modernity...

My colleague on this job, whom I would call a friend, told me not to take offence but she'd prefer not having to share it with me.

'It' was the console in our booth for this job. Having one console for the two interpreters that usually work together for each language is rare these days with the standard Philips and the slightly more modern Bosch DCN interpreter desks. (Maybe I should start photographing all the non-Philips and Bosch consoles I get to see for anyone who is interested in seeing the variety there is out there. Too geeky? Never mind.)

Having only one console is a little distracting as when I interpret, I don't want my colleague fiddling with MY console, which is unavoidable if we are working from the same one. This particular system was also at least in the configuration on this particular site rather prone to mobile phone interference, the bane of every conference interpreter (right up there with feedback from headphones hung around the neck at full blast while having the microphone open). It is usually louder than the audio from the speaker which has two effects:

a) the interpreter can't hear what is being said and hence can't interpret it, which defeats the purpose of having interpreters, and

b) damages the interpreter's hearing due to the very sudden and much higher decibels.

This is not really what I was going to write about but while I am at it: SWITCH MOBILE PHONES OFF when you are working with simultaneous interpreters. One more myth from the world of conference interpreting is that switching a phone to mute will somehow make it inaudible. This is not the case as every time the phone sends or receives a signal, it causes interference. Some mobiles these days are not as bad, but the worst culprits are the ever so popular Blackberries.

So let me repeat: switch your phones off. The interpreters do, and we are also running a business and expecting important calls or new bookings at any given moment. Still, our phones are off out of respect for ourselves, our colleagues, and you, the delegates. All we ask in return is that you make sure that we can do the job you have hired us for without any undue hindrance. Besides, texting and sending emails during a conference just shows how much you want to be there. Think about it...