The
World Congress of the Universal Postal Congress at the Qatar National
Convention Centre involves delegates from 192 nations working over
three-weeks.
The number of languages spoken means a huge challenge for translators and interpreters who are headed by UPU’s chief interpreter Francois Butticker.
Butticker, who communicates flawlessly in four languages apart from English, is now a familiar figure at the venue.
The impeccable translations provided by Butticker’s team at different venues is what keeps more than 2,400 delegates engrossed in the panel discussions taking place in more than three or four languages at a time.
Interpretation services in French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Chinese are usually provided at all UPU forums. However, following requests from the Japanese and Portugal delegations, translations are also being delivered in Japanese and Portuguese this time.
Butticker, a veteran with three decades of experience in interpretation, including at major UPU meetings and conferences across the world, speaks German, Italian, Spanish and his mother tongue French.
He manages a team of 40 interpreters, each of whom is working at different panel sessions, attended by between 500 and 750 people.
Butticker, 55, is a product of Geneva’s School of Interpretation.
Their job has always been demanding especially when discussions on sensitive issues are taking place.
He said that translators and interpreters face a challenge when simultaneous commentaries need to be given during panel discussions. In such discussions no one knows what will be said by a speaker when his turn comes.
“At a major meeting like the UPU Congress, one needs to be extremely cautious when vital issues such as terminal dues are discussed as it involves a long list of facts and figures which keep changing at intervals. “Even a slight variation (rather than a momentary lapse) in the way things are presented, especially when figures and facts are to be announced, can lead to endless arguments, and controversy,” he said.
Butticker said that besides the main UPU International Bureau in Geneva, the forum’s translators are also stationed in Paris, London and Rome.
More challenging would be the job of those working in the bureau during the ministerial meetings to be held from October 8, when key delegates are expected for the Congress, said Butticker. Sometimes, translators’ services are sought at the eleventh hour without any prior notice, he added.
The UPU’s multi-lingual translation services started in the early 70s, according to the International Bureau, which is currently functioning at the venue of the Congress. On why Hindi, a language spoken by about one billion people is not in the list of UPU translations, bureau officials said no formal request has so far been made to accommodate Hindi.
The number of languages spoken means a huge challenge for translators and interpreters who are headed by UPU’s chief interpreter Francois Butticker.
Butticker, who communicates flawlessly in four languages apart from English, is now a familiar figure at the venue.
The impeccable translations provided by Butticker’s team at different venues is what keeps more than 2,400 delegates engrossed in the panel discussions taking place in more than three or four languages at a time.
Interpretation services in French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Chinese are usually provided at all UPU forums. However, following requests from the Japanese and Portugal delegations, translations are also being delivered in Japanese and Portuguese this time.
Butticker, a veteran with three decades of experience in interpretation, including at major UPU meetings and conferences across the world, speaks German, Italian, Spanish and his mother tongue French.
He manages a team of 40 interpreters, each of whom is working at different panel sessions, attended by between 500 and 750 people.
Butticker, 55, is a product of Geneva’s School of Interpretation.
Their job has always been demanding especially when discussions on sensitive issues are taking place.
He said that translators and interpreters face a challenge when simultaneous commentaries need to be given during panel discussions. In such discussions no one knows what will be said by a speaker when his turn comes.
“At a major meeting like the UPU Congress, one needs to be extremely cautious when vital issues such as terminal dues are discussed as it involves a long list of facts and figures which keep changing at intervals. “Even a slight variation (rather than a momentary lapse) in the way things are presented, especially when figures and facts are to be announced, can lead to endless arguments, and controversy,” he said.
Butticker said that besides the main UPU International Bureau in Geneva, the forum’s translators are also stationed in Paris, London and Rome.
More challenging would be the job of those working in the bureau during the ministerial meetings to be held from October 8, when key delegates are expected for the Congress, said Butticker. Sometimes, translators’ services are sought at the eleventh hour without any prior notice, he added.
The UPU’s multi-lingual translation services started in the early 70s, according to the International Bureau, which is currently functioning at the venue of the Congress. On why Hindi, a language spoken by about one billion people is not in the list of UPU translations, bureau officials said no formal request has so far been made to accommodate Hindi.
Source : http://www.gulf-times.com
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