“You speak English, you could be an interpreter!” If I had a euro for every time I’ve heard that… Mastering two languages is a necessary condition, but far from a sufficient one. Interpreting is a profession in its own right, calling on very specific skills.
Here are the seven qualities I consider essential, and that I find in all the colleagues I admire.
1. Flawless command of your mother tongue
It is often forgotten: we generally interpret into our mother tongue. So that is the language that has to be rich, precise and flexible. Finding the right word, the right register, the elegant turn of phrase in a split second: that is what listeners hear. An interpreter reads a lot, in every register, to keep that language alive.
2. A fine understanding of your working languages
Understanding doesn’t mean knowing every word. It means grasping the meaning, the intention, the irony and what is left unsaid, despite a strong accent or a fast delivery. This finesse is acquired through immersion and maintained through constant practice.
3. Insatiable curiosity
Monday, wind turbine maintenance. Wednesday, a management training course. Friday, a medical conference. A good interpreter loves to learn and isn’t afraid to dive into an unfamiliar field. This curiosity feeds general knowledge, which remains the best safety net in the booth.
4. Great powers of concentration
Listening, understanding, rephrasing and speaking at the same time, for minutes on end: simultaneous interpreting is an intense cognitive exercise. That is why interpreters work in pairs and take turns roughly every 30 minutes. Knowing how to concentrate, but also how to recover, is part of the job.
5. Composure
A speaker who speeds up, a crackling microphone, an incomprehensible figure, an untranslatable joke. The unexpected is the norm. A good interpreter doesn’t freeze: she finds a solution, generalises if necessary, and carries on. The audience must notice nothing of the storm inside.
6. Humility and team spirit
You never know everything. Accepting that you don’t know a term, asking your colleague for help, checking, correcting yourself: that is a strength, not a weakness. In the booth, collaboration is constant. The one who isn’t speaking notes figures, looks up a term, passes a document. A close-knit team produces better interpreting than two brilliant soloists.
7. A keen sense of ethics
Interpreters hear confidential information, sit at the heart of negotiations and lend their voice to people they don’t always agree with. Fidelity to the message, neutrality and professional secrecy are non-negotiable. That is what allows clients to trust them.
What if you don’t have them all?
Rest assured: nobody is born with all seven qualities fully developed. Most of them can be worked on, in training and throughout your career. Concentration can be trained, general knowledge grows, composure builds up assignment after assignment. What counts is the desire to improve.
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