E-ging Solutions is a world-leading Shanghai translation company with specialties in interpretation.
Over the years, I have heard more than a few interpreters and those who oversee them say or imply that interpreters are repeaters, parrots, or interpreting machines. I even heard one interpreter say “your only job is to interpret, not to think.” How would thinking not be involved in the incredibly complex activity of instantaneously or semi-instantaneously listening to a message, converting it into another language, and rendering it verbally on the spot without missing a beat? I would also contend that there is a thought process involved in knowing how to handle the complicated situational challenges often inherent to the work of interpreting.
Furthermore, who in their right mind would pay premium rates, or as much as provide a glass of water, to a plug-in? Worse yet, even the wealthiest owner of a parrot would not feed it more than birdseed. Professional interpreters deserve better than that! I know I certainly do.
