Comments on: Translation by the Minute: Multi-speed Interpretation

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:21:37 +0000

Sydney Pollack gained unprecedented access to the UN, but it came at a price that I think was fatal to the suspension of disbelief. A make-believe African country with a make-believe issue for a make-believe UN. How real do you want your movies anyway? It was no documentary, that’s for sure.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:16:05 +0000

Zack, I would love to hijack this thread to talk about the “Interpreter.” Here’s Translation Guy at UN Plaza, and these Hollywood sharks come along and steal my life story for their picture show. But then at the screening, I realized that Nicole Kidman was brilliant casting as hero of my own story, which is just as mind-numbingly exciting as the movie.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:04:52 +0000

Interpreters to translate? That sir, is like hiring painters to dance, or cats to herd. Not best practice, no, no, no.

By: Torino

Torino — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:39:32 +0000

The same way that boxers are better at punching than firemen are

By: WiggyWaggy

WiggyWaggy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:28:40 +0000

Disagreed. They each have their niches, how can you say one is better than the other?

By: TheOne

TheOne — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:22:33 +0000

Find an interpreter to translate written documentation over a translator any day – they are better trained and have a much more in depth knowledge for the culture..

By: Powel

Powel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:19:31 +0000

Interpreter is knowledgeable in the subject matter = lives the culture

By: Mike R

Mike R — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:11:26 +0000

On the surface, the difference between interpreting and translation is only the difference in the medium: the interpreter translates orally, while a translator interprets written text. But Ken, you’ve managed to breifly summarize the important difference between the two – thanks for the translation class.

By: Zack

Zack — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:04:35 +0000

Although this post is not about the interpreter, I have a feeling that it will be hijacked into exactly that as the poor film forces you to comment about it. Here’s my two cents: most of the plot was about as thrilling as an episode of “Wheel of Fortune.”

By: Joy H.

Joy H. — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:58:29 +0000

Right, another international accent from Kidman…ugh

By: Francine

Francine — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:57:44 +0000

The film sucked though. It was built around a fictitious African country that stands for anywhere and consequently, nowhere. Common, at least choose a REAL place…

By: Selena

Selena — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:19:50 +0000

I love this quote! “So if translation is a painting, interpretation is a performance…” P.S. I’m an interpreter..can you tell? LOL