How interpreters juggle two languages at once - Ewandro Magalhaes

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  • čas přidán 6. 06. 2016
  • View full Lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/how-interp...
    Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic. Given the complexities of language and cultural exchange, how do these epic miscommunications not happen all the time? Ewandro Magalhaes explains how much of the answer lies with the skill and training of interpreters to overcome language barriers.
    Lesson by Ewandro Magalhaes, animation by Andrew Foerster.

Komentáře • 1,4K

  • @TheOCMarc
    @TheOCMarc Před 8 lety +6225

    Reminds me of President Carter's "funny" joke:
    In an interview with David Letterman, Carter passed along an anecdote of a translation problem in Japan. Carter was speaking at a business lunch in Tokyo, where he decided to open his speech with a brief joke.
    He told the joke, then waited for the translator to announce the Japanese version. Even though the story was quite short, Carter was surprised by how quickly the interpreter was able to re-tell it. Even more impressive was the reaction from the crowd. Carter thought the story was cute, but not outright hilarious, yet the crowd broke right up. Carter was very flattered.
    After the speech, Carter wanted to meet the translator to ask him how he told the joke. Perhaps there is better way to tell the joke?
    When Carter asked how the joke had been told in Japanese, the translator responded, "I told them, 'President Carter has told a very funny joke. Please laugh now.'" LoL

    • @sion8
      @sion8 Před 8 lety +843

      Yeah, that was even funnier.

    • @colt4667
      @colt4667 Před 8 lety +955

      Along the same line: Joe was sentenced to prison for twenty years. His first night in the slammer, after lights out, someone hollered sixty-one. Two hundred men in the cell block started laughing. Then someone hollered thirty-nine. Two hundred men were cracking up with laughter. Then someone hollered ninety-six. Once again an uproar of laughter. So Joe asked his cellie, Sam, what gives? Sam sez "We have a joke book and everyone has studied it and all the jokes are numbered. So when you want to tell a certain joke you just holler out the number and everyone recalls the joke and they laugh. Sam gives Joe a copy of the joke book and Joe reads all the jokes. After lights out Joe hollers twelve. No one laughs. Joe hollers twenty. No one laughs. Joe hollers sixty. No one laughs. Joe asks Sam "Why doesn't anyone laugh when I call out the joke numbers?" Sam sez "Joe - face it - you just don't know how to tell a joke."

    • @alexturlais8558
      @alexturlais8558 Před 8 lety +36

      +randall williams 😂😂😂

    • @davidflores909
      @davidflores909 Před 8 lety +81

      I would like your comment but I'm on my phone, so I'll leave a comment since that should also work the same bumping this comment up.

    • @dorjjodvo1992
      @dorjjodvo1992 Před 8 lety +46

      Yeah the dude just didn't want to put up with his shit haha

  • @ThePaintballgun
    @ThePaintballgun Před 8 lety +5313

    Incredibly important, underappreciated skill.

    • @ThePaintballgun
      @ThePaintballgun Před 8 lety +55

      ***** Literally. I spent years learning a second language as a kid and that alone is hard. Learning to seamlessly translate between the two is just messed up.

    • @lorenafarias5332
      @lorenafarias5332 Před 8 lety +29

      It just takes practice, like everything else in ife. And to think very quickly.

    • @MOMON2006
      @MOMON2006 Před 8 lety +11

      +Delta Blues You could literally say that to every Michelangelo and Da Vinci piece of art fused together and powered up 300%.

    • @erebostd
      @erebostd Před 8 lety +4

      We will live to see computers do this job much better. There are already systems for videochat which convert language on the fly...

    • @lorenafarias5332
      @lorenafarias5332 Před 8 lety +39

      No way, you're saying that because you don't know how complex it really is.

  • @ewandromag
    @ewandromag Před 8 lety +7656

    Hi, everyone. I am Ewandro Magalhaes, the author of this lesson. Thank you for watching and sharing this video. I hope this increases your understanding of this fascinating profession. My gratitude, also, to the incredible people at TED-Ed for the great collaboration.

    • @cobaltred3548
      @cobaltred3548 Před 8 lety +53

      Very nice, liked and approved!

    • @ewandromag
      @ewandromag Před 8 lety +43

      Folks. I am really me. And the links I have shared are all safe. No need to worry.

    • @moristar
      @moristar Před 8 lety +38

      If he literally said "My vas pokhoronim" it would have been interpreted as "We will bury you" by anyone. However if he used some small meaning alternation words - yes it could have meant "We are going to outlive you". But to me it sounds like Khrushev shitted his pants, because he realized how big of a stupidity he said and called back on his words.

    • @moristar
      @moristar Před 8 lety +5

      Really nice lesson anyway :)

    • @ewandromag
      @ewandromag Před 8 lety +14

      Associated Press LOL. Sure... don't click anywhere... fine.

  • @alexvryzakis
    @alexvryzakis Před 7 lety +4097

    My mum is an interpreter for the EU and tbh she's the most intelligent, amazing person I know. She interprets 5 languages into English!!! Some meetings have all 5 languages in a row that she has to switch between. She's an incredible genius and I'm so proud to be her daughter 😇💞

    • @camellias.7106
      @camellias.7106 Před 6 lety +99

      Alex Vryzakis amazing! Which languages does she speak?

    • @bboyandrezzz8237
      @bboyandrezzz8237 Před 5 lety +47

      Share us her experience. I would like a wife like that, I am learning Japanese my third language and I'm stressed out because I can not get the fluency as much as I want, I would like to achieve 3 languages to translate and interpreter to my mother-tongue Spanish.

    • @Meurieza
      @Meurieza Před 5 lety +20

      @@bboyandrezzz8237 learn kanji and 1-2 meanings not all at once. travel to japan mext scholarship free, practice in japan langauge school and get n2-n1 preparation books
      even after fluent it takes 2+years to have enough skill to be a professional
      my mothers family speak spanish so i learnt naturally cuz they taught me as a baby
      yw

    • @samjo3422
      @samjo3422 Před 4 lety +3

      @@user-qu9sm2jx3n Hi there, have you eventually got in contact with her? Just out of curiosity but keen to know.. ta

    • @Sam-zl8iq
      @Sam-zl8iq Před 4 lety +3

      how did she start interpreting for the EU

  • @Hoch134
    @Hoch134 Před 8 lety +1377

    This is probably the only activity we can really call 'multitasking'.

    • @meinungabundance7696
      @meinungabundance7696 Před 5 lety +15

      Not really, different languages are stored in different sub-parts of the brain. This is being done simultanously, not in a multitasking manner, when we stop one activity (even for a split of second) in order to do another.

    • @littlefishbigmountain
      @littlefishbigmountain Před 4 lety +45

      Meinung Abundance
      That’s what they meant. They’re truly simultaneous and not quickly switching. So you agree then?

    • @HandledToaster2
      @HandledToaster2 Před 2 lety +7

      @@meinungabundance7696 bro you just explained why you agree with him

    • @amoldivo
      @amoldivo Před 2 lety

      Lmao 🤣🤣🤣

    • @everkade
      @everkade Před 2 lety

      @@HandledToaster2 No they didn't. Their argument is that the translation task is switching quickly from one language to another in the brain and then speaking. It's all a rhythmic process. Personally, I agree that "multitasking" is really just quick effective switching of brain process, for all non-automatic behaviors at least.

  • @MoonAirN
    @MoonAirN Před 8 lety +708

    That last scene though
    "SORRY wrong planet"😂

  • @TwentyPaphonies
    @TwentyPaphonies Před 8 lety +2800

    As someone who is currently training to become a sign language interpreter, I really appreciate this video. Thank you to everyone who interprets.

    • @FernandoPereira88
      @FernandoPereira88 Před 8 lety +2

      How many languages do you speak or study?

    • @logan2669
      @logan2669 Před 8 lety +4

      ASL?? or some other sign language

    • @Muikkinen
      @Muikkinen Před 8 lety +30

      +truepurpl e I think it's just as hard, because the interpreting process is exactly the same - the only thing that is different is the language "channel" that you use to produce the message. I'm a sign language interpreter and for me there is no difference if I'm interpreting between two spoken languages or one spoken and one signed language. Obviously I'm better with sign language (from spoken Finnish or English to Finnish sign language), since I have the actual training and years of work experience for that language pairing, but it's no problem for me to interpret from spoken Finnish to spoken English or vice versa :) It's the thought process that counts.

    • @Muikkinen
      @Muikkinen Před 8 lety +4

      truepurpl e Well yeah sure, but I think that's just a question of getting better headphones :D

    • @Muikkinen
      @Muikkinen Před 8 lety +2

      truepurpl e True. I guess it's just more distracting to some people than others :)

  • @fl0135_
    @fl0135_ Před 5 lety +647

    my mom is a CMI (certified medical interpreter) and that means she had to learn every medical term that doctors learn, but in english and spanish, and also have the ability to almost instantaneously translate them. it never fails to blows my mind watching her interpret because of just how difficult it is and how much intelligence and concentration it takes. these people deserve so much respect!!

    • @islamambassador1
      @islamambassador1 Před 3 lety +12

      I am medical interpreter as well love my job I had to learn just like doctors

    • @AirQuotes
      @AirQuotes Před 2 lety +5

      Didn't even know that was a job. Is it paid well? I hope so but I wouldn't be surprised if it was underappiciated

    • @SamBrickell
      @SamBrickell Před 2 lety +2

      Wow. That's a job that I never new existed, but once I hear about it it's like "of course it exists!"

    • @Xergecuz
      @Xergecuz Před 2 lety +5

      @@AirQuotes Some companies pay better than others, I currently work as an accountant and are paid the same that I was when I was working as an interpreter.

    • @fl0135_
      @fl0135_ Před 2 lety +6

      @@AirQuotes unfortunately it’s very under-appreciated and in my opinion underpaid. But she’s very smart with her money so she does okay.

  • @stumbling
    @stumbling Před 8 lety +649

    Always wondered how they did this, whether there was some clever trick behind the scenes, but no, just years of training superhuman abilities. These people are like the astronauts of linguistics.

    • @moralesriveraomar233
      @moralesriveraomar233 Před 4 lety +2

      I thought that the trick was noice cancelling headphones so you don't hear yourself and the speaker at the same time

    • @lunazhang6010
      @lunazhang6010 Před 3 lety +25

      @@moralesriveraomar233 actually we must avoid noice cancelling headphonese becasue it's hear to hear yourself with them. If you watch intepreters closely you would notice we only cover one ear or one and half ear while working so we can moniter our output better. SO big no no to noice cancelling headphones. We have to hear both at the same time.

    • @moralesriveraomar233
      @moralesriveraomar233 Před 3 lety +3

      @@lunazhang6010, it makes sense now you put it like that. I thought it would be like a speech jammer but now I'm even more impressed

    • @mgg5418
      @mgg5418 Před 2 lety

      @@moralesriveraomar233 headphones do help to concentrate on the speaker I find.

    • @davelapointe8742
      @davelapointe8742 Před 2 lety +14

      There are definitely tricks you learn along the way. I did it for 15 years. One of the most useful tricks is training your brain to anticipate the next works or sentences based on context. Even though you don’t actually know what will be said having your brain “thinking ahead” puts those ideas / words in your short term memory for quick access. Preparing ahead of time by doing research on the topic, writing glossaries of words, practicing the pronunciation of difficult technical words etc helps prime your brain to recognize and interpret those words quickly. Additionally, the more you do it the more comfortable and better you become at monitoring your speaking pace and intonation to match the speaker. This makes your speech sound more natural to the listener and avoids awkward pauses in between sentences. Your goal as a simultaneous interpreter is to make the listener feel as though they are listening to the original speaker rather than a translation. All the aforementioned tricks help you achieve that.

  • @ariefraiser140
    @ariefraiser140 Před 7 lety +502

    I was always fascinated by interpreters but now I have even more respect for them.

  • @physioweng
    @physioweng Před 8 lety +1877

    The animation, though not entirely accurate, is somewhat adorable and enjoyable to watch.

    • @asmaboubker3975
      @asmaboubker3975 Před 8 lety +51

      I actually focused on it a lot

    • @AlexanderEmmanual
      @AlexanderEmmanual Před 8 lety +3

      Do you know what program they used?

    • @physioweng
      @physioweng Před 8 lety +1

      I wish I do

    • @macbeth2354
      @macbeth2354 Před 8 lety +16

      I found it to be hilarious.

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas Před 8 lety +17

      +Alex Sandalis Andrew Foerester uses After Effects.
      blog.ed.ted.com/2016/04/28/8-facts-i-learned-by-animating-ted-ed-lessons/

  • @haxyquinn
    @haxyquinn Před 8 lety +1663

    I'm studying to become an interpreter and it is so stressful, i love it tho XD

    • @zhivem.druzhno
      @zhivem.druzhno Před 8 lety +8

      so do I !:)

    • @mssomebee
      @mssomebee Před 8 lety +120

      Professional interpreter here. It is stressful but very rewarding. With time, it becomes second nature. The key: specialize.

    • @2nd3rd1st
      @2nd3rd1st Před 8 lety +2

      Good luck!

    • @halymsmith9407
      @halymsmith9407 Před 8 lety +4

      which language are you interpreting

    • @haxyquinn
      @haxyquinn Před 8 lety +41

      halym smith I'm studying portuguese and english.This year i'm working in becoming fluent in both languages and 'm working with shadowing in order to start my interpretation classes next year

  • @omelettego
    @omelettego Před 8 lety +677

    But that phrase in Russian literally translates as 'we will bury you'! And I as a native Russian speaker understand that sentence as 'we will dig a hole, put you there and fill the hole up with soil'.
    I think it was Nikita Khrushchev's mistake because he hasn't explained what exactly he meant. The interpreter couldn't have possibly concluded from that phrase that it was about communism and capitalism. Khrushchev wasn't a highly educated man so it may have been his fault in literacy in diplomatic discussions.

    • @ewandromag
      @ewandromag Před 8 lety +102

      'Literally' taken, that is perhaps exactly what it means to a native speaker. Taken in that specific Cold War context, it meant something else altogether, namely that one system would be there long after the other was gone. In simultaneous interpretation, context is king. Thank you for watching and leaving your impressions. Appreciated.

    • @reinis.berzins
      @reinis.berzins Před 7 lety +90

      Exactly, neither interpreter is to blame, nor differences in Russian and English because it means the same thing in both languages. We can blame Khrushchev for his uncareful choice of words, and even more - sensation seeking Western mass media and some hawkish politicians who wanted to misunderstand (although it's their way of life - we could just ignore these extremists and go on living peacefully).

    • @SomeoneCrazy2
      @SomeoneCrazy2 Před 7 lety +36

      Ewandro Magalhaes He did say that communism would bury capitalism, not just that one system would be there long after the other. He was referring to the Marxist view of history. What he didn't do, though, was threaten nuclear war, that's what the Western media made it out to be and that's entirely their fault.

    • @abipereiraof
      @abipereiraof Před 6 lety +46

      I don’t speak Russian, but my assessment based on what I know of the situation, and my own experiences as a multilingual person, is that the interpreter was right in translating literally. The aftermath was a classic case of shooting the messenger.

    • @patrickchoe425
      @patrickchoe425 Před 5 lety +7

      I dunno. "We will dig a hole, put you there and fill the hole up with soil" still sounds terrifying - "we will bury you" is like anger speech, but this original version sounds like sociopath revealing his plan. But since I don't know the context of the speech, I might be overlooking some nuances.

  • @angedejeudi
    @angedejeudi Před 8 lety +272

    I am a fluent billingual and have previously done text translation between the two languages. Recently, I've also taken on a pet project doing video subtitles and, as an untrained translator, it definitely is much more difficult. You don't have the luxury of looking ahead to see the context of what the speaker is leading up to and, what I found most difficult at least, is simply trying to make sure not to tune out what is currently being said while processing the previous sentence. It's certainly an incredible talent, simultaneously interpretation.

    • @buenchiko007
      @buenchiko007 Před 8 lety +39

      indeed, i tried to simultaneously interpret this video into my mother language, and 3 minutes in i had to stop because of the mental stress.

    • @lisa5hot
      @lisa5hot Před 8 lety +22

      +Jonathan Pizarro I tried to translate the video simultaneously too after I read your comment and man it definitely is hard. I found myself mixing English into the translations in my head and being like "oh wait I can't do that" lol

    • @zmnicvander
      @zmnicvander Před 2 lety +5

      If you have the passion and skills, I highly recommend taking up professional translation and subtitling. It's really rewarding.

  • @jadenyuki6298
    @jadenyuki6298 Před 8 lety +576

    It's only at the end of the video that I realized that the Earth was about to be destroyed by the alien LOL.

    • @yourlilemogirl
      @yourlilemogirl Před 8 lety +77

      The giant hole punched through the middle of earth to make way for an intergalactic highway wasn't a big enough clue? Lol

    • @latchkeyTK
      @latchkeyTK Před 8 lety +9

      +yourlilemogirl it was an intergalactical highway?

    • @yourlilemogirl
      @yourlilemogirl Před 8 lety +56

      +haziq590 it was a nod to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy :)

    • @magiv4205
      @magiv4205 Před 7 lety +15

      +yourlilemogirl If only the Vogons had seen this video. sigh...

    • @CaptainSoftboy501
      @CaptainSoftboy501 Před 6 lety

      Jåden Yuki same 😂😂😂

  • @MrRobbPhoenix
    @MrRobbPhoenix Před 8 lety +544

    I'm fluently bilingual (the languages are not of same language family) and just realized how close to impossible simultaneous interpretation is. Even the syntax is different, English uses SVO (Subject Verb Object) the other language I know uses SOV (Subject Object verb). Another feature is for relative descriptive clauses to precede the nouns they qualify, rather than follow them as in English. It's actually technically impossible to give a simultaneous translation unless the interpretor lags a bit.

    • @5even5eals
      @5even5eals Před 8 lety +104

      Japanese, for example. These guys love to put verb at the very end of sentence. It can be pretty long and you won't get the meaning of it until you hear the verb. You can get used to it, but simultaneous translation to english is just impossible in these cases.

    • @prouddemocrat27
      @prouddemocrat27 Před 8 lety +134

      I know someone who simultaneously interprets Japanese and English. It is harder, but not impossible. what happens is that the intepreter is forced to lag further behind to hear the rest of the sentence, and then speed back up to catch up once all the info is available. thus there are many pauses and rapid catchups to get around the very different word orders.

    • @5even5eals
      @5even5eals Před 8 lety +87

      That's it, constant lags and brief expositions, there's no way around it. You can start to interpret sentence only when it's finished. It's barely simultaneous.
      But what's worse is the context. It's always about the context. I would easily interpret Khrushchev's words in the same manner as that poor interpreter did. Khrushchev was very provocative person and had a thing about loud words, so there's no wonder that his words were interpreted literally. You can know all the idioms and cultural references but you can easily miss the context which can turn out to be clear only in hindsight of what's been told.

    • @quelorepario
      @quelorepario Před 8 lety +60

      for those semantic nit pickers and literalists: when you hear "simultaneous" you should interpret it as live/real time translations.

    • @prouddemocrat27
      @prouddemocrat27 Před 8 lety +34

      +quelorepario It doesn't matter the language. the interpreter is always a second or two behind at least.

  • @davelapointe8742
    @davelapointe8742 Před 2 lety +74

    I was an interpreter for 15 years. This video really nails it. One thing to note however is that not all interpreters work in pairs. I almost always worked solo, sometimes for 6 or 8 hours straight. It’s incredibly fatiguing work and I was mentally exhausted for a day or two after long runs like that. Fun and rewarding work though.

    • @musiclover4380
      @musiclover4380 Před rokem

      Would you like to share how did you start your career into this field, i would love to know that.

    • @valmir144
      @valmir144 Před rokem +2

      you put your health at risk by doing that, lots of interpreters have collapsed by trying to do that!

    • @ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432
      @ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432 Před 8 měsíci +1

      you really shouldn't have. Why mate? Why?

  • @jazzmusicfan
    @jazzmusicfan Před 5 lety +337

    Am I the only one who cringes just a little bit when interpreters are called “translators”? Thank you, TED-Ed for educating the general public on the correct term. Interpreter: Spoken word
    Translator: Written word
    I love your videos!

    • @emilia1911
      @emilia1911 Před 4 lety +17

      Oh, thanks for explaining! To be honest, I didn't know the difference before

    • @zmnicvander
      @zmnicvander Před 2 lety +11

      When I say I'm a Translator I'm always asked about Interpretation, and I have to explain the difference. People are often disappointed because Translation is, to them, "less flashy", or "easier". They think being bilingual is all that's needed.

    • @tymoteuszkosinski5352
      @tymoteuszkosinski5352 Před 2 lety +5

      @@zmnicvander all the time when I tell my teachers I want to be a translator, they say ,,don't you mean interpreter" when I don't, I doubt I could be an interpreter while translating books or movies sounds awesome to me

    • @temporary0insanity
      @temporary0insanity Před 2 lety +2

      To be honest, we have to keep in mind that some languages don't have that difference, and use the same word for both. The word is usually a closer equivalent to "translator". So when non-native speakers who aren't professionals speak about translation or interpretation, they might have no idea that English uses two different words for them.

    • @ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432
      @ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432 Před 8 měsíci

      I am a sim interpreter of 10 years and I don't get cringes at all. They mean nothing by that. They simply don't know the difference and it's ok for them not to know.

  • @Niker107
    @Niker107 Před 8 lety +156

    Absolutely loved the animation in this one! Not only are the drawings great, but the little story in the background really adds to the video and I found it very funny and entertaining to watch. Good job!

  • @je_331_ca6
    @je_331_ca6 Před 7 lety +71

    As an interpreter in training, I feel so related to the video. It is a stressful job but also highly rewarding- it feels amazing to see people successfully communicate with each other because of you:). At that moment all the hard work worths.

    • @je_331_ca6
      @je_331_ca6 Před 7 lety +8

      Btw, we do appreciate people call us INTERPRETER rather than TRANSLATOR... mind you they are actually different ;)

  • @zmnicvander
    @zmnicvander Před 2 lety +50

    I'm a Translator, and during my first year of university a Professor dedicated a week to understanding and practicing the very basics of Interpretation. Thanks to that class some classmates were interested in pursuing that path later on (a friend of mine now holds a Master's in Interpretation), but most of us were baffled and were left with a sense of mad respect for the Interpreters' skills. A Translator can't do an Interpreter's job, as much as an Interpreter can't do a Translator's job, you need different skills, mindsets, focus, scope. So, cheers to my brothers and sisters in Interpretation!

    • @natxon
      @natxon Před 2 lety +2

      I'm a Linguistics student and I have mad respect for translators!!!!!

    • @davelapointe8742
      @davelapointe8742 Před 2 lety +8

      The challenging part of interpreting is not the translation part. If you’re bilingual that part is a piece of cake. The actual challenge of the job is training your brain to be able to listen and talk at the same time. This is not something we normally do in normal life. We are either talking or listening but never both at the same time (unless we’re being rude and talking on top of each other). But actively listening (and understanding) while also talking (and monitoring what you’re saying) is the real challenge. Eventually you just get used to it and words just flow into your ears and out your mouth with little effort but getting there is a difficult task and one that’s very tricky to teach. You almost need to have your brain split in two: one part listening, understanding, translating; and the other part, speaking, monitoring your own voice and intonation. With a 1-2 second lag between those two things.

    • @ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432
      @ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432 Před 8 měsíci +2

      You are correct that translation and interpreting are two vastly different activities for the mind. I am sorry for saying this but I can do "your" job just as well as you do or maybe even better, it's just that you simply cannot do mine. Ours are not two extremes and you can be only one or the other; only mine is an extreme, and it's ok. I am a translator too even though haven't really translated in more than five years. It would take me what, a week maybe to get up to your speed, more, less?
      I have great respect towards what you do. Your work makes the day-to-day running all around the world, and I am not paying lip service to you or anything as I am not one for that, I am just stating facts however harsh they may be.

  • @Muikkinen
    @Muikkinen Před 8 lety +85

    I'm proud to call myself an interpreter! :)

    • @maidy199
      @maidy199 Před 8 lety +4

      I would love to meet you and give a speed test :D

    • @Muikkinen
      @Muikkinen Před 8 lety +4

      ***** No, thank goodness, I interpret in little bit less intimidating places :D But wow, kudos to you for applying! I feel that my three years of experience wouldn't be enough to interpret on such level (also I'm a sign language interpreter, so my work field is a bit different anyway)

    • @Alikersantti
      @Alikersantti Před 6 lety +3

      I'm proud to call myself an Nikita

  • @collbackk
    @collbackk Před 8 lety +75

    Those skills have always fascinated me. I've always wondered how these people were able to keep up. I'm kinda relieved to learn it's real hard work, training, etc.

    • @MajkaSrajka
      @MajkaSrajka Před 8 lety +5

      Just work hard, embrace it and your mind can do great things!

  • @dontforgettologout160
    @dontforgettologout160 Před 2 lety +28

    I spent a few years living in Bulgaria and would often translate/interpret speeches in Bulgarian for English speakers. There is literally nothing more exhausting than simultaneous interpretation. I once interpreted for three hours straight and almost passed out due to fatigue

  • @lyric939
    @lyric939 Před 8 lety +16

    dang so much respect for interpreters. I've always wondered how they could be talking while listening to new lines from the speakers. it's like talking over a friend while still listening to them.

  • @UndeadGary
    @UndeadGary Před 8 lety +78

    I'm getting exhausted just by imagining how hard they work. Obviously not my kind of work.

  • @KhGoosey
    @KhGoosey Před 8 lety +22

    I'm bilingual and I often find it difficult to even give good translations for single words or phrases. I can't imagine doing so in real time for a complex speech on a complicated topic for 30 minutes!

  • @WorkUpperTV
    @WorkUpperTV Před 8 lety +12

    As a SI who has worked at events of over 10 thousand audience, I love the energy of live events! Appreciate and enjoy this animation that explains what and how we work as interpreters. Thank you ; )

  • @iloverats800
    @iloverats800 Před 8 lety +67

    interpreters are pretty amazing

  • @Asasnol21
    @Asasnol21 Před 7 lety +17

    Hats off to the interpreters. Making sure that the modern world stays connected

  • @fictitiousacct6649
    @fictitiousacct6649 Před 8 lety +116

    interdimensional highway? so long and thanks for all the fish~

    • @maybe183
      @maybe183 Před 8 lety +1

      Yes.

    • @Anton-V
      @Anton-V Před 8 lety +7

      don't panic

    • @felipevasconcelos6736
      @felipevasconcelos6736 Před 8 lety +2

      Where did the dolphins go? WOW! I just forgot to fall!

    • @helloworld2848
      @helloworld2848 Před 8 lety +1

      Thanks for reminding me. I forgot that I was reading it.

    • @iamthinking2252_
      @iamthinking2252_ Před 6 lety +2

      Well there's no point complaining, the plans have been at the local planning offices of your nearest star, Alpha Centauri for years

  • @AlexTSilver
    @AlexTSilver Před 2 lety +5

    I am an interpreter and wow, the comments here really raised my spirits! Im happy to see that many people admire my profession, I had no idea! Really made my day

  • @amy233
    @amy233 Před 8 lety +56

    I'm studying to become an interpreter and I'm really excited/ nervous 😳

    • @rosvlinds
      @rosvlinds Před 8 lety +3

      good luck |-/

    • @sabrinabayonet
      @sabrinabayonet Před 8 lety +2

      good luck!!!!

    • @amy233
      @amy233 Před 8 lety

      +Zakuro Toshino thanks everyone!!! |-/

    • @maryhdasilva
      @maryhdasilva Před 5 lety +1

      Amy, you will love it, I started this journey 14 years ago and I learned so much. I’m a medical Spanish interpreter.

    • @emilia-hn4br
      @emilia-hn4br Před 5 lety +1

      @@maryhdasilva Really? That's amazing! I want to become a Spanish interpreter, but I'm not yet sure of what area I'd like to specialize in. Would you recommend medicine? Is there another one you find interesting?

  • @ilhamonytube
    @ilhamonytube Před 8 lety +63

    I like your narrating voice, Mr. Addison.

  • @infrabread
    @infrabread Před 8 lety +120

    2:00 Is that a Hitchhickers Guide To The Galaxy reference?

    • @Guru_1092
      @Guru_1092 Před 8 lety +19

      Yup! Grab your towels!

    • @macbeth2354
      @macbeth2354 Před 8 lety +2

      Good catch!

    • @tusenbensen334
      @tusenbensen334 Před 7 lety +3

      Time to leave the earth then

    • @magiv4205
      @magiv4205 Před 7 lety +3

      Just imagine how an article on this video would look like in the guide😂

    • @Wysiwyg43
      @Wysiwyg43 Před 6 lety

      I thought it was very cute, like the video.

  • @Prestigenetwork1
    @Prestigenetwork1 Před 8 lety +12

    Thank you for highlighting the important work that interpreters do.
    We have been educating the market for the past 25 years on this.

  • @FlashakaViolet
    @FlashakaViolet Před 8 lety +16

    I'm studying to become an interpreter. I feel even prouder of my career choice after watching this :)

  • @Pletzmutz
    @Pletzmutz Před 8 lety +29

    It's good to have these kinds of videos since interpretors and translators are indeed still criminally undervalued considering the amount of skill and practice that goes into their work.
    Next time you're unsatisfied with the translation of a book or other media, tell the publisher to adequately pay their translators and editors. (I'm neither btw.)

  • @AndrewAce.
    @AndrewAce. Před 6 lety +4

    I knew translating other languages could be very difficult, but this is extreme...
    A message can be either captured or shattered in an instant. These guys must be really good...

  • @Tamiyaviolin
    @Tamiyaviolin Před 8 lety +127

    But how do jugglers interpret two languages at once?

    • @localshithead7430
      @localshithead7430 Před 8 lety +29

      *X Files Theme*

    • @cwjakesteel
      @cwjakesteel Před 8 lety +60

      But how do languages interpret two jugglers at once?

    • @Tamiyaviolin
      @Tamiyaviolin Před 8 lety +26

      But do interpreters once juggle at languages? How?

    • @amjan
      @amjan Před 7 lety +2

      And how does the two juggle the interpretation and/or interpret the jugglery??

    • @braniacc
      @braniacc Před 6 lety +2

      I'm certain they've dropped the ball at least once.

  • @angel31356
    @angel31356 Před rokem +4

    I'm multilingual and sometimes I get confused between words because I'd forget what a specific word was in one language but know what it is in the rest, especially with a language I haven't really spoken in a while. That's why I admire real time interpreters so much because when I translate something, I have to take a moment to properly adjust the sentence to make sure I send the proper message in that language and it's not an easy job. I can't imagine how smart live interpreters have to be to do that as the other person speaks, truly admirable.

    • @someonestolemyname
      @someonestolemyname Před rokem +2

      I am multilingual and I can understand your feeling. Sometimes I even have ideas that I don't have the words to express in any of my learned languages.

  • @TheKatiokung
    @TheKatiokung Před 8 lety +374

    The flag should be soviet, not Russia.

  • @kodahaha
    @kodahaha Před 6 lety +3

    Around 3:20 is a really good point, im currently in training to become a sign language interpreter and we do exercises where we have to interpret things we dont agree with to better help our control of our faces. We have to match facial expressions and queues to that of the speaker, and a lot of us have problems being happy about something we dont agree with, so its often hard to, on the spot, hear something and then have to unbiasly interpret it to both peoplw that agree and disagree with the message

  • @Al.j.Vasquez
    @Al.j.Vasquez Před 8 lety +27

    I usually practice this at anytime, just to kill time, everytime i watch a youtube video in english and interpretate it into spanish, i must say sometimes the ideas are perceived correctly, but to express them isn't very easy, i understand the part where they learn sofisticated vocabulary and practice for 2 years, because there is a lot to handle quickly in such live situation.
    A key part of it i believe, is to not be able to hear your own words, to concentrate on the language that you need to translate.

    • @HarleyQuinn-qf6gb
      @HarleyQuinn-qf6gb Před 8 lety +1

      I hope you don't mind if I translate this into Spanish(I'm practicing my translation skills for a class.)
      Yo normalmente practico esto en qualquier momento, nadamas para matar el tiempo, yo veo un video de youtube en ingles y lo traduzco al español. Tengo que decir que aveces las ideas las percibo correctamente, pero para expresar las no es muy facil,
      yo entiendo la parte donde ellos aprenden vocabulario sofisticado y practican por dos años, porque hay un montón de cosas que enfrentar rapidamente(I think I messed this part up,) en directo. Creo que la parte clave es no interpretar las palabras como uno las oye sino concentrarse en el idioma que uno tiene que traducir

    • @Al.j.Vasquez
      @Al.j.Vasquez Před 8 lety +5

      +Harley Quinn cerca, pero en un par de partes te equivocaste, el mayor error fue que al final dije que no tienes que escuchar tu propia voz para concentrarte mejor, y dijiste algo completamente diferente xD

    • @HarleyQuinn-qf6gb
      @HarleyQuinn-qf6gb Před 8 lety

      +Khotta Bogard lol! Esa parte se me hizo muy difícil! anyways you're a good sport, thanks!!!

  • @rachelmorrow9042
    @rachelmorrow9042 Před 7 lety +5

    Thank you to all those devoted interpreters out there! :)

  • @3563
    @3563 Před 8 lety +387

    now that Alien is gonna destroy another planet. Good work translators, i hope you can live with the guilt of planetary extinction.

    • @KalimeroShow
      @KalimeroShow Před 8 lety +5

      oh God xD

    • @MYOWNWITCHKING
      @MYOWNWITCHKING Před 8 lety +37

      at least they now know that earth is mostly covered with water.

    • @undeniablySomeGuy
      @undeniablySomeGuy Před 8 lety +8

      Either way that would happen

    • @noah_lot2842
      @noah_lot2842 Před 7 lety +42

      They still stopped one planet's death. If they hadn't, two planets would have been destroyed.

    • @allanrichardson1468
      @allanrichardson1468 Před 6 lety +12

      The other planet may have been the one that was planning to destroy Earth next year. Now we’re safe.

  • @Shilag
    @Shilag Před 8 lety +2

    I have such an overwhelming amount of respect for interpreters. I find it absolutely amazing that people can even do this.

  • @victoriamassa-bulit1971
    @victoriamassa-bulit1971 Před 7 lety +2

    Thank you, Ewandro, for a very clear explanation of what goes on in our brains and in the communicative scene.

  • @PitiMiami
    @PitiMiami Před 8 lety +3

    As a longtime interpreter, I love this TedVideo! And I love interpreting!

  • @JehudaChrist
    @JehudaChrist Před 8 lety +174

    i can't stop looking at her hair

    • @steviem8294
      @steviem8294 Před 8 lety +21

      They should have made it bounce more lol

    • @gnewsburst
      @gnewsburst Před 8 lety +6

      It's unique isn't it!

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM Před 8 lety +16

      +G Rose It's amazing how unique it is, it gives her personality.

    • @shesheen8943
      @shesheen8943 Před 7 lety +11

      G Rose nah not really. It's common among black people

    • @nah_.
      @nah_. Před 4 lety

      @@shesheen8943 but not common for us to wear it out like that

  • @dknapp64
    @dknapp64 Před 2 lety +1

    I lived in Brazil for 3 years and attended meetings between US and Brazilian meeting in Brasilia. I was so impressed by the interpreters who had to do simultaneous translation at many of the meetings.

  • @Iaro67
    @Iaro67 Před 8 lety +24

    Beautiful animation. Reminded me of the mormons an the general conference they do twice a year. They have tons of translators for different languages and they do an amazing job

  • @dudukunhuwarezu
    @dudukunhuwarezu Před 8 lety +5

    i have always respect for intrepreters, this adds up to a whole new level.

  • @daedra40
    @daedra40 Před 8 lety +5

    Beautiful topic, but also, the seamless looking animations is just something I really wanna drool over. Like seriously, this video is making my mouth slightly saliva-filled...

  • @tuononnovainbici
    @tuononnovainbici Před 8 lety +4

    Wow. What a massive preparatory work does it require... it's immense - I had imagined that it was hard, but not _this much_ ... it's rewarding, I believe, but wow so amazingly astonishing. Great job

  • @Warxyph
    @Warxyph Před 8 lety +173

    is it me or did anyone else imagine the female interpreter as missandei from GoT?

    • @indrinita
      @indrinita Před 8 lety +1

      so true!

    • @2nd3rd1st
      @2nd3rd1st Před 8 lety

      Haha perfect!
      And the blonde guy is Jaime Lannister?

    • @indrinita
      @indrinita Před 8 lety

      +2nd3rd1st haha, though Jaime's not doing much interpreting on GoT...

    • @navalatanjjnn
      @navalatanjjnn Před 8 lety +1

      Thats why she seemed too familiar.

    • @jumpingdinosaur
      @jumpingdinosaur Před 7 lety +7

      She does speak 19 (I think) languages so this fits well!

  • @ruthpol
    @ruthpol Před 7 lety +3

    Really interesting video! I always wondered how anyone could translate something so immediately, but the described training makes it a little more clear to me. A really impressive skill

  • @rentabledwarf578
    @rentabledwarf578 Před 8 lety +57

    Lol, so if we want aliens to stop attacking our planet we just have to convince them that they got the wrong one. That or pretend like we're not home.

    • @thegoosh6469
      @thegoosh6469 Před 5 lety +2

      RentableDwarf I'm pretty sure that it was actually the wrong planet. You can see that in part of the video, they show the planet that the alien is describing has different geographical features.

  • @eatfruitsalad345
    @eatfruitsalad345 Před 2 lety

    I love how there is a side plot going on in the animation while also double tracking the narrator's voice over lines. Great stuff :))

  • @VxV631
    @VxV631 Před 7 lety +1

    I want a movie about a pair of interpreters doing this at some conference. Very well done video. Renewed respect for these kinds of interpreters.

  • @janainasoares-br6996
    @janainasoares-br6996 Před 7 lety +4

    Ewandro, tenho trabalhado com alguns alunos um pouco de noções de interpretação e claro que tua lição não poderia faltar!
    Saudades e parabéns pelo sucesso de sempre1
    Um abraço da sua terra!

  • @sharmeen7527
    @sharmeen7527 Před 8 lety +61

    can you make a video on fasting?

  • @futurehofer1564
    @futurehofer1564 Před 2 lety +1

    I was expecting this to be something like "oh they use a hack that makes it easier" but no this just showed it was actually even harder than what I expected

  • @wilsonov87
    @wilsonov87 Před 2 lety

    I have always been mystified by the incredible skills of simultaneous interpreters, thanks for explaining how they do their magic!

  • @TazTalksYouListen
    @TazTalksYouListen Před 8 lety +12

    Very educational. Nicely done.

  • @juandharma
    @juandharma Před 8 lety +9

    Funny, short, concise... Great video! Thanks! :)

  • @mohandasjung
    @mohandasjung Před 8 lety +1

    The animation on this video was awesome, good job Andrew Foerster!

  • @aidareyes7402
    @aidareyes7402 Před 5 lety +2

    I have volunteered as an interpreter since I was 10 years old. And I have never thought of it as being a stress full job. I really enjoy helping people who truly need my help and I've enjoyed it all the time. Is rewarding and satisfying to know you can assists others with your talents and skills.

    • @valmir144
      @valmir144 Před rokem +1

      you probably don't get into much technical staff or people who speak really fast!

  • @Nashatoxic
    @Nashatoxic Před 8 lety +6

    I was actually so distracted by the adorable animation and what the alien was saying that I totally missed the whole lesson! Oh dear!

  • @woodfur00
    @woodfur00 Před 8 lety +5

    I had no idea. Excellent video!

  • @rodimusprime5714
    @rodimusprime5714 Před 3 lety +1

    This video is amazing and whoever worked to make it should be very proud!

  • @paparapiropip87
    @paparapiropip87 Před 7 lety

    The question I had had my entire life is now finally answered, love Ted!

  • @MatBat__
    @MatBat__ Před 2 lety +4

    So cool to see!
    My mom is an interpreter and she taught me all I know. Crazy to see all her techniques exposed like that on a cute youtube video.
    Cheers from Brasil

  • @maja2509
    @maja2509 Před 8 lety +12

    I find simultaneous interpreting to be far easier than consecutive. It's just a lot easier for me to find the right word immediately, without having to think much about it, instead of having time to ponder which phrase or word would sound better.

  • @themotherbrassica
    @themotherbrassica Před 8 lety

    What an impressive skill set to learn! I am rubbish at processing even native-language conversations in real time, so I respect interpreters' work all the more.

  • @Hakkyou13
    @Hakkyou13 Před 6 lety +1

    This is amazing to know.
    I wondered vaguely about this but the work that goes into this job is amazing.
    I liked learning about that tag team of translators.

  • @quinnb1881
    @quinnb1881 Před 6 lety +5

    3:43
    The apostrophe wasn’t needed. Ahaha, I’m _great_ fun at parties.

  • @AlexVoxel
    @AlexVoxel Před 6 lety +4

    amazing talented profession!!!

  • @strange_and_magnificent
    @strange_and_magnificent Před 3 lety +1

    Interpreters deserve so much more appreciation.

  • @jasonmascelli6736
    @jasonmascelli6736 Před 8 lety +1

    Incredible work that they do! Amazing!

  • @bluesmooke
    @bluesmooke Před 8 lety +9

    The alien wished to destroy earth to build a galaxy highway, hitchhiker guide to the galaxy reference!

  • @emilymfv
    @emilymfv Před 8 lety +8

    I really want to became an interpreter for the UN. I already learned the basics of English, now I'm going for German, French and Japanese

  • @fionaengelson
    @fionaengelson Před 5 lety

    This is so amazing! I have so much respect for these incredible people

  • @Otrov
    @Otrov Před 6 lety

    That voice is so soothing

  • @DA-bm2mj
    @DA-bm2mj Před 8 lety +19

    question: do interpreters generally have a copy of the speech (text) on their hands during the talk to aid the translation?

    • @ewandromag
      @ewandromag Před 8 lety +46

      Hi, Dias Amreyev. That is a common request from interpreters, but sadly one that is not always complied with. Having the speech greatly helps.

    • @annwatson9259
      @annwatson9259 Před 5 lety +4

      LOL!!!!! That was a good joke! I Wish we did! Happens only once in a great while.

  • @513regichan
    @513regichan Před 7 lety +4

    I feel like this makes you smarter

  • @Retroglamamour
    @Retroglamamour Před 2 lety

    Wow, wouldn’t have guessed all the work simultaneous interpreters put in to do what they do. Also didn’t know they did so in pairs. Thank you for these informative videos!

  • @mocurio
    @mocurio Před 2 lety

    WOW! THANK YOU! I need translators & interpreters in my life!

  • @_Forever555
    @_Forever555 Před 8 lety +3

    From my light reading, I do believe historically one of the first documented (non-electronic) simultanous translation was in the 1600's. It's a very interesting practice, sounds like a very stressful job. Nice video!

  • @dare2horsecrazy
    @dare2horsecrazy Před 8 lety +4

    I'm going to be an American Sign Language interpreter for the Deaf..And I appreciate this video.

    • @Muikkinen
      @Muikkinen Před 8 lety +2

      I'm a sign language interpreter as well and it's the best! :)

  • @silifatougomina1092
    @silifatougomina1092 Před 7 lety +2

    A Translator/Interpreter , I really enjoyed the video on conference interpreters hardships. l acknowledged the fact that a high-level technical training is a must to avoid or lessen mishaps.

  • @juntin810
    @juntin810 Před 2 lety +1

    i am an audio tech for a rental company that contracts simultaneous interpretation. seen it first hand the amount of concentration these interpreters go through, it’s hard work! not only the work involves at the day of the event but the materials, topic of discussion, has to be prepared before hand. some interpreters specialized in certain areas of studies- health, science, law, etc. speeches are mostly prepared before hand. it was fun working alongside with them. I always made sure they have water in the booth. in m case, they swap every 15-20 minute mark. it gets interesting when there are multiple languages involved, especially in 2-way setting where one interpreter will interpret to common language.

  • @shanghai_city
    @shanghai_city Před 7 lety +7

    I still dont understand how simultaneous interpretation works and how it is even possible.

  • @aritranslations
    @aritranslations Před 8 lety +7

    i've always wanted to be an interpreter 😍

  • @aninavanniekerk2212
    @aninavanniekerk2212 Před 5 lety

    I am currently an educational interpreter at my university. Although not as intense as conference interpreting seems, there are definitely similarities. I feel so appreciated and like I can finally explain what I do!
    Thanks for the video

  • @atlock
    @atlock Před 8 lety +3

    The animation! it's fantastic! Did anyone else notice an entirely awesome story built around the importance of interpretation?! I did! kudos to the team :)

  • @sebas346
    @sebas346 Před 8 lety +3

    Could you please add the option to submit Closed Captions in different languages? Thank you.

  • @DA-bm2mj
    @DA-bm2mj Před 8 lety +6

    speaking russian myself, I'd say that "we'll burry you" is literally correct translation.
    did Khrushev basically deny his own words?

    • @ewandromag
      @ewandromag Před 8 lety +4

      "Literally" correct. That is where he got it wrong ;) -- Mind you the script does not say it was a mistake. It argues that it was perhaps 'translated a bit too literally."

    • @DA-bm2mj
      @DA-bm2mj Před 8 lety +1

      +Ewandro Magalhaes thanks for reply!
      I heard that the soviet interpreters often had to bring down the tone of the first secretaries, because the latters often talked in undiplomatic way, so the translation would sound "nicer" in English. probably after Khrushev's case?

    • @ewandromag
      @ewandromag Před 8 lety +3

      ***** It may well have been after Khrushchev. But in fact, every world leader walks around with their own interpreter, on whom he or she relies to get the message across as intended. And the key here is the word 'intended'. A personal interpreter, in this case, is usually briefed to desired outcome of any meeting, and will adapt his or her rendering accordingly to suit that purpose. So, more than saying in a different language what his boss said, a diplomatic interpreter (as qualified above) should also say what he knows his boss MEANT to say.

  • @myczxr
    @myczxr Před 3 lety +1

    i watched this video when i had just started to learn two other languages (one related to english, the other completely unrelated; all hail the great algorithm) to pass time during the global lockdown in 2020. long story short, learning, or knowing for that matter, another language is no simple task. you're literally learning another culture, another way of life. so many tiny nuances that would literally mean the difference between life and death if misinterpreted. so many jokes and wisdoms lost in translation. toggling between one language and another is basically like putting on another skin in the time it takes to breathe in and out. language is truly a beautiful thing.

  • @thisnerdycorner4982
    @thisnerdycorner4982 Před 2 lety +2

    I’m currently studying to become a court interpreter. We can do very little paraphrasing since our interpretation serves as the record. Simultaneous interpretation is a difficult but worthy skill to master. This was a great video ♥️