United Nations Interpretation Service

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Interpreters' booth at UN peackeeping meeting at UN Headquarters, 2009 (cropped)

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John Foster Dulles, Adlai Stevenson, and Eleanor Roosevelt at UN

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UNSC Summit 2005

United Nations Interpretation Service is a crucial component of the United Nations (UN), responsible for providing simultaneous interpretation services to facilitate multilingual communication during meetings, conferences, and other events organized by the UN. The service is essential for upholding the UN's commitment to linguistic diversity and ensuring that all six official languages of the UN—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish—are represented and accessible in its deliberations and documentation.

History

The United Nations Interpretation Service was established shortly after the founding of the UN in 1945. Its creation was driven by the need to foster clear and effective communication among member states, which speak a multitude of languages. The service has since become an integral part of the UN, evolving alongside advancements in interpretation technology and expanding its capabilities to meet the growing demands of the international community.

Function

The primary function of the United Nations Interpretation Service is to provide simultaneous interpretation for meetings and conferences across the UN system. This involves the real-time translation of spoken communication from one language into another, allowing participants to speak and listen in their preferred language. The service covers a wide range of events, including sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, and various committees, commissions, and conferences.

Interpreters working for the United Nations Interpretation Service are highly skilled professionals who possess not only fluency in at least two of the UN's official languages but also a deep understanding of cultural nuances and specialized knowledge in fields relevant to the UN's work, such as international law, economics, and environmental science.

Challenges

One of the main challenges faced by the United Nations Interpretation Service is the inherent difficulty of simultaneous interpretation. This task requires interpreters to listen to a speaker in one language, process the information, and then convey it in another language, all in real time. The complexity of the topics discussed at UN meetings, coupled with the need for precision and nuance in diplomatic communication, makes this a particularly demanding job.

Additionally, the rise of new languages of diplomacy and the increasing use of technical and specialized terminology have posed challenges for the service. To address these issues, the United Nations Interpretation Service continuously trains its staff and adopts new technologies to enhance the quality and efficiency of its interpretations.

Training and Development

The United Nations Interpretation Service places a strong emphasis on the training and professional development of its interpreters. This includes rigorous language training, familiarization with the UN's areas of work, and continuous learning to keep up with evolving linguistic and technical demands. The service also participates in outreach and training programs to nurture the next generation of interpreters, including internships and workshops for aspiring language professionals.

Impact

The work of the United Nations Interpretation Service is fundamental to the functioning of the UN, enabling it to serve as a truly international body where all member states can participate and contribute on an equal footing. By breaking down language barriers, the service facilitates dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among nations, thereby playing a vital role in the pursuit of peace, security, and development around the world.