Note: All the text of the introduction to the Simultaneous Interpretation chapter of The Interpreter's Rx is reproduced here. No attempt has been made, however, to make the HTML version look like the page layout of the book.
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Simultaneous interpretation, in which the interpreter speaks at the same time as the speaker, is seldom used in medical interpreting. We have nevertheless included this section on simultaneous both because some real-world medical interpreting situations may require simultaneous interpretation and because some medical interpreting exams include it.
Simultaneous interpretation is actually a misnomer, in that the word simultaneous suggests that the interpreter is interpreting a message as she hears it. In fact, there is a delay between the moment the interpreter hears a thought and the moment she renders that thought into the target language, because it takes time to understand the original message and generate a target-language rendition of it. Meanwhile, the speaker goes on to the next thought, so the interpreter must generate the target-language version of the first thought while processing the speaker's second thought, and so on. This delay is known as decalage, from the French word for time lag. The longer the interpreter is able to wait before beginning the target-language version, the more information she will have and the more accurate her target-language version will be.
Note that we have been speaking in terms of thoughts rather than words. It is the interpreter's task to convey the meaning of the original message. Every language organizes meaning differently, and trying to find direct equivalents in two languages often leads to absurd results.
Each simultaneous interpreting lesson in this chapter is preceded by a shadowing exercise on the same subject matter as the lesson. The purpose of shadowing-which means repeating what the speaker says, word for word, in the same language-is to help you later retrieve from memory words and phrases associated with the subject matter and in the language into which you will be interpreting. Shadowing practice helps your interpretation sound smooth and natural in the target language. When you shadow, try to lag a full thought behind the speaker. This allows you to become accustomed to speaking and listening at the same time. It is also particularly helpful in your second language, as it improves your pronunciation, enunciation, and speed. Moreover, repeating phrases constantly helps you retrieve them quickly when you are interpreting. Repeat the exercise as many times as necessary, until you can shadow everything the speaker says without omitting any words. Begin all of your simultaneous practice sessions with five or ten minutes of shadowing as a way of warming up.
The approximate speed at which each lesson is recorded is indicated in the script at the beginning of the lesson (e.g., 120 wpm). People speaking at normal conversational speeds may speak at anything from 140 WPM to 200 WPM or more. These exercises are designed for novice interpreters, however, and it is unrealistic to expect to be able to interpret at 200 words per minute at this stage. Additional speed will come with practice and experience.
Note that you may repeat the interpreting exercises as many times as you need; even if you have gotten to the point that you have memorized the tapes, you are still benefiting from the exercises. The lessons will develop the individual components of simultaneous interpretation (concentration, analysis, speed, etc.), and repeating them many times can only enhance those skills. Do not read the script while you are interpreting the tape; consult it afterwards to check for accuracy and to look up problem terms. The medical terms that appear in these lessons can be found in the glossaries in Chapter 4. Some of the Spanish terms used by patients in these lessons are included in "Terminos coloquiales relacionados con la medicina popular" in Chapter 4. Non-medical terms that may not be found in an ordinary bilingual dictionary are footnoted.
Be sure to record yourself on a second tape recorder when you practice these simultaneous exercises. Afterwards, listen to yourself critically. It is important to hear how you sound to the listener when you interpret. Make sure you enunciate clearly and use correct grammar (subject-verb and gender agreement, for example) and style (word order and phrasing) in your target language.
After the title of each lesson in this book, enclosed in parentheses, is the tape number and tape side on which the lesson is recorded (e.g., 2B, 3A, 3B, etc.).
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Directions: Shadow.
(110 WPM)
Toda enfermedad originada por bacterias o por cualquier otro tipo de microorganismo se considera infecciosa. A diferencia de enfermedades como la diabetes o el cáncer, los agentes que causan las enfermedades infecciosas o contagiosas pueden transmitirse de la persona enferma a la sana. Frecuentemente la enfermedad se transmite de una persona a otra por contacto directo. En otros casos, se vale de distintos medios, tales como los mosquitos o algún material infectado. En este último caso el contagio puede ocurrir a través de heridas de la piel o de las membranas mucosas que entran en contacto con el vector infectante. La fiebre escarlatina, la tuberculosis y la fiebre amarilla son ejemplos de enfermedades infecciosas.
Cuando una persona contrae una enfermedad transmisible, se presupone dos premisas: uno, el germen debe entrar en contacto con el cuerpo; y dos, el cuerpo debe hallarse en tales condiciones que permita la invasión del microorganismo y la producción de sus lesiones o toxinas características. Si el microorganismo logra penetrar en un sujeto sensible, se desencadena una verdadera lucha entre invasor e invadido; el individuo responde con mecanismos diversos para destruir al microorganismo invasor y sus toxinas.
La inflamación es uno de los medios de defensa natural del organismo contra las infecciones y otras lesiones. En torno a la zona afectada se produce dolor, calor, rubor e hinchazón. Ello se debe a un mayor aflujo de sangre al punto lesionado; la circulación se hace más lenta, por lo que la sangre se estanca alrededor de la lesión. A consecuencia de esto, se produce una exudación de plasma y un escape de células sanguíneas de los pequeños vasos a los tejidos circundantes, dando lugar a la hinchazón.
Los agentes causales de las enfermedades contagiosas incluyen las bacterias, los virus, los parásitos animales, y los hongos. Las bacterias existen por todas partes. En un ambiente favorable a su desarrollo, una sola bacteria es capaz de multiplicarse en cientos de millones en un periodo de 24 horas. Los desinfectantes y la esterilización son métodos muy eficaces en el control de las bacterias. Los virus son los más pequeños y misteriosos de todos los microorganismos patógenos. Sólo pueden reproducirse en el interior de la célula, y generalmente la afectan adversamente de dos formas: o estimulan un crecimiento anormal, o desintegran la célula misma. Los hongos son plantas de estructura simple, algunos de los cuales pueden parasitar al hombre y originar enfermedades. En general atacan la piel, el cabello, y las uñas, produciendo lesiones superficiales. Con menor frecuencia los hongos producen infecciones profundas o generales.
Directions: Interpret into Spanish
(110 WPM)
We'll need to do some lab work before we can be certain, but I'm reasonably sure your symptoms are due to an infectious disease of some sort.
Infectious diseases are, by definition, caused by the invasion of the body by micro-organisms that become established and reproduce themselves in the body. The symptoms of such diseases are the result both of toxic materials produced by those micro-organisms and of the immune system's response to the infection. The classical symptoms of infection are: Tumor (swelling), Rubor (redness), Calor (heat), and Dolor (pain). These four characteristic signs are collectively referred to as inflammation. Drugs used to combat inflammation-anti-inflammatories-may thus interfere with the body's defense mechanisms, and must be used with caution. That's why I don't want to prescribe anything for your inflammation until I know just what we're dealing with.
When invaded by almost any noxious organism, one of the body's most common reactions is to develop a temperature higher than the "normal" one of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). The victim is then said to have a fever; the body is demonstrating the calor I talked about earlier. The body may also demonstrate dolor in the form of muscle or head aches like the ones you've been experiencing. Rubor may manifest itself as a flushing of the skin. Tumor is often too diffuse to notice unless the infection is on or just under the skin. Your condition, for instance, does not include any readily apparent tumor.
It isn't always a good idea to interfere with the body's natural defenses by taking drugs that tend to suppress either fever or pain. We may inadvertently interfere with our body's ability to counteract the infection. Such powerful anti-inflammatory drugs as cortisone, for example, may allow certain infections to increase in severity. Tuberculosis is one such infection. I'm quite certain, by the way, that you do not have tuberculosis, but until we know exactly what you do have, I want to stay away from anti-inflammatories.
In the mean time, I wouldn't worry too much about the slight fever you're running. Fever itself is an effective tool in fighting infection. You might be interested in an experiment done with lizards to demonstrate that point. Lizards are cold-blooded animals1 that take on the temperature of their surroundings. A cage full of lizards was deliberately infected with a common germ. Then the cage was divided by a barrier, and the population of lizards was divided into two separate groups, one in each half of the cage. An infrared lamp2 and some shades were put over the cage in such a way that the lizards in one group could choose to bask3 in the warmth of the lamp or to stay in the shade, while the lizards in the other group had no choice but to remain in the shade. The lizards in the first group stayed in the heated part of their enclosure and increased their body temperature. Almost all of those lizards survived. The lizards in the second group, who were unable to heat themselves, were much more susceptible to the infection, and most of them died. Although there are many important differences between humans and reptiles, most doctors agree that the lizard experiment has significance in human medicine.
Although I believe your condition to be infectious, I doubt--based on the continuing good health of the rest of your family--that it is highly contagious. You see, all contagious diseases are also infectious, but not all infectious diseases are contagious. The difference is in how the disease is transmitted. If the disease can easily be transmitted from one person to another, like the "Black Death" (bubonic plague) of the middle ages, the disease is contagious. If the disease does not transmit easily to another person, then it is simply infectious. Tetanus is an example of an infectious disease that is not contagious. But don't worry, I'm sure you don't have tetanus either.
One of the things we need to find out through lab tests is whether your infection is viral or bacterial. The difference between viruses and germs is primarily the capacity for germs to live freely and reproduce on their own, whereas viruses require a living cell for their replication. The virus particle (much smaller than any germ) has to invade a living cell, capture the cell's genetic equipment, and force the cell to propagate the virus. Only antibodies can penetrate the cell and destroy the virus without also destroying the cell. That's why viral infections are so much harder to treat than bacterial infections.
Take this form to the lab next door, and we'll get started on the necessary testing.
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1. cold-blooded animal: animal de sangre fría
2. infrared lamp: lámpara infrarroja
3. to bask: disfrutar