TWENTY-FIVE INTO SIX: THE U.K. PRESIDENCY

If you have missed the film "The Interpreter" with Nicole Kidman - it's a great pity as it is original, exciting and we don't all look like that!

AIIC interpreters are gearing up for a major event. On 1st July this year the United Kingdom begins its 6-month Presidency of the European Union and the British Government will be hosting a range of multilingual EU meetings, here in the UK as well as in Brussels. AIIC interpreters have the languages, skill and experience to provide a high quality service at such meetings and are looking forward to the challenge. The UK Presidency comes at an exciting time for Europe: 25 countries are still learning to work together after last year's enlargement. Whilst new candidates Bulgaria and Romania have been negotiating for a while to meet requirements under the different Chapters, Turkey has yet to start negotiations proper. Meanwhile EU governments are struggling to cope with the aftermath of the negative reception given to the referendum on the long-debated European Constitution. Each Member State influences the EU order of business to some extent, and this time the British government has declared that it wants to concentrate on efficient, smooth management of a very complicated agenda. AIIC members will be playing their part in delivering that efficiency.

INTERPRETER, FIXER OR COLLABORATOR?

What is an interpreter? Is it a discreet figure in headphones behind the glass at an international conference, or a desperate-looking individual in a black balaclava? Depending on where you are in the world, either of these could be an interpreter, because the term is used so loosely. For those of us who provide simultaneous interpreting at conferences, what we call ourselves is rarely queried; in Iraq, however, describing yourself as an interpreter could be a matter of life and death. During the recent conflict and occupation of Iraq, hundreds of Iraqis have worked as "translators" (the preferred US military term), contributing invaluable knowledge of local customs and terrain as well as their knowledge of English to a difficult process of communication between two cultures. This is common enough in conflict situations, where interpreters are often referred to as "fixers" because they use their local knowledge and contacts to solve problems and resolve arguments. But in Iraq many interpreters have died for their pains, shot at while working or "executed" by guerrillas who describe them as collaborators. These brave people hide their faces in ski masks and use false names to protect themselves. UK members of AIIC pay tribute now to those who have suffered and died while on duty as interpreters. We can hardly imagine what they go through, but we know how important trust and confidentiality are for interpreters, whether in peace or conflict.

On a positive note, our concern has driven forward a campaign to obtain UN recognition of the term "interpreter", so that this professional job is protected and rewarded properly in as many countries and situations as possible. It's a small step, but one we hope will eventually help those who still have to dodge not just bullets, but the lack of trust associated with one who speaks languages.