A day in the life of a conference interpreter
It’s Monday, and we get an urgent request: an advisory meeting on climate change and human mobility. It’s the kind of space where important conversations happen between key bodies such as international organizations, government representatives and experts. However, as it often happens, no one has taken language access into consideration. There is no real budget and we are contacted at the last minute; interpreter association codes would usually all advise against this. The meeting is also scheduled very early for 6 a.m. my time.
Yet, we say yes.
Why? Because we know how critical these conversations are. This meeting could bring new insights into how climate change, forced displacement, war and migration are all connected, as well as how they accelerate one another in devastating ways. Even though we didn’t have enough time or information to prepare properly, we accepted. Because if we’re not there, who will get left out of the conversation?
This time, we put together an agenda with some talking points and did what we always do: researched as much as we could and braced ourselves to learn as we go. Interpreters aren’t born knowing every term in every field. We rely on preparation, glossaries, biographies and background materials. The reality is, perfect interpreting conditions are rarely met.
Although I cannot share what was said due to confidentiality purposes, I can tell you that it was a particularly difficult task. The terms were specific and technical; there were times where I understood the idea but I was unsure about the exact equivalent in the target language, so we looked things up mid-meeting while still interpreting. I believe I once read that interpreting is like running a marathon while reading a textbook: at full speed and in two languages at once.
Nonetheless, despite its challenges this meeting really moved me. It reminded me just how intertwined social justice issues are. Climate change isn't just about rising temperatures, it’s also about people being pushed from their homes; it’s about conflict, inequality, greed, and colonial histories still playing out… and it's overwhelming. Sometimes I wonder, how much can we really change through these conversations?
There are days when I leave a meeting like this one feeling small. Power structures are so deeply embedded, so resistant to change. Yet, despite all this, one thing keeps me going: if we can’t communicate across languages, across systems, across cultures, how can we even begin to solve anything?
That is why I keep showing up. Even when the prep is rushed, the pay is unclear and the expectations are sky-high. Because as interpreters in social justice spaces, we’re more than messengers. We unite people and facilitate difficult discussions. We carry people’s stories, their fears, their solutions; we help make these conversations possible.
Blog entry courtesy of Tatiana García,
Workforce Development and Training Lead
