The three leaders spoke different languages: Roosevelt and Churchill communicated in English, while Stalin spoke Russian. Highly qualified interpreters played a vital role, ensuring that the negotiations were accurately understood by all sides. They not only translated words, but also captured the tone, nuances and cultural context of the messages.

Without this linguistic mediation, the decisions taken during the Yalta Conference could have been distorted, jeopardizing the agreements that shaped world geopolitics in the following decades. Effective interpretation was key to avoiding misunderstandings and building a productive dialog between leaders at such a critical moment in history.

This case shows how interpretation goes far beyond language: it is an essential bridge to diplomacy, cooperation and mutual understanding, which are also sorely needed today.

By Christiano Sanches
Translator & Conference Interpreter
AT-CENTRAL DOS INTÉRPRETES

Interpreters work in the world of oral communication, at international conferences, congresses, seminars, training sessions, business meetings – wherever there are people sharing information in different languages. Interpreting can be consecutive or simultaneous.

Consecutive translation is when the speaker speaks for a few moments and then interrupts his/her speech to give way to the interpreter who, alongside him/her, conveys that content in the language of the listeners. This is what we usually see at presidential meetings or visits. In simultaneous interpretation, the speaker’s words are simultaneously conveyed to the meeting participants wearing headsets by interpreters sitting in soundproof booths.

The translator, on the other hand, works alone in front of his computer, in a quiet environment, translating written content, which can be literary or technical.

Literary translation is well known to everyone and it is thanks to it that we can access works of world literature even without mastering English, French, German, Arabic or Russian. Literary translation is considered an art and some say that it takes at least the soul of a writer and poet to translate literature.

Technical translation requires precision and knowledge of the subject matter. It’s anything that isn’t fiction – reports, contracts, balance sheets, standards, patents, documents, engineering texts, manuals, websites, medical articles, etc.

By Lucia Melim
Consultant Interpreter
CENTRAL DOS INTÉRPRETES

This is the case with translation and interpreting: translators need access to the original texts and documents, of course, in order to carry out their work. Interpreters, likewise, need to receive the study materials – speeches, presentations, videos – in advance for proper preparation. In addition, at the event itself, they will take part in debates and discussions that are often internal to the organisations.

No wonder the AIIC – Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence, which is based in Geneva and brings together more than 3,000 interpreters from all over the world, has dedicated two articles to the subject in its Code of Ethics:

II. Code of Honour

Article 2

Members of the Association undertake to observe, ‘erga omnes’, total and absolute professional secrecy with regard to everything they have learnt in the exercise of their profession at private meetings.

Members of the Association shall refrain from deriving any personal benefit from any confidential information to which the exercise of their duties as conference interpreters may have given them access.

‘Even so… giving away that confidential contract to strangers… transferring that file full of sensitive information about my product, my organisation… exposing my numbers to a team of 6 interpreters in several languages…’

Don’t worry, we’re trained professional interpreters, members of AIIC and APIC  –Professional Association of Conference Interpreters in Brazil, under similar rules on confidentiality — and we strictly adhere to the rules.

Naturally, Central dos Intérpretes will be more than happy to sign an additional Confidentiality Agreement should you need one. Do let us know.

We care about security and your peace of mind

By Lucia Melim
Consultant Interpreter
CENTRAL DOS INTÉRPRETES