The Power of Translation

Nowadays everyone can speak English, so why would someone need a translator or an interpreter ?

There is a common belief that by speaking at least two languages fluently, one can become either a translator or an interpreter. Being a translator or an interpreter is not that easy. Obviously, being good at understanding and speaking a language is a must, but languages are merely the tools with which those professionals do their job.

Interpreters translate orally the words of another person into their native language as the speaker utters them. On the other hand, translators translate written texts and their aim is to recreate an original text, with all its nuances, into a text that their compatriots can fully understand. It is, therefore, part of their job to read the text, analyze it, understand it and finally rewrite it into another language. One like the other cannot be practiced without proper professional training.

Their final goal is to transpose and adapt it to the target culture as to facilitate the communication between two parties.

Translation and interpretation play a very significant role in promoting and protecting diplomatic relations. Documents issued by international organizations relating to current issues like global warming, human rights, globalization, armed conflicts, humanitarian actions and such, are translated and interpreted into different languages as to allow world leaders to discuss, express their opinion and take decisions about these different subjects. In international meetings, such as the U.N general assembly, representatives from different countries and therefore different cultures participate in the discussions. It is, then, necessary for them to have someone who understand a specific culture and accompany them as to not offend anybody. That’s when the role of the interpreter or translator is of great importance. A word wrongly interpreted or translated could negatively impact negotiations or lead to a misunderstanding. On the contrary, a well interpreted or translated word or sentence can avoid any confrontations.

“We cannot control the way people interpret our ideas or thoughts, but we can control the words and tones we choose to convey them. Peace is built on understanding, and wars are built on misunderstandings. Never underestimate the power of a single word, and never recklessly throw around words. One wrong word, or misinterpreted word, can change the meaning of an entire sentence and start a war. And one right word, or one kind word, can grant you the heavens and open doors.” 

― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

One example of a non-diplomatic incident which ended up costing a hospital millions. In 1980, Willie Ramirez was admitted to a hospital in a really bad state. His family and friends tried to explain his condition to the medical staff, but they could only speak Spanish. A member of the medical team could speak Spanish and helped with the interpretation. However, he translated “intoxicado” as “intoxicated”. A professionally trained interpreter would have known that the right translation for this word was “poisoned”, therefore not carrying the same connotation of drug or alcohol abuse. His family thought he was suffering from food poisoning but he was actually suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage. The doctors ― who were misled by the interpretation ― treated him for an intentional drug overdose as some of the symptoms are the same. This led to a delay in treatment and he was left quadriplegic. He sued the hospital for malpractice and received a settlement of 71 million dollars.

Another example illustrating the power of translation is a translation-caused diplomatic incident which still have consequences today. In 1840, the British Crown made a deal with the Maori chiefs in New Zealand. The Maori people wanted protection from sailors, marauding convicts and traders wreaking havoc in their villages and the British wanted to expand their colonies. The Treaty of Waitangi was drawn up and signed by both parties. However, they were signing different documents. In the English version, the Maori people were to “cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England absolutely and without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty.” In the Maori translation of the treaty, which was written by a British missionary, they were not giving up their sovereignty but their governance. As a consequence, they thought they were getting a legal system but they were keeping the right to rule themselves. It didn’t turn out that way and the issues around the meaning of this treaty are still being worked out.

Original Copy of The Treaty of Waitangi

That’s why the importance of good translation is most obvious when things go wrong.

Mathilde H.