AN INTERPRETER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

Interpreters are used to staying in the background – in fact, we like it that way. But now Hollywood has turned the camera on us, in a new film starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn.
Kidman’s character overhears talk of a plot to assassinate an African leader – during a UN Assembly in New York. When her knowledge is discovered, she is forced to go on the run – with the FBI in tow.

More exciting than an average day at the microphone, yes, but the novel is full of authentic detail and presents a well-informed view of our profession, the plot revolving around the challenges of confidentiality and loyalty. Will the multi-million dollar Hollywood production do the same? Miss Kidman has certainly been doing her homework: she has spent time in an interpreters’ booth in the famous UN Headquarters in New York, getting a flavour of what our job involves.

Meanwhile, filming is going on in the international environment of the UN building, and several ambassadors have been trying to get jobs – playing themselves. AIIC UK & Ireland is looking forward to seeing this original film later this year. We’ve been discussing raising our profile, although we weren’t expecting to be immortalised on film by one of the world’s most famous screen stars.

DO YOU SPEAK EASTERN EUROPEAN

2004 is a big year for languages in Europe: the EU opened its doors to 10 new countries on 1st May this year, and thus increased the number of official languages from 11 to 20. This major event has generated a great deal of media coverage of interpreting issues. Everyone is asking whether it is necessary for the EU to have 20 languages. What about the cost and the logistics? Well, in reality languages are only covered when they are really needed, not as a matter of course; that has been the case for years. Post enlargement, few meetings will operate in all 20 languages. In addition, new technologies are going to play an important role in ensuring everything runs smoothly. Overall, EU leaders realise the political and cultural importance of languages, especially in countries which have not been independent in their recent history.
And let's not forget a vital element here: those ever-resourceful interpreters. We all learn new languages during our careers, and right now many of our colleagues are getting to grips with a Slavic or a Baltic language for the first time.
AIIC UK & Ireland interpreters often work in Europe, and are developing contacts with the new countries. We are attracting new members and widening the language cover we offer to our clients.

START 'EM YOUNG

AIIC has great faith in young interpreters, and has set up a network to help them, but was surprised to hear about a Chinese boy, Zhang Zhen, who has become the youngest known interpreter in China at age 11. He is currently interpreting the news into English on a Chinese TV station.