What would you do if a hired interpreter within 10mins was prohibited from continuing by the client?
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| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | | User | Thread poster: Alex Barros What would you do if a hired interpreter within 10mins was prohibited from continuing by the client? |
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Heidi C 
United States
English to Spanish
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Alessandro Barros wrote:
This stick together mentality is the worst thing any group of people can demonstrate since it only hurts the end client and the companies who hire fakes thinking they are paying top money for a quality professional. |
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It also hurts the profession and all the people who are TRULY prepared and know what they are doing.
It lowers rates, it lowers job offers (after all "anyone can do it, if my secretary had the time, she would do it but I need her for more important and difficult things....")
We need to clean house and rid proz.com of a possible infestation of fakes and wannabes and we can do that through the WWAs and whatever other means possible in order to filter out the excellent from the good from the mediocre.
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I totally agree with you.
The important point is being able to assure the quality of the person you contracted.
If you can be certain that the person you hired is good, then you have elements to defend him/her (and yourself). If you don't have any assurance, you have to trust your client.
By the way, if you were there and you witnessed the appalling job and agree that it was appalling, you DEFINITELY would not be obliged to pay the interpreter a cent! Quite the contrary... You are even entitled to sue him/her for damages, and for the cost of hiring someone else in his place.
 
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Flemish to English
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| | Good men and women : I take my hat off. | Nov 3, 2007 |
IreneN wrote:
Williamson wrote:
If I were a PM, I would not hire any interpreter, who can not show me a degree from a T&I-school, preferably one on the list of www.aiic.net or member of www.ciuti.org
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Then, I'm afraid, you'll throw out quite a few good man... and women, like me with the bath water.
I've heard from overcertified interpreters next to me that power bolt is such a " ..well, you know, bolt that has a little motor inside and when you switch that motor on the bolt will start acting". I won't be that obsessed with formal training.
I also admit that a certified native did a much better job than likely I would have (he was well trained on that) congratulating the distinquished audience on the job well done. Too bad all the job was done by me with the simulation and modeling team in prep for Air Missile Defense Command Post Excercise...
Only the word-of-mouth of the interpreters I've heard myself will convince me of hiring a stranger.
[Edited at 2007-11-02 15:50] |
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Maybe, but the people who attented a two years training (nowadays mostly after having obtained a degree in another field than languages) had to choose at least two foreign languages and know them profoundly before they start their training. How else would an old classmate of mine have been able to interpret a dreary speach from a then member of the communist party from Russian into Dutch and vice-versa. Four years earlier, he did not know a word of your native language. Intensive training by native instructors, guidance and summer-courses in Moscow brought this person to such a level.
AIIC interpreters only become AIIC-interpreters because they had to look for a mentor, him/herself member of AIIC. A bit of worth-of-mouth too.
For those with a postgraduate, it depends upon their basic training and further experience whether they know "the fundamentals of the nuts and bolts" of the industry. As part of their assignment some interpreters spend time with engineers at expositions to have the working of say "sprinklers" explained to them.
According to forum-rules, it is forbidden to become personal, my dear Catwoman, so don't take this personal, but after the implosion of the Soviet-Union, you went to the USA, applied in the field of aerospace and interpreted from day 1? No evaluation of your memory, the sound of your voice, how you deal with different situations, no training in consecutive?
No learning curve, never an "accident" like the one described above, no TGV-speaker (train-à-grande vitesse-high speed-)speaker/CEO, who only had an hour to present the annual report of his company which you had to interpret while his subordinates were discussing the state of their business in three languages at the same time, expecting a poor interpreter to interpret at the same time from three language (in my case English, French, Dutch) into a non-native (Spanish) language, never a bad arrangement of the booth and the room... Yes, I dare to admit that I had a bad days too and humbly accepted the adage : "No cure, no pay" as a part of the learning-curve.
Just stepped into a booth, turned on the switch, which you had never seen before and here we went, without accidents : For those good men and women, with such a natural talent and a knowledge of consecutive without ever having heard of consecutive : I take my hat off.
But then there are many ways leading to Rome :, mr.Gorbavech's interpreter started without formal interpreting training too, but I never saw him in a booth, but always between Reagan and Gorby.
I've been in Texas (Austin) many moons ago. Should I ever have the time to hop over and say "hello" to you, I would take a plane piloted by a pilot with an ATPL. It will make me feel more secure
[Edited at 2007-11-03 12:01]
| | | | xxxIreneN
United States
English to Russian
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| | Pretty much so:-) | Nov 3, 2007 |
Williamson wrote:
No evaluation of your memory, the sound of your voice, how you deal with different situations, no training in consecutive?
- Are you kidding?
Just stepped into a booth, turned on the switch, which you had never seen before and here we went
[Edited at 2007-11-03 12:01] |
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Pretty much so Moreover, this is how it goes in the real world, world of working horses flying the low-earth orbits of manufacturing, processing, earth-digging, space exploring and bolt tightening. World where true and detailed knowledge of the subject prevails. I still have no idea how the UN booth looks like. Not like I'm dying to know...
My only training in consecutive, if it may be called so, was in high school when we were trained at Leningrad House of Friendship (no longer there) as special English school kids qualified to work as tour guides with school kids-tourists from USA and England.
6 years in oil prepared me for applying for space. In fact I was invited by the interpretation manager with whom I worked in oil a while ago. I told him - are you laughing at me? I know zilch. He replied - maybe, but I know how hard you work. You'll get through. I was thrown to the wolfs (crew training) in four months (I was doing translation only under editors' watchful eye first). In 4 more, after having only NASA manuals for bed-time reading in those 7 months, I got certified and worked my first flight 2.A where I was asked to do my best simo (by people who knew how to fly spacecrafts but had very little idea of a simo concept ). 3 RF loops in one ear and the same device to receive my voice, so on top of all I could hear myself! Our work environment is not always a comfy booth.
You are welcome to write me in person and I'll tell you more stories and explain our settings which are quite different. Later on in my self-trained career I had to use different booths and chucotage equipment - yes, just stepped in and off we go. In 1 hour I'll take over the shift for ongoing EVA - wish us luck, we need that solar array and our guys safe! The noise and interference that insult our ears are not even funny but at least we have separate transmitting and receiving setting... Plus, we do it both ways, whoever speaks in your turn. Time to go...
Oh, and I'll drive you from Austin - I have a valid driver's license
Best,
Irene
[Edited at 2007-11-03 13:00]
| | | | juvera
United Kingdom
 Member (2005)
English to Hungarian
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| | Dear Alessandro, and everybody else in this thread | Nov 4, 2007 |
I am not going to be long; cannot see the point, but let's get some basic facts straight.
We still do not know the details of the conditions of this interpreting assignment, but it doesn't matter any more.
Alessandro, you spoon-fed us with some vital details.
In your second post we are informed, that you tested the guy, and he was impressive.
Much later on, it turns out, that he was drunk.
Now I ask you, what is the problem?
This guy could well be an excellent interpreter, and his credentials all correct. You still don't know, what the truth is about that, but that is not the issue, as it turns out.
Nobody should turn up for their job drunk, or even just stinking of alcohol. He should have been dismissed BEFORE he started his work on the day, even if he was the best interpreter in the world. Also, if he was drunk, he could not possibly interpret properly, no matter how good he would be when sober.
You don't owe him anything, but you should have been more vigilant and notice that something was amiss, for the sake of your own reputation as somebody trusted to provide an interpreter. If you did that, it would have been very unpleasant still, but at least you would have shown to be in control.
As for the rest of the posts:
Williamson wrote:
As part of their assignment some interpreters spend time with engineers at expositions to have the working of say "sprinklers" explained to them.
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VERY reassuring. 
By the way, who was that professional astronaut who trained Alan Shepard to fly his rocket? His name escapes me.
Irene, when are you free to take bookings? (In spite of not having your voice evaluated!) 
Regards
J.
| | | | xxxIreneN
United States
English to Russian
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Hi juvera
End of February sounds just about right unless you have Budapest, Hawaii, Malta or like in mind... You'd be surprised how fast I can shuffle things around and catch the plane, subject irrelevant Oh well,... please don't tell me you need a medical person...
Cheers,
Irene
| | | | Alex Barros
Brazil
English to Portuguese
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| | Better spoon fed than hand fed don't you think? | Nov 5, 2007 |
Dear juvera,
Sorry if I am sppon feeding the information, I was just being "hypothetical" and then people became interetsed in details. Just want you to note that I never actually said he was drunk, I believe what I said is that he sounded drunk. Someone also asked whether it was consecutive or conference and it was conference.
Thanks to everyone for posting and discussing this issue at lenght, it has helped shed light on an issue that had been bothering me for a little while.
Good to see other out there with like minds.
I will let you all know how his lawsuit turns out, I believe it´s a piece of cake but you never know with the courts.
Till next post,
Alex
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| Alex Barros
Brazil
English to Portuguese
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| | many months later - OUTCOME | Jun 24 |
Well for anyone who is still interested:
This man filed a lawsuit in his state
I flew to his state an appeared in court
We met with a mediator
We explained our cases
I explained my intention to file a counter lawsuit that could essentially cost him thousands
He reconsidered his position for a few minutes
he signed a document dropping the case and giving up the right to any future claims
Thanks to everyone who posted, I´ll see you all in the forums and kudoz.
Alex
| | | | juvera
United Kingdom
Member (2005)
English to Hungarian
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| | Of course, we are interested... | Jun 26 |
Did he give any kind of explanation, how he got himself into this pickle, or just kept mum?
By the way, where is Irene, I haven't seen any post from her for ages. Does anybody know?
| | | | Alfredo Fernández Martínez
Spain
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
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| | Proof has to be documented, unless a declaration is being made | Jun 27 |
Alex Barros wrote:
Well for anyone who is still interested:
This man filed a lawsuit in his state
I flew to his state an appeared in court
We met with a mediator
We explained our cases
I explained my intention to file a counter lawsuit that could essentially cost him thousands
He reconsidered his position for a few minutes
he signed a document dropping the case and giving up the right to any future claims
Thanks to everyone who posted, I´ll see you all in the forums and kudoz.
Alex
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Alex,
Aside to all the valid arguments people said:
- I would have asked for the originals of the qualifications he claimed to have achieved.
- One must bear in mind we all can have a 'bad day'.
But he would have to admit in court, and under oath, that he was drunk, or was under the effect of some kind of substance which altered his normal speech and mental capabilities.
Otherwise, It would have to be proven in court by experts and witnesses, not just by your sole momentary perception.
- Speed of speech: No translator can interpret 100% a 'radio news'-like speech, or a 'chit-chat conversation' literally: summarising and idea-grouping are techniques taught at interpreting universities and schools.
Particularly, if the interpreter has no copy of the speech, or when the speaker distances him/herself from the text, and begins to whaffle and go backwards and forwards blurting out figures, new or highly specialised terms, 'speaking to the audience' instead of giving a clear and defined speech, and so on.
- We are still are wondering what he said when he was taken out of the booth.
Did you talk to him then?
Did you replace him?
Was the subject unknown to this person, or simply he had no view of the screen?
Or he had taken some kind of tranquilising medicine/illegal drug?
- Was some kind of technical fault with the booth?
- How come this person sued you in return, when you didn't pay him his fees?
At the time, he didn't try to crawl back to the booth, to have a ago again?
My word!
This story seems like an Agatha Christie book, with so many different angles!
Alex, please, enlighten us with the facts!
Obregado,
Alfredo
- How come he
[Edited at 2008-06-27 01:50]
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The translation workplace 
