In 1956, during a diplomatic reception in Moscow, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev told Western Bloc ambassadors, "My vas pokhoronim!".

1956 年一場莫斯科的外交晚宴中，蘇維埃政權的領導人 Nikita Khrushchev 對西方集團的代表們說「My vas pokhoronim (俄文)」。

Your French is really fluent and I wonder if you can render this French passage into English for me.

你的法文說得很流利，我在想你是否可以幫我將這個法文文章的段落翻成英文。

His interpreter rendered that into English as, "We will bury you!"

他的口譯員翻成英文：「我們會將你們埋葬！」

分詞構句

This statement sent shockwaves through the Western world, heightening the tension between the Soviet Union and the US who were in the thick of the Cold War.

這句話震驚了西方世界，讓蘇美關係在冷戰期間更加緊繃。

Some believe this incident alone set East/West relations back a decade.

有些人認為，單獨這事件就延誤了東西方關係足十年的發展。

As it turns out, Khrushchev's remark was translated a bit too literally .

但後人發現，口譯員僅依字面上的意思，翻譯了 Khrushchev 的話。

Given the context, his words should have been rendered as, "We will live to see you buried," meaning that Communism would outlast Capitalism, a less threatening comment.

根據當時的情境，這句話應譯成：「我們在你死後仍會長存」，意即共產主義將遠遠勝過資本主義，這樣翻譯聽起來也較不刺耳。

Though the intended meaning was eventually clarified, the initial impact of Khrushchev's apparent words put the world on a path that could have led to nuclear armageddon.

雖然後來終究釐清了原先的意涵，但最初 Khrushchev 字面上的意思，差點促成了核戰世界末日。

So now, given the complexities of language and cultural exchange, how does this sort of thing not happen all the time?

那麼，在複雜繁瑣的語言和文化交流下，這種事為何不常發生呢？

Much of the answer lies with the skill and training of interpreters to overcome language barriers.

這大多得歸功於口譯員的技能和培訓，才能夠克服語言間的障礙。

For most of history, interpretation was mainly done consecutively, with speakers and interpreters making pauses to allow each other to speak.

過去，逐步口譯的比例較多，意即演講者和口譯員輪流發言。

The advent of new technologies have changed our lives entirely.

新科技的出現徹底改變了我們的生活。

But after the advent of radio technology, a new simultaneous interpretations system was developed in the wake of World War II.

但因為無線電的出現，二戰後發展出了「同步口譯」的系統。

In the simultaneous mode, interpreters instantaneously translate a speaker's words into a microphone while he speaks without pauses, those in the audience can choose the language in which they want to follow.

同步口譯時，口譯員會立即對著麥克風口譯演講者的字句，中間沒有暫停，而聽眾們可以自由選擇想聽的語言頻道。

On the surface, it all looks seamless, but behind the scenes, human interpreters work incessantly to ensure every idea gets across as intended.

儘管表面上看似天衣無縫，但實際上，口譯員得兢兢業業地確保每個理念都照原意傳達。

It takes about two years of training for already fluent bilingual professionals to expand their vocabulary and master the skills necessary to become a conference interpreter.

對於已經能流利切換雙語的人來說，需要花大約兩年的時間培訓，擴充單字量和掌握口譯的必要技巧，才能成為一位會議口譯員。

To get used to the unnatural task of speaking while they listen, students shadow speakers and repeat their every word exactly as heard in the same language.

為了適應「邊聽邊說」的技能，學生們會試著跟讀講者並照原文重複他們聽到的字句。

In time, they begin to paraphrase what is said, making stylistic adjustments as they go.

隔一段時間後，他們會練習講出原文大意，並針對用詞做出些微調整。

At some point, a second language is introduced.

這個技巧熟練之後，才會加入第二種語言。

Practicing in this way creates new neural pathways in the interpreter's brain, and the constant effort of reformulation gradually becomes second nature.

這種練習方式讓口譯員的大腦新增了神經通路，讓重組句子的功夫逐漸變成一種習慣。

Over time and through much hard work, the interpreter masters a vast array of tricks to keep up with speed, deal with challenging terminology, and handle a multitude of foreign accents.

隨著時間和努力不懈的練習，口譯員便能練就一番技巧，可以跟上講者的語速、準確地翻出專有名詞、或馬上理解五花八門的口音。

They may resort to acronyms to shorten long names, choose generic terms over specific, or refer to slides and other visual aides.

他們會選擇將冗長的字詞翻成縮寫、或是以較廣泛的名稱代指專有名詞、或是參考投影片和其他視覺輔助工具。

They can even leave a term in the original language, while they search for the most accurate equivalent.

他們為自己在原文中預留轉圜餘地，同時在腦中思索著最精準的替代詞。

Interpreters are also skilled at keeping aplomb in the face of chaos.

口譯員能夠在一片混亂中處之泰然。

Remember, they have no control over who is going to say what, or how articulate the speaker will sound.

記住，口譯員完全無法掌控誰要說些什麼，或是講者是否咬字清晰。

Also, they often perform to thousands of people and in very intimidating settings, like the UN General Assembly.

此外，他們常在成千上百人面前口譯，甚至是在令人生畏的場合下口譯，如聯合國常會。

To keep their emotions in check, they carefully prepare for an assignment, building glossaries in advance, reading voraciously about the subject matter, and reviewing previous talks on the topic.

為了做好最萬全的準備，口譯員在會議之前會謹慎預習，事先編輯詞彙表、針對該主題廣泛閱讀、並不斷複習過去的會議或演講。

口譯員通常會成雙成對地搭擋，

I’m afraid that I can’t answer you these questions because they’re not pertinent to our topic today.

我恐怕無法回答你的這些問題，因為他們跟今天的主題無關。

While one colleague is busy translating incoming speeches in real time, the other gives support by locating documents, looking up words, and tracking down pertinent information.

當一人在忙著即時翻譯演講時，另一人會協助他尋找文件、查詢字彙、並蒐集相關資訊。

Because simultaneous interpretation requires intense concentration, every 30 minutes, the pair switches roles.

由於同步口譯得聚精會神，所以搭擋每半小時會對換角色。

Success is heavily dependent on skillful collaboration.

成功的口譯仰賴合作無間的夥伴。

Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic.

語言很複雜，若抽象或細微的理念被誤翻了，後果將不堪設想。

As Margaret Atwood famously noted, "War is what happens when language fails."

正如 Margaret Atwood 的名言：「當溝通失效，戰爭將一觸即發。」

Conference interpreters of all people are aware of that and work diligently behind the scenes to make sure it never does.

在所有人中，會議口譯員明白這個問題，並在幕後努力不懈，確保戰爭不會因此爆發。

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