Culture Clash
Culture Clash
Working with interpreters
at international conferences'I attended an international conference on global markets," a reader recently told me, "and presentations were translated into a number of languages. Listening on earphones, some of the talks were very clear and others were not. I will be speaking at a similar international conference in the future. Do you have any advice for me?"
First, some definitions. When moving from one language to another, "translation" is the term used for written documents. When language use is oral, the term "interpretation" is used. In simultaneous interpretation, a speaker begins and interpreters immediately follow in another language. Often, interpreters take advantage of a speaker's natural pauses, but the speaker does not schedule long stops during the presentation. This is difficult task and it is part of a four or five year college curriculum in interpreter training. In consecutive interpretation, a speaker covers a section of the material and then stops. The interpreters present this material in the other language, and then the speaker begins again with another section of the presentation.
To increase the chances of success at international conferences, work closely with interpreters. Far too often, speakers show up at their appointed time and sometimes do not even meet their interpreters. Speakers begin, and interpreters follow from booths filled with electronic equipment. A far better procedure is to meet with interpreters prior to the talk. Speakers can give the interpreters a copy of the presentation. They can ask whether their new colleagues prefer simultaneous or consecutive interpretation. Speakers can emphasize major points and can suggest what they would like audience members to remember six months after the conference. Speakers can go over difficult terms and can give specific examples of complex concepts.
Speakers must keep in mind that interpreters cannot possibly have advanced knowledge in all fields. If the talk deals with financial markets, interpreters may be very well educated but may not have attended a business school. Speakers must have enough common sense to identify difficult concepts and, at times, to change their presentations based on feedback from the interpreters. Often, interpreters must be given time to develop equivalent terms in another language.
"Confucian cultural dynamism" is a recent term in business research that refers to aspects of Chinese philosophy that can affect economic expansion in fast moving marketplaces. Unless they have seen a copy of the presentation, interpreters might have to come up with an equivalent term at the moment they are interpreting for the speaker. They may come up with a good equivalent, but chances of a clumsy and misleading term are high. Speakers can help their interpreters, and at the same time help themselves, by reviewing such terms and by benefiting from the interpreters' previous experiences at international conferences.
The purpose of this column is to increase understanding of human behavior as it has an impact on the workplace. Special attention will be given to miscommunications caused by cultural differences. Each column will start with a short example of such confusion. Possible explanations will be offered to encourage thought about these issues.
Richard Brislin is a professor in the College of Business Administration,
University of Hawaii. He can be reached through the
College Relations Office: cro@cba.hawaii.edu