专访会议口译员西尔维娅的5分钟
Silvia, professional interpreter, talks about why she loves her job, why machines won’t be replacing her, and what it is like interpreting for a conference on Buddhism and Technology.
专业口译译员西尔维娅谈到她为什么热爱自己的工作，为什么机器不会取代她，以及为佛教技术大会做口译是怎样的感受。
What do you love most about working as a Simultaneous Interpreter?
作为一名同声传译译员，您觉得这项工作的魅力在哪里？
As a simultaneous interpreter, I can always learn new things in different fields, get to know new people with different skills and talents and visions. What’s more, coping with on-site information is thrilling, you never know what will happen. I like to be challenged.
作为一名同声传译译员，我可以不断的学习不同领域的新事物，结识拥有各种技能，才能和有远见的人。更重要的是，积极应对现场的突发状况是令人兴奋的，你永远不知道会发生什么。我喜欢接受挑战。
What changes have you seen in the industry during the time you have been a Simultaneous Interpreter?
在您做同声传译的时候，这个行业发生了哪些变化？
The biggest change is more and more people coming into the industry, whether with an interpreting background or not. It is still an occupation being hyper glorified after all. But I still hold the belief that at the end of the day, those with real proficiency would stay.
最大的变化就是，不管有没有口译背景，越来越多的人开始进入这个行业。毕竟同声传译仍然是一个受到高度赞美的职业。但我仍然坚信，最终只有那些真正熟练的人才会留下来。
Another change, which might relate to the above is more and more companies or clients realize the value of Simultaneous Interpretation. Especially domestic enterprises, who previously were price sensitive, now come around to see that it’s better to have a professional Simultaneous Interpreter in terms of time and efficiency.
与以上所述相关的另外一个变化是，越来越多的公司或客户开始意识到同声传译译员的重要性。尤其是那些一开始对价格很敏感的国内企业，现在也开始接受更省时高效的同声传译译员。
What are some challenges you face as a Simultaneous Interpreter?
作为一名同声传译译员，您面临过哪些挑战？
The specific knowledge in a certain field, such as legal, IT, financial occasions. It’s not only the jargon and terms, but the whole knowledge structure behind it. After all, you have to know the essence through and through in order to interpret. That means as a simultaneous interpreter, I need to keep learning all the time, broaden my breadth and depth of accumulation as much as possible. Which by the way is also what I love about this job.
首先是来自某一领域的专业知识的挑战，比如法律，信息技术和金融领域。它不仅仅是行话和术语的挑战，更是整个领域背后的知识结构的挑战。毕竟你要彻底的了解这些知识的本质才能解释的准确。这就意味着，作为一名同声传译译员，我需要不断的学习，尽可能的拓宽我的知识积累的广度和深度。这也正是我喜欢这份工作的原因。
Another one is what’s heatedly debated nowadays that we could be replaced by machine. Personally, I don’t think machine has any chance to replace us at all, just because we are human, who has emotions and cognitive feelings. A same sentence could mean different things with different tones and intonations. Can a machine detect the nuance? I doubt it. But it could complement, that’s for sure.
另外一个挑战也是现如今被激烈讨论的话题，就是同声传译译员可以被机器取代。在我看来，机器根本不可能取代我们，因为我们是人，有情感和认知的人。一句话用不同的语气和语调来说就可能是完全不一样的意思。机器能发现这种细微的差别吗？不能。但是机器翻译可以对同声传译译员的翻译起到补充的作用，这一点是肯定的。
Can you share with us one of your most memorable Simultaneous Interpretation missions?
您能跟我们分享一个您最难忘的同声传译任务吗？
The Buddhism and technology conference this June. It was hard. You really had to get to know various sutras, schools, theories and their English. But you can also discover the application of technology and science in the adoption of religion. I mean, they are opposite apparently aren’t they? Very interesting. But I have to admit that I was and am still a little confused about the interplay between these two. Worth exploring more.
今年六月的佛教技术大会。这个任务可真是一块儿难啃的硬骨头。你必须要了解各种经文，学派，理论和它们的英文表达方式。但是通过这次活动，你也可以发现科学和技术在宗教方面的应用。看上去它们是对立的不是吗？这非常有趣。但是我不得不承认，对于这两者之间的相互作用，我还是有点困惑。值得进一步探索。
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a Simultaneous Interpreter?
对那些有志于成为同声传译译员的人，您有什么建议吗？
Do the homework, improve skills, learn as much as possible before even thinking about getting to sit in the booth.
在你想要做同声传译之前，做好功课，提高技能，尽可能多的学习。
What is one thing that most people don’t know about you?
大多数人不了解您的一个例证是什么呢？
About me? Maybe I sleep very early?…
我？可能是我睡得很早吧。
If you could have dinner with any celebrity, who would it be?
如果您有机会和一位知名人士共进晚餐，您会选择谁呢？
I’m not a fan of any celebrity I guess, anyone who leads an interesting life, with aspiration and “do it” attitude, I would very much like to talk with. To tell the truth, I feel like a celebrity myself right now being interviewed by you! That’s one of my childhood dreams, being interviewed!
我不是任何名人的粉丝。任何一个过着有趣的生活，有抱负和“做”的态度的人都是我乐意与之交谈的人。说实话，我现在就感觉自己像一个正在接受你的采访的名人！接受采访是我童年的梦想之一。
Thank you Silvia for your time!
谢谢！
Interested in finding out more about the life of an interpreter? Have some more questions for Silvia? Shoot us an email! We would love to hear from you.
想要了解更多口译译员的生活吗？有什么问题想问西尔维娅的吗？给我们发电子邮件吧！我们很想听听您的想法。