Translator collapsed during Khadafy's rambling diatribe

[rayofreason]

Source: NY Post

After struggling to turn Khadafy’s insane ramblings at the UN into English for 75 minutes, the Libyan dictator’s personal interpreter got lost in translation.

"I just can’t take it any more," Khadafy’s interpreter shouted into the live microphone – in Arabic.

At that point, the U.N.’s Arabic section chief, Rasha Ajalyaqeen, took over and translated the final 20 minutes of the speech.

"His interpreter just collapsed – this is the first time I have seen this in 25 years," another U.N. Arabic interpreter told The Post.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/translator_collapsed_during_khadafy_EAHR9j2jHOt8Y6TFRhrcQM

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I assume he brought his Amazon Body-Guard-Babes as well.

http://www.nerve.com/dispatches/harris/killerbodies/

[drm604]

1. LOL

I saw just a couple of minutes of his ramblings. That was more than enough. I would have collapsed also.

[ginnyinWI]

2. just to clarify one point--

The article had it right--the guy is an interpreter. Your post title is incorrect--the guy isn't a translator--at least not in what he was doing for Khaddafy.

My daughter is a translator, and it's a sore point with her: a translator works on paper with foreign language documents, and an interpreter works with spoken language.

People are always saying translator when they mean interpreter--so don't feel bad. Just wanted to point it out, that's all. :)

[rayofreason]

5. Agreed...

...but the title of the post was the title of the article with no edits on my part.

Copy editors often fall short when it comes the factual issues, especially when they are looking for a snazzy title.

[No Elephants]

9. Never knew that. Thanks.

[RedCloud]

11. And while the interpretation is going on, the bastards think of more crap to say!

I tried doing interpretation but it is like having your brain raped. They delight in having you say their words but then do not EVER think about how you need a break from time to time.

"It's my brain and I want it back right now!"

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. Yes, thanks from another TRANSLATOR for pointing this up

People ask me if I work court trials, and I have to explain patiently that I'm a TRANSLATOR, not an interpreter, and that these are different skill sets.

By the way, interpreters either work in relay teams or get frequent breaks. It's a mentally exhausting process, which is one reason why I don't do it.

[DRoseDARs]

3. How do you say, "That was so terrible I think you gave me cancer!" in Arabic?

Second Futurama reference I've been able to make tonight! Huzzah!

[obliviously]

4. I listened for about

30 minutes. The translator had such a thick accent he needed a translator. I hadn't heard that he didn't make it all the way through. They should have shut his mike off after 30 minutes. He never did say anything with any substance.

[No Elephants]

8. He was scheduled to speak for 15 minutes. They should have cut him off at 20, at most.

On the other hand, the length of Daffy's speech caused postponement of Ahmahdidajob's speech, which must have disaccomodated Ahmadidajob some. Talk about mixed feelings!

[BluDemocratGirl]

6. He could've told Khadaffy Duck that his time to speak was up!

Maybe the translator was fed up with him. Khadaffy Duck was suppose to speak for ONLY 15 minutes He had spoken for an hour and 39 minutes!

[davidpdx]

7. The guy should sue him

for psychological suffering...and so should the rest of us.

[No Elephants]

10. You know your diatribe is insane when your interpreter is collateral damage.

Oh, the humanity!

This is another example of the falsehood of that childhood rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Stick this, Mother Goose!

[Libertas1776]

12. UN "Scanners" moment

Khadafy’s Arabic interpreter
"Why is he still talking? It's been way more than 15 minutes."

Khadafy: "It should be called the 'terror council' not the security council"

Translator: "Uh ha, hm."

K:"I don't know how this will be translated, but if we add more water it will be muddy..."

T:"Is he still talking?"



K:"Jack Ruby, an Israeli, killed Lee Harvey..."

T:"What?!!"

K:"'Swine Flu,' perhaps tomorrow we shall have 'Fish Flu.'"

T"I just can’t take it any more!"

[On the Road]

13. Sounds Like Something from a B Movie

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!

(collapses on floor)

[Igel]

14. 75 minutes? That's insane.

It qualifies as abuse. Simultaneous interpreters are good for 20, maybe 30 minutes. Exceptional ones can go a bit longer before their output starts to degrade--accuracy starts to crumble, accent in their non-native language starts to degrade, they start to stumble and drop out more and more stuff.

No single sane simultaneous interpreter would ever sign a contract for something like that. Scheduled to go 15 minutes and there's no safety net? Well, okay; having a buddy to help when you draw a blank is helpful. But the further over 25 or so minutes you go, the more you want to require tag-team intepreting.

I've only done it a few times (and that was mostly whispered), but after 20-25 minutes you're ready to sit and be as mindless as possible, especially if you're not coming into it fresh but have been working for a while.

[grantcart]

18. I visited an immigration trial where one interpreter was used for 20 defendents

he had to interpret both ways (from the defendents and from the judge)


He kept his eyes closed and went through two bottles of water.

It helped that most of what was being interpreted was repetitive - "Do you understand your rights as I have explained them to you".


He worked very hard.

[hedgehog]

15. Someone else will have to find a picture, but I knw where he got the idea

for the female body guards - from T'Challa, the Black Panther.

[ThePantaloon.com]

16. I collapsed, too

I mean, the guy is hard to look at.

[question everything]

20. I tried to watch, after all he came right after Obama

but after 20 min, or so, of rambling I turned TV off.

[AlphaCentauri]

17. Another rambling scene, what was Khadafy talking about?

[LeftishBrit]

19. I suppose being Gadhafy's personal translator must come pretty high up on the 'nightmare job' list!

[4_TN_TITANS]

22. I was sincerely trying to listen to Kadaafy's speech

but the interpreter butchered it really well. I thought he made some good points about the UN charter and the wars that have been illegally started by UN members.

The interpreter lost me after that.