TED演讲:口译者如何同时玩转两种语言(3)

 　　Remember, they have no control over who is going to say what, or how articulate the speaker will sound. 要知道，译员无法控制谁会说什么，或者是发言人吐字是否清晰。

　　A curveball can be thrown at any time. 意外随时可能发生。

　　Also, they often perform to thousands of people and in very intimidating¹ settings, like the UN General Assembly. 他们常常要应对数干听众的大阵仗，比如联合国大会。

　　To keep their emotions in check, they carefully prepare for an assignment, building glossaries² in advance,  为保持情绪稳定，译员接到翻译任务后会精心准备，

　　reading voraciously³ about the subject matter, and reviewing previous talks on the topic. 积累词汇，查阅大量相关资料，回顾以往相关发言。

　　Finally, interpreters work in pairs. 最后，译员都是两两搭档。

　　While one colleague is busy translating incoming speeches in real time,  一个人实时翻译发言内容，

　　the other gives support by locating documents, looking up words, and tracking down pertinent⁴ information. 另一个人提供支援，如查找文件，查阅单词，搜索相关信息。

　　Because simultaneous interpretation⁵ requires intense concentration, every 30 minutes, the pair switches roles. 同传要求译员精神高度集中，因而每三十分钟，两人角色互换。

　　Success is heavily dependent on skillful collaboration⁶. 成功依靠的是默契配合。

　　Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic. 语言非常复杂，一旦抽象概念或细微差别的翻译不到位造成误解，后果不堪设想。

　　As Margaret Atwood famously noted⁷, "War is what happens when language fails." Margaret Atwood有句名言，“语言的尽头便是战争的开端。”

　　Conference interpreters of all people are aware of that and work diligently⁸ behind the scenes to make sure it never does. 大会口译员对此更是深有体会，他们在幕后用心地工作，为的是不让玛格丽特一语成谶。

1 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

2 glossaries   

（书尾的）词汇表，难词汇编( glossary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Textbooks sometimes have glossaries at the end. 教科书有时在书末附有词汇表。
• InsWeb: Auto Insurance Learning Center-Provides articles, reports, glossaries and information auto insurance. 提供汽车保险相关常识、报告、词汇等资讯。

3 voraciously   

adv.贪婪地

参考例句：

• The bears feed voraciously in summer and store energy as fat. 熊在夏季吃很多东西，以脂肪形式储存能量。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 pertinent   

adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的

参考例句：

• The expert made some pertinent comments on the scheme.那专家对规划提出了一些中肯的意见。
• These should guide him to pertinent questions for further study.这些将有助于他进一步研究有关问题。

5 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

6 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 diligently   

ad.industriously;carefully

参考例句：

• He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
• He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。