How much of our daily life and habits are determined by our native language and culture? If you have ever tried to communicate with someone from a different cultural background, it quickly becomes clear that people are heavily influenced by their culture and language. An interpreter acknowledges that cultural and language differences will always exist and understands what needs to be considered when interpreting.
People perceive different languages in various ways, and for good reason. A person’s native language affects the way he or she thinks and perceives the outside world, according to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. While this hypothesis is highly debated, an interpreter should consider whether or not they think this is true in their opinion. An interpreter should consider how they think in the languages they interpret between, whether emotional tone varies between languages, and if thinking in a specific language affects cultural or linguistic perception. Once an interpreter has a firm grasp of whether any cultural and language differences exist, they can interpret in a way that maintains the source language’s original meaning and tone.
I find the language I speak affects my personality and how I express myself. In English, I feel more casual and less refined, regardless of how politely I speak. When speaking in Japanese, though, I sense a change in my personality. In that language, I feel both more polite and considerate towards people. This also may be because I am consciously aware of needing to use the proper forms of address in various situations. While the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is debated, if an interpreter agrees with the hypothesis, then they can interpret any cultural and language differences with this concept in mind.
Just as different languages may affect perception, culture affects how humans communicate. In some languages, like English, speaking informally and loudly is seen as friendly, while in other languages, speaking in the same manner is thought of as rude. Make sure speakers of the second language feel comfortable by explaining the typical communication style for the given setting (formal, quiet, energetic, etc.). This will help prevent misunderstandings caused by cultural and language differences.
Miscommunication may occur without an understanding of both cultures. Be aware that many cultural customs such as bowing, prayer before meals, and cultural phrases cannot be directly rendered from one language to another. Instead, inform your clients of the other culture’s customs. This ensures that your client will know what to do in a given cultural situation. Not everything can be directly interpreted. In such cases, provide those involved with an explanation of relevant customs. Your clients will understand more about the cultural and language differences that exist, how to accommodate these differences, and how best to communicate effectively as a result.
Languages cannot be interpreted seamlessly from one into another; the process involves adapting language and cultural differences that may not be easily defined. This is inherent in language itself and how it is used, but is also seen in the language’s associated culture. People may not be aware of each language’s differences, so the interpreter should provide information on these distinctions. By doing so, the interpreter can help prevent miscommunication.
Are you fluent in more than one language? How do you think the language you think and speak in affects your perception of the world? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
