Tolmács

A tolmács (Hungarian for "interpreter") is a person who facilitates oral or sign-language communication between two or more parties who do not share a common language. The interpreter converts a message from the source language into the target language, conveying the meaning and intent of the original speaker as accurately and naturally as possible.

There are several modes of interpreting, including:

• Simultaneous Interpreting: The interpreter renders the message in the target language at the same time as the speaker is speaking. This is often used in conferences and large meetings, where the interpreter sits in a soundproof booth and speaks into a microphone. Listeners use headsets to hear the translated audio.

• Consecutive Interpreting: The interpreter speaks after the original speaker has finished a portion of their speech, typically a few sentences or a short paragraph. The interpreter may take notes during the speaker's delivery to aid in recall.

• Whispered Interpreting (Chuchotage): The interpreter sits next to a small group of listeners and whispers the translation to them simultaneously.

• Relay Interpreting: Used when no interpreter is available who speaks both the source and target languages directly. The message is first interpreted into an intermediate language, and then another interpreter translates from the intermediate language into the final target language.

• Sight Translation: The interpreter reads a document in the source language and orally translates it into the target language on the spot.

Interpreters require a high level of linguistic proficiency in both the source and target languages, as well as cultural awareness and subject matter expertise. Professional interpreters often undergo rigorous training and certification. They adhere to a code of ethics that emphasizes accuracy, impartiality, and confidentiality.

The role of an interpreter is distinct from that of a translator, who works with written text. While both professions involve converting information between languages, they require different skill sets and approaches. Interpreting demands real-time processing and delivery, while translation allows for more time and revision.