each other immediately, although we had first met years ago when I was in my first year at university and not seen each other for a long time.  I remembered their child from those days as very young, cute and a bundle of energy.

Since then, he had been identified as having autism so my interpretation task for child and parents had its challenges.  Despite this, the interpretation went well and was filled with emotion for us all.

“What do you like about life?” the boy was asked.  “Everything and everyone.” He replied.

“What don’t you like about life?”  “Nothing and nobody.”

This was the first time that I had interpreted on this case and, shockingly, the first time that the case had had the benefit of an interpreter who could truly speak the same dialect as the family.  Previous interpreters had claimed to speak Cantonese and the school had believed them.  Only the family had known the truth and they, of course, were unable to express this to the people at the school, reliant on an unsuitable interpreter as they were. 

For the first time, the parents were able to express their thanks to the school for the care and support that had clearly been given to their son over the years.  Their joy at finally being able to do so brought a lump to my throat.

Many clients are happy to tell me when I’ve done a good job and it is particularly touching for the difference that doing a good job can make to be so significant in so many ways.  It reminded me that there is a real purpose in working as a linguist.

In our hectic everyday lives, we strive for achievement, recognition, glory and can so easily forget the fundamental wealth that we have – our health and our connections with other people.  For those in different circumstances, these things don’t always come so easily; when they are achieved, they are valued so greatly.

It is disgraceful that the problem of inadequate interpretation went on undetected for so long and this instance highlights the need for clients to be careful in their selection of language service providers.  It’s also difficult to escape the fact that, if a client doesn’t know the language themselves, they can’t readily judge whether the interpreter or translator is suitable for the task.  Which makes it all too easy for errors like this one to occur. 

Making the effort to get it right, though, can make such a significant difference, that it’s worth finding a trustworthy translation and interpretation company to work with.  One that understands that, whilst accurate languages skills are vital, so too are their attitude and integrity.

YuSan Chan

Director, SanTranslate

February 14^th 2010 saw in Geng Yin, the Year of the Tiger.  Also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, Chinese New Year’s day can fall between January 21^st and February 20^th with celebrations extending over the preceding 15 days. 

Which was a great opportunity for Nottingham which saw a string of festive activities organised by the Lakeside Art Gallery at the campus of the University of Nottingham, from family craft workshops to an exhibition of Chinese brush painting.  Nottingham’s third annual Light Night celebrations enjoyed a Chinese flavour with a display of Chinese Zodiac pyramid lanterns, all created by local groups, bringing the stories of the zodiac animals to life, culminating in a traditional Lion Dance and a fabulous display of fireworks in Highfields Park.

SanTranslate worked with Lakeside Art Gallery to translate their promotional material for this series of events into Chinese – you can take a look at the English version here to enjoy a taste of what went on during the celebrations.

The Chinese calendar is based on a twelve-year cycle with each year represented by an animal; this year is the Year of the Tiger.  People born in the Year of the Tiger can be sensitive and sympathetic but can also be very short-tempered.  Others respect them but they themselves can come into conflict with authority figures.  Often having difficulty making up their minds, they can find themselves making unsound decisions.  Whilst they can be suspicious of others, they are also powerful and courageous.

What are the prospects and predictions for this Year of the Tiger?

The Year of the Tiger is traditionally associated with radical change and upheaval.  Tigers thrive on unpredictability and will navigate their course through the year ahead.  Dragons and Horses, compatible with the Tiger, will also find opportunities to take daring action and achieve success.  Those born under other signs, however, will need to combine flexibility with a steady nerve to see themselves through this year.

Whether you’re anticipating a thrilling ride through an unpredictable year or are planning to hold steady, your business still needs reliable partners to work with.  That’s not a prediction – just a reminder that when you need accurate, reliable translation, SanTranslate is here to help.