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Interpretation: Background & Need
The interpretation has very wide connotations in the 21st century. Gone are the days when interpretation meaning used to be very parochial. With the advent of colonialism in the second half of the 2nd millennium, the scope, importance, and objectives of interpretation as a service have gone through significant transformations. When colonial powers like Great Britain and the French extended their colonies to the African continent and Asia, interpretation suddenly became a pivotal but crucial pillar for day-to-day communications between the colonial powers and the subjects.
If you are already perplexed by this amazing historical chain and wondering what would be the ideal way to understand and define interpretation practically, and not with the dictionary definition like interpretation meaning in Hindi, we have got you covered for that. One can realize interpretation as the diluted form of translation, transliteration, transcription, and transcription with less focus on accuracy and more on the intentions, feelings, and flow with which the message was initially conveyed.
There are many ways of classifying interpretation, and one way is to bind it within the realm of script and language. For example, interpretation can be made in the same language and another.
Importance of Interpretation
The importance of interpretation has only increased multifold in the 5G era as the information-overload saga continues. Interpretation also becomes the center stage of our lives because businesses revolve around the capitalism theory in the aftermath of the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, meaning they need to connect with the target audience in their preferred languages using a mix of translation as well as interpretation. MNCs and global bodies like the United Nations, OIC, and SCO, among others, can function properly because it is the interpretation that bridges the language gap there and enables 7100+ language-speaking countries to communicate.
Following are the ways in which interpretation asserts its importance in the 21st century:
1. Business-Oriented
Businesses of today’s age can not function without interpretation. This importance can simply be understood by the fact that for manufacturing something in region-A, raw material comes from region-B & C, employees come from region-D & E, and the manufactured products are sold in the region- F, G, and H — all these regions are usually situated in far away from one another, and speak a different language. The standard bridge that connects them is interpretation. For example, Chinese goods are sold worldwide.
2. Improves Social Ties
Interpretation is not only an essential prerequisite for businesses to function, but it also acts as the glue that binds people from different backgrounds, nationalities, regions, and ethnicities, improving social ties and forming the basis of a trust-based, meritocratic society, which is free from prejudices. For instance, one can easily discuss nuances of meaning in Hindi in a gathering full of people coming from different linguistic backgrounds if they use interpretation.
3. Booster for Academics
Interpretation is the heart and soul of academics as well as literature. You must be aware of the great works of Einstein and Aryabhatta — had there been no interpretation of their works from the original languages to others, what would have been the state of scientific advancement today one can only marvel at. The same goes for other subjects like law and medicine.
Language and literature also have been reaping the fruits of interpretation as poems and stories by great writers of one language have reached the readers via interpretation and translation. Additionally, some language interpretation has also been pivotal in expanding the horizon of the readers and writers of the same.
4. Reduces misunderstanding friction
It’s true. Interpretation acts as the lubricant that reduces the friction of misunderstanding arising from language barriers or cultural nuances. Imagine how much a french-speaking diplomat would prefer an English language interpretation for his press conference at the European Union, for interpretation leaves no room for doubt and misunderstanding.
5. The melting pot of cultures
Yes, it’s right! Without interpretation, one can not imagine a pluralistic society with multicultural, multi-linguistic, multi-ethnic, and multi-dialectic people coming together and co-existing peacefully in harmony. Interpretation facilitates this process and acts as a catalyst for the same. That is also the reason why countries like The United States and the United Kingdom are the preferred destination for international students and other immigrants coming from different linguistic countries
6. Barries: No Bar
Interpretation removes all kinds of berries that thwart communication and understanding. It also fills the gap left over by the four Ts (translation, transliteration, transcreation, and transcription). It ensures that the meaning and intentions are conveyed to the target group as seemingly as possible without any linguistic, cultural, or other hindrances. In this way, it also acts as a significant enabler for globalization and the seamless flow of goods and services from one linguistic region to the other.
Types of Interpretation:
Professional interpretation services have multiple kinds, each serving a very particular objective. Although, all categories have the same ultimate goal: to make things accessible and comprehensible to the target audience.
There are as many as six types of interpretation. Read on to learn about these types.
- Remote simultaneous Interpretation
- Simultaneous Interpretation
- Consecutive Interpretation
- Whispered Interpretation
- Relay Interpretation
- Liaison Interpretation
1. Remote Simultaneous Interpretation
Remote Simultaneous Interpretation is a modern version of simultaneous interpretation. In remote simultaneous interpretation, the interpretation is delivered remotely using a virtual means or in hybrid form, with some interpretations being delivered offline without using virtual means. The importance of remote simultaneous interpretation has even expanded in the aftermath of the Covid-induced lockdowns worldwide when meetings and classes were confined to the virtual mode only.
2. Simultaneous Interpretation
Simultaneous interpretation relies upon interpreters who are experts in both the original as well as the target languages. These interpreters are responsible for an instant on-the-spot translation with minimum delays. This is also known as “conference interpretation’, and is very useful as it is time-saving and cost-effective, although prone to errors.
3. Consecutive Interpretation
Consecutive interpretation has a time-consuming workflow as the interpreters allow the speaker to go on for a while. Once the speaker stops, the interpreter begins his work, and this process goes on. This type of interpretation relies on the interpreting as well as the consistent note-making ability of the interpreter. Since the interpreter has to wait while the speaker speaks, the entire process becomes time-consuming, as compared to other forms of interpretation.
4. Whispered Interpretation
It is a kind of informal interpretation practice wherein an interpreter whispers to a handful of audience members from the primary audience. This kind of interpretation is best suited for informal gatherings where accuracy comes after feeling in precedence. For example, consider yourself going to an Asian wedding in the United States with one of your Asian friends, who whispers into your ears the essence of the wedding ceremony.
5. Relay Interpretation
Relay interpretation refers to that form of interpretation in which interpretation goes through more than one layer of the process before it can finally be consumed by the target audience. This is generally preferred in those situations when the end-to-end translators for the original and the target language are not available.
6. Liaison Interpretation
This is also called the ‘dialog’ interpretation. It is mainly perceived as an informal form of a conversation conducted to foster personal relations. For example, two business partners, who speak different languages, meet informally on the weekends in bars to increase their personal bonding, which would positively affect their business.
Interpretation, Businesses & the 21st-century
Interpretation and businesses have a budding relationship in the 21st century. The businesses have high expansion ambitions cutting across continents. It is here that MNCs and other businesses rely heavily on interpretation services to reach their target audience.
Catering to this very need, Process9 has been raising the bar higher in the interpretation and translation industry. With years of experience and expertise, we provide the go-to options to businesses looking for expansion across linguistic regions. Our software products — Mox Veda and Mox Wave — take interpretation and transition hassles out of the business operation and enable brands and companies to reach their target audience in the target language effectively and flawlessly.
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