Interpreting for the world of literature
We interpreters tend to go unnoticed when we do our work, as we are usually tucked away in simultaneous interpreting booths, far from the spotlight.
Sometimes, however, we have to get in front of the camera to do consecutive interpreting, which consists of listening first, taking notes of what is said and then reproducing it in the other language. Examples of this type of interpreting are interviews with writers.
How do interpreters prepare?
The ideal situation would be for the interpreter to be able to read all the works written by the author he or she is going to interpret, but often we are given short notice and there is not enough time to read his or her works (even less if he or she is a very prolific author). What to do then?
- List all their works and their translation.
- Read the author’s biography and a summary of their works
- Read or listen to other interviews from which you can extract biographical information or anecdotes that might come up.
- Check for videos of the author on the networks to familiarise yourself with their accent and way of expressing themsselves.
- Carry several pens and notebooks.
At Código Lingua, we had the honour of collaborating with the Valencia Negra festival to accompany the novelist James Ellroy on his visit to Valencia, where he was interviewed by various media (radio and television) and gave a press conference before receiving the prize awarded by the festival. It was a real pleasure and a very enriching experience to be the voice of such a unique novelist. Here is a brief sample of our work.