口译项目的管理秘诀 - （二）口译员

Corporate Blog of Elite - Professional Translation Services serving ASEAN & East Asia

一位经常合作的口译器材租借商说：“口译员很难搞的，好像大牌明星一样。”她所说的‘难搞’，是指价钱高，规矩多，不容易伺候。其实，我也认同他们有很多与明星相似的地方。比如说，明星要靠天生本钱，口译员也得靠本身卓越的语言条件，不但语言功力要深厚，双语精通程度得达到炉火纯青的境界，而且天生反应要灵敏，在‘卖相’上也必须让人有信心。

我所说的‘卖相’，倒不是指‘俊男美女’，而是打扮体面，谈吐大方，而且能于人亲切的印象。这是因为口译员是不同国籍人士之间的桥梁。他们必须在商业会议中的短短数小时内，帮助客户良好地表达看法，最终达到‘成交’或让对方‘满意’的终极目标，确实是像明星的现场直播节目。

有些客户听到口译员每小时收费从$100到S$200，无不吓得魂飞魄散。但就像我在前一篇文章所说的，真正了解行情的客户，都愿意付这个钱，只要质量好。因为相较于数十万甚至数百万的交易来说，几千块钱的口译费绝对值得。尤其像是新加坡这种国际大都会，各大跨国公司总部云集，经常举办大型的国际会议（最近的APEC峰会就让我们忙得团团转），高层次的商务会议、名人专访，跨国公司的董事会议等。这些汇集各国人士的交流场面，都需要口译员扮演沟通桥梁的角色。

但是根据我的体会，演员或歌星要成为炙手可热的超级巨星，除了‘演技’或‘歌喉’要好之外（唯一不同的是，口译行业只有实力派而没有偶像派），更重要的关键在于EQ （就像红遍中港台的志玲姐姐）。口译员也一样。翻译公司和口译员的关系，就像经纪人和明星。唯一较不同的是，翻译公司并不局限于非得要找某个口译员完成口译项目，口译员也可自由地和任何一家翻译公司合作，两者之间的关系较为松散无约束。正因如此，那些EQ超好、没有架子又好商量的口译员（尤其是价钱或者配合客户的要求），相信都会受到翻译公司的垂青。

作为‘经纪人’，让我最有成就感的，并非和那些‘红牌’或‘资深’口译员合作，而是能挖掘到具有潜质的口译人才，并将他们一手捧成能够胜任同步传译的优秀口译员（译力旗下就有这样一位从交替口译提升到同步口译的大将）。只要手中握有这些王牌，不但能够为公司赚到钱，也能承接多一些案子（因为红牌口译员的档期都很满，所以即使有生意上门，也不一定能配合到他们的时间）。我觉得这样不但能为市场注入更多新血，让新加坡的口译市场不被少数几位垄断，而且人才的辈出，也能更好地满足新加坡作为奖励旅游、商务会议以及博览会(MICE)举办首选地的需求，并让口译市场价格逐步调整至更多客户能够承受的水平。价钱趋于合理，也将让更多商家愿意付这笔钱任用口译员，最终达到大家开心的良性循环效果。

By
Hong Yin Yin | 方莺吟
Managing Director | 董事
Elite Bilingual Services Pte. Ltd

口译项目的管理秘诀 - （一）客户篇

Simultaneous Interpreting

Simultaneous Interpreting (sometimes referred to as Simultaneous Translation, or SI) is used to provide an audience made up of individuals speaking different languages with a facility to understanding the exact nature of what is being communicated to them. The information is interpreted, as spoken, from the speaker's source-language; the interpreter then conveys the translated message into a microphone which is, in turn, delivered to the target-listeners via their headsets.

This method of translation entails the interpreter to relay communications in the appropriate target-language efficiently and with a high degree of accuracy.

Events such as conferences and seminars often carry with them a requirement for highly skilled linguists. These individuals are required not only to have a good command of different languages, but also to understand and communicate the numerous relevant terminologies that will, in all likelihood, be referred to throughout the duration of such events.

As is the case with any conference, the effective communication of ideas, plans and proposals is optimum. Indeed, the primary function of a conference is to reach out to your client base in a manner that is concise, clear and not overstated; to present your message in a way that demonstrates sensitivity to your audience.

In the case where there is a multi-lingual presence, the need for simultaneous communications to be made effectively is of paramount importance.

Translation service providers offer simultaneous interpretation, providing their clients with the facility to be able to achieve a smooth, concurrent level of communication between their clients' customers. In this way, business needs are met with minimal attention being drawn to the language barrier.

Supplying the client with the right individuals for the task will empower them with the means to impart their message to their target audience in a professional and inclusive manner. With the addition of organising travel arrangements for its translators, as well as offering the facility to provide the necessary audio equipment, a translation service provider can potentially provide complete end-to-end language solutions for its clients needs.

The obvious benefits SI brings to the industry are manifold. To take one example, let's make the analogy that a company is in the market to supply a generic product for which its exportation potential is boundless. The product, at the time however, may only be aimed at a particular market. Without the facility to express the products advantages, a major obstacle is created that will inevitably prevent growth. The product itself might be of the utmost relevance for that particular audience, but without the means to convey this, the possible benefits will go completely unnoticed.

The key advantage to providing SI is that companies can now reach audiences that they would not have had access to before, whilst also freeing-up the possibility for an easy discourse between partners on products and their suitability.

The technical expertise that language specialists provide help make such events as conferences and seminars a success. When an audience is equipped with the facility to fully understand the message that is being conveyed to them, the language barrier is rendered practically non-existent. This allows discussions to flow freely and helps achieve a high standard of clarity.

As we move forward into an ever culturally diversifying future, requirements such as these can only grow in scope and specification as new business communities continue to develop, making the need to communicate more and more imperative. By creating an arena for easy and clear discourse, simultaneous translation bridges a gap that allows communications, and therefore business, to flourish.

Corporate Blog of Elite - Professional Translation Services serving ASEAN & East Asia