Being A Bilingual Interpreter Essay

Bilingual ≠ Interpreter
It's not uncommon when faced with a monolingual, foreign language speaker to find a workplace or social service grabbing the first available bilingual employee available to serve as an interpreter. Surely, the main goal is just to get the bigger points across and anyone bilingual can do that, right? Wrong. On both counts. The point is rarely to convey only the main points and anyone bilingual can't necessarily do that. If they can't do that, then they certainly can't match the nuance and skill of a trained interpreter. Likely, if consulted most bilingual employees roped into serving as interpreters would actually confess they lack the skills and vocabulary to truly function as an interpreter.
In situations where information needs to be conveyed from one language to another, it is best to hire a professional interpreter because their skills extend beyond an understanding of two languages.
Fluency
Most "bilingual" people have an understanding of more than one language and can make themselves understood in both. But, interpreters have to be able to fluently translate information quickly and accurately without taking time to clarify statements or consult with outside experts or texts. An interpreter won't ask a doctor to reword a treatment directive into something they are better able to translate.
Additionally, because of the speed
A bilingual person is often unlikely to have the specialized language necessary to accurately and completely translate every aspect of a complex conversation and no one wants to face the repercussions an incorrect testimony, a poor health decision, or a misunderstood tax filing. A good interpreter understand fully the information being conveyed and how to adjust it to the equivalent in a target