Korea Puts Spotlight on Interpreters

As talk continues about a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, two major news outlets wondered about the challenges interpreters will face in interpreting their conversation. Both The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast contacted ATA Headquarters for background information and contacts. ATA's Public Relations Committee followed up with answers.

For Sam Stein's piece in The Daily Beast, Korean interpreter and former ATA Board Director Jacki Noh used her experience to explain that the differences in the language spoken in North Korea will not be a problem for an experienced South Korean interpreter. Long-time ATA member and Association Spokesperson Judy Jenner provided the reporter with details of interpreting as a profession. The article does a great job of showing the skills interpreters need. Read "If Trump Calls Kim Jong Un A ‘Fat Toad,’ His Interpreter Will Have to Translate It."

The Boston Globe's David Scharfenberg tackled the same issue, but from a different perspective. ATA put Scharfenberg in touch with Harry Obst, a long-time ATA member who has literally been there and done that—he has interpreted for seven U.S. presidents. Against the backdrop of his personal story, Obst answered the question of why it will be important to have an American interpreter in the room. The article is a terrific insider's view of political interpreting. Read "How Do You Translate Donald Trump into Kim Jong Un’s Korean?"

In both cases, ATA's Public Relations Committee responded quickly, putting the reporters in touch with the contacts they needed. Working with The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast, and last year with CNBC's Where the Jobs Are, shows that ATA is a respected resource for major news outlets. And that's good for translators and interpreters everywhere.