Classification Essay 200801262 EIT Seungmi Park
Qualifications as an Interpreter
Have you ever dreamed about being an interpreter? In the face of globalization, business transactions are carried out among countries in which people speak different languages, and diverse nationals attend international conferences. Interpreters are in need more than ever given that the demand to interpret other languages is at all-time high due to the nature of globalization. Then, who makes a competent interpreter? To be an interpreter, a person has to have linguistic knowledge, eloquence in speaking, and background knowledge on the matter that he or she's interpreting.
The most important attribute of an interpreter is linguistic competence. An interpreter should have a good command of both source language and target language to perfectly interpret both languages. It's fair to say an interpreter should speak both languages that he or she's specialized in to some extent that native speakers of the two languages do. Without linguistic knowledge, an interpreter wouldn't be able to perform the task properly and would have embarrassing moments at work.
In addition, an interpreter should be eloquent in speaking. Eloquence could be easily overlooked, but it's also one of significant qualifications of an interpreter. An interpreter would be faced with difficulties at work. He or she might forget what to say, murmur, or stutter. This would look very unprofessional to the clients, and the interpreter might lose the credibility as an interpreter. However, if the person is eloquent in speaking, he or she could deal with the situation with agility.
Last but not least, an interpreter should have broad background knowledge of the matter that he or she interprets. No matter how impeccably the interpreter speaks both languages, it would be impossible to fulfill the job without background knowledge. It's equivalent to wandering in a maze with a detailed map of the maze.
Interpretation job requires three crucial qualifications: linguistic competence, eloquence in speaking, and background knowledge. Each attributes alone doesn't make a skilled interpreter. A proficient interpreter should possess all three attributes because being an interpreter requires collective work of those three aliments. In reference to background knowledge as an interpreter, it is advisable to have a specific field that you are specialized in to be a professional interpreter.
1. I like the fact that you asked rhetorical questions in the introductory paragraph. It grasps the readers' attention and gives the readers something to think about before getting into the essay.
ReplyDelete2. Your main point seems to be that interpreters need three essential abilities: linguistic knowledge, eloquence in speaking, and background knowledge.
3. "It's equivalent to wandering in a maze with a detailed map of the maze"-This comparison was very helpful in understanding your argument.
4. Your essay was very clear.
5. Though I mentioned above that the phrase "It's equivalent to wandering in a maze with a detailed map of the maze" was helpful, it would be more logical if you change 'with'→'without'.
-Yun Jeong Lee 201002551
To Seungmi Park From Jisu Song Assignment Classification Essay
ReplyDelete1. What I like about this piece of writing is that you didn’t start your body paragraphs with “The most important~”, “The second important~”, and “The least important”.
2. Your main point seems to be the main abilities for interpreters.
3. These particular words or lines struck me as powerful:
“Each attributes alone doesn't make a skilled interpreter. A proficient interpreter should possess all three attributes because being an interpreter requires collective work of those three aliments.” These sentences are from your conclusion. I think this part clearly shows that this is a classification essay.
4. Some things aren’t clear to me. These lines or parts could be improved (meaning not clear, supporting points missing, order seems mixed up, writing not lively):
When you were introducing your essay, you mentioned business transactions being carried out. I think it may limit the whole process of global communication.
5. The one change you could make that would make the biggest improvement in this piece of writing is in your second body paragraph. You wrote “He or she might forget what to say, murmur, or stutter. This would look very unprofessional to the clients.” I think you don’t have to use ‘this would look ~’, because it will definitely look unprofessional to the clients. I think our professor talked about this last time.
Have you ever dreamed about being an interpreter? In the face of globalization, business transactions are carried out among countries in which people speak different languages, and diverse nationals attend international conferences. Interpreters are in need more than ever given that the demand to interpret other languages is at all-time high due to the nature of globalization. Then, who makes a competent interpreter? To be an interpreter, a person has to have linguistic knowledge, eloquence in speaking, and background knowledge on the matter that he or she's interpreting.
ReplyDeleteThe most important attribute of an interpreter is linguistic competence. An interpreter should have a good command of both source language and target language to perfectly interpret both languages. It's fair to say an interpreter should speak both languages that he or she's specialized in to some extent that native speakers of the two languages do. Without linguistic knowledge, an interpreter wouldn't be able to perform the task properly and would have embarrassing moments at work.
In addition, an interpreter should be eloquent in speaking. Eloquence could be easily overlooked, but it's also one of significant qualifications of an interpreter. An interpreter would be faced with difficulties at work. He or she might forget what to say, murmur, or stutter. This will look very unprofessional to the clients, and the interpreter might lose the credibility as an interpreter. However, if the person is eloquent in speaking, he or she could deal with the situation with agility.
Last but not least, an interpreter should have broad background knowledge of the matter that he or she interprets. No matter how impeccably the interpreter speaks both languages, it would be impossible to fulfill the job without background knowledge. It's equivalent to wandering in a maze even though you have a detailed map of the maze in your hands.
Interpretation job requires three crucial qualifications: linguistic competence, eloquence in speaking, and background knowledge. Each attributes alone doesn't make a skilled interpreter. A proficient interpreter should possess all three attributes because being an interpreter requires collective work of those three aliments. In reference to background knowledge as an interpreter, it is advisable to have a specific field that you are specialized in to be a professional interpreter.