How to speak to a multi-lingual audience through interpretation

David Hallam 

 If you are in the business of making customers, raising funds or influencing policy at a European or international level you invariably have to attend meetings where the participants speak many languages and you are communicating through interpretors.

Even the most seasoned executive can find it very daunting to move from operating exclusively in English. Few senior people, in any case, have ever had any formal training in public speaking. 

Mistakes in constructing, delivering and illustrating,  a speech or presentation, in a mother tongue are magnified when delivered through simultaneous interpretation.

All the basic rules of good public speaking apply – only more so.

Speeches should be carefully planned and timed to meet both the needs of the audience, and the allotted time slot. Audiences should be researched as far as is possible. The venue should be carefully reconnoitered.  Industry or professional jargon should be avoided and sets of initials always spelt out in full.

The classic “three part sermon” is always a good starting point. You say what you are going to say, say it, then recap what you have said.

Unless you have already made a good living as a stand up comedian leave the comedy to those who have. Jokes often don’t work in one language. It is very rare for them to work in several.

If you do use Powerpoint, set it up beforehand and test it, test it and then test it again. Speak to the audience, not the screen, and please, please, don’t read it out.

The Powerpoint help guide  strongly recommends using type at least 36 pt. The moment you add translation to your precious bullet points you run into issues of both space and courtesy. Do you just keep to English (seen as arrogant), or do you also translate into French and/or German (and offend the Italians, Slovaks and Finns). Use  Powerpoint,  to show ruthlessly relevant  pictures which are self explanatory and with as little text as possible. Try to manage without it.

Planned speeches do not necessarily mean written speeches. I personally prefer bullet points, especially when I can see the audience reaction and trim the language and delivery accordingly.

Simultaneous interpretation does not always allow the luxury of immediate audience feedback, mainly because, strictly speaking, it is not simultaneous. English speakers in the room will hear the speech as delivered; those speaking major European or Asian languages will hear it a few seconds later. If an interpreter cannot work from English, they may give a secondary translation from another language. Some languages, French for example, are slightly more complex and interpretation may take longer.

Speak slightly slower, and pause for a few seconds, listen and watch out for clues, to gauge when interpretation in second and third languages has been completed. If you are a keynote speaker or chair give your audience time to fiddle with their headphones and interpretation channels, they may be as new to this environment as you.

If you are taking questions from the floor, ensure that you have easy access to headphones, but don’t wear them as you speak, as you will hear your own voice booming back at you. If you leave them on you may well misjudge your own volume and end up shouting.

Even if you think you understand the language that a question is delivered in, beware of relying on your own interpretation. Mistakes in conversation can be quickly rectified on a one to one basis; misunderstandings in a complex multi-lingual environment will only lead to confusion. Leave interpretation to the professionals.

Choose your English very carefully. Avoid jargon, slang and abbreviations. Even within a profession or industry each language has a different way of expressing the same idea.

Nevertheless there are occasions when technical words are unavoidable. Make a list of technical terms you are likely to use and get it into each of the interpretation booths before you speak.  That gives the interpreters time to consult dictionaries and each other and is very much appreciated. If you are going to read a speech, let them have an advance copy.

Most interpreters work into their native language. They are trained to deal with Plain English. Their knowledge of English and the various cultures in which it is used will vary widely. They particularly dislike the American habit of using language from the baseball field.

Many interpreters have never played golf, don’t know the name of a football player and certainly don’t know what it means to “bowl a googly”.  And if like me you occasionally lapse into rhyming slang or some other regional variation – don’t even go there.

Have a good conference.

ENDS

© David Hallam is a former Member of the European Parliament and public speaking trainer. www.davidhallam.com