Essential Qualities for Becoming an Effective Interpreter

An effective Interpreter understands and seamlessly communicates with people. A professional interpreter quickly translates and interprets speech or sign language with precision and accuracy. For instance, when New York was hit by a snowstorm last week; Mayor Bill de Blasio was briefing the situation now and then. The updates were astonishing and the information delivery by Jonathan Lamberton, the American Sign Language was so accurate that deaf people easily understood the Mayor’s speech. He used body movements and facial expressions effectively and made it worth watching. 

Mr. Lamberton not only effectively communicated and impressed deaf people but he became a sensation and was covered by prestigious media outlets such as the New York Times and many others. 

He infatuated the common people with his impeccable communication. Moreover, his energetic personality is the icing on the cake. Mayor de Blasio has a steady tone and a serious demeanor and his speech would not have been clearly understood by the deaf without Mr. Lamberton. He is an expert in emotional and sign translations. 

Well-known interpreters of the industry are experts in interpreting the words that are spoken as well as underlying emotions and tone. In various sensitive cases such as courts, hospitals, and law enforcement, it is crucial as well as difficult to get precision. The live interpreter cannot be substituted completely however technology is growing rapidly and working effectively to a large extent but not solely. 

A good interpreter must possess the following qualities:

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A Patient Listener

A dynamic interpreter must be a patient listener who must be able to understand and know the requirements. Once everything is understood properly, interpretation becomes a smooth process.  

Certified

The interpreter must be accredited by a prestigious institute and must have completed interpreter training. The interpreter must know the code of ethics. This lessens the chances of mistakes as the errors can affect the interpreters as well as the organizations they are working for. 

Knowledgeable

Interpreters have limited time to translate the language so it is essential to have a command of languages. Grammar and vocabulary must be good.   

Multitasking

The interpreter needs to listen, understand and communicate at once and thus it becomes important to multitask while keeping the timeline in mind. 

Experienced

Experienced Interpreters understand people more efficiently. For this purpose, the interpreter must have experience in various areas of work like healthcare, seminars, conferences, project coordination, court hearings, business deals, etc. 

Soft Skills

Apart from familiarity with different languages, the interpreter must know cultural understanding. This quality gives the ability to know the customs and nonverbal cues of a geographical area or a group. The knowledge of cultural norms helps to convey in a better way.   

Good Researcher

Along with linguistic skills, an interpreter must be well-versed in research skills so to know the lifestyle and local culture of a place where people speak different languages. 

The above aspects not only help in choosing the best ASL interpreters but also provide a guideline for becoming a great interpreter. We would be glad if our readers could share this message so that it reaches everyone looking for such information.