Why does communication matter? To accomplish anything, people must communicate. In the days of high-tech mobile products, people are often looking down at screens and not at people. We make eye contact with computers, not consumers. In order for international meetings, global business ventures, or any exchange of ideas to be successful, we must be present, engaged, and contribute to the discussion.
Whether you’re working in the long white halls of a hospital, surrounded by the formality of a courtroom, or attending a multinational meeting or exhibit, if two or more people don’t share a common language, they aren’t able to communicate effectively. This lack of communication can have serious implications for medical diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes, legal proceedings, and for international negotiations. People often ask, “Why does communication matter? After all, doesn’t everyone know English, anyway? I can study my phrasebook, and they can use their knowledge of English, and we can get along just fine, right?”
A smile may be a universal language, but people do more than smile – they express unique ideas, expound on theories, discuss proposals, and develop plans for the future. Interpreters bridge the gap between two or more people’s languages and cultures by helping them communicate in such a way as if the very interpreter were not present. People may speak to one another as if they all spoke the same language, using “I” instead of “Tell him that I said…” People are naturally more comfortable communicating in their own languages, ideas may be expressed more precisely, and cultural misunderstandings are not only minimized, they may be avoided all together.
When presentations are given to groups, this flawless communication is even more evident, as the interpretation is provided nearly simultaneously with the original. Interpreters are able to appropriately reenact culturally-specific body language (hand gestures, facial expressions, and movements) even as they provide a spoken interpretation to match these cultural expressions.
So, why does communication matter?
- People can fully exchange ideas and discuss topics in order to come to a consensus or increase awareness
- Medical conditions may be researched, treatments attempted, and outcomes evaluated
- Fair trials may be conducted, defendants may accurately present their side of the story, and laws may be explained and understood
- International innovations may be made known, revolutionary concepts may be expounded upon, and theories may be explored in practice
So where do interpreters come in? It’s quite simple – they make all of these extraordinary points possible. If interpreters did not exist, international understanding would be limited and a model for medical and legal practices would still be mysterious.
Interpreters act as water which serves to carry languages and cultures from one person to another in facilitating communication. They ensure ideas from one language flow into another without disruption, that cultural concepts find their equivalent in another, and that humor mixes well, regardless of the language or culture involved.
Are you an interpreter? Why does communication matter to you? If you aren’t an interpreter, why do you think interpreters are important? We would love to read your thoughts in the comments.
