World Leaders Are Role Models For Translation and Communications Workers
Pulbic speaking has always served as an indispensable method of communication among translators and interpreters. Famous philosopher Pericles of Greece was right to acknowledge a long time ago that people who formed their opinions on what they could not understand had never actually had any idea what it was all about. Language translation, as the term suggests, is about passing your ideas to the audience, i.e. distributing them internationally aiming at influencing the listeners. History knows lots of occasions of people all over the world communicating their thoughts a larger international audience. Among many, we can point out prominent US orators like Ronald Reagan, Martin Luther King, Hillary Clinton, John F. Kennedy, Billy Graham, Cesar Chavez, Barbara Jordan, and Barack Obama. Famous public speakers worldwide will include former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, South African leader Nelson Mandela, Burmese champion of democracy Aung San Suu Kyi, and Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Prize laureate Wangari Maathai. As we go through these names we may say, “Good for them, but this has nothing to do with me. I have no intention of being like them.” Yet, translation, interpretation and communcatioun of high quality are on such a demand that we will certainly need them one day or another. Can you imagine yourself in any of these situations?
You are one of eight management assistants in an international distributor of automotive parts and accessories. The lower-management job that has just opened will be awarded to only one of you. A meeting is to be held at which the trainees’ qualifications will be assessed. Candidates are assessed on the basis of qualifications, work experience and any other essential managerial skills. Foreign languages and public speaking are not their strongest traits. However, you present the certificates obtained in your English to Portuguese Translation and the courses in public speaking. The only applicant who is capable of delivering a clear, concise and persuasive talk to Brazilian clients is you. Logically, you are given the job.
Imagine you were a Frenchman who, together with his family, has been moved to the company’s US office. One of your children has a learning disability. For budget reasons the local school board is going to cut off the position of the teacher who has been helping your child. At an open meeting of the school board, you use your skills developed from one of your previous employers, a French Translator company to stand up and deliver a thoughtful, compelling speech on the necessity for keeping the specialized teacher. Consequently, the school board decides to change its mind.
You are the assistant manager in the branch office of a global company. Your immediate superior is to retire and there will be a dinner party. All the top executives from the main office in Berlin, will be there. Being his closest colleague, you are asked to propose a farewell toast at the party. Your German Translation Services skills help you deliver a bilingual moving speech in which you acknowledge your supervisor’s achievements. After the speech, everyone applauds enthusiastically, and a few people have tears in their eyes. The next week brings you a promotion to a management position.
These could all happen to you. What most employers look for in university graduates is communication skills (translation and public speaking) – shows a survey conducted among 480 companies. Another survey conducted among college graduates in the work force asked them to rank the most important skills for their development. What was at the top of their list?
The significance of translation communication is unquestioned – in all spheres of business.
