Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Former U.N. interpreter advises Kidman for role By COLLEEN LONG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations lofty white skyscraper and sleek ‘50s architecture are the backdrop for the new thriller “The Interpreter,” which makes everything about this international peacekeeping agency exciting. Likewise, Nicole Kidman plays a blonde who can translate French into English into several African tribal dialects. She uncovers a sinister plot, and it’s up to government agent Sean Penn to stop it. But the job of a real U.N. interpreter is quite stressful in different ways — rigorous oral exams, required knowledge of “passive” languages, long hours, few breaks and difficult accents from impassioned delegates. Rriaiff** A n^-l __ n_1 U of the U.N.’s interpretation department, served as a consultant for the film, working with director Sydney Pollack and showing Kidman the ropes. She spoke to The Associated Press about difficult situations and wardrobe malfunctions: AP: How often did you work with Nicole Kidman? ANDREASSIER-PEARL: She came once. She spent a whole morning at the U.N., I took her to a booth at the Security Council and showed her how it was done. She spoke to some of the interpreters then she came back here to this very office, and she asked a lot of questions. It was a big thing, I tell you, when she entered this room. Everybody was looking. It’s not every day you see Nicole Kidman in your office. AP: Did you see her practicing? ANDREASSIER-PEARL: I came when they were shooting- Yes, I saw her, I thought she was good, but you see little scenes here and there and I’m anxious to see the whole thing. AP: How do you prepare for work? Andreassier-Pearl: We have some glossaries made here, and a good database for terminology. Also, people read the newspaper so they can be up to date with what’s going on. Also the U.N. Journal. AP: Do you learn the delegates’ voices after years in the booth? ANDREASSIER-PEARL: Sometimes. We know that some delegates are horrible and when they ask for the floor we just shudder. AP: What if a delegate has terrible grammar? What do you do? ■> ANDREASSIER-PEARL: We have to go with the flow, nothing we can do. Sometimes what comes out of the interpreters’ booth sounds much better than what is on the floor. AP: Has there ever been a case where an interpreter refused to interpret something? ANDREASSIER-PEARL: You have to (do it). That’s the profession, there are ethics. It doesn’t happen much at the U.N., but if people were to insult each other, you have to. AP: What if they say something like ‘I think we should make nuclear war?’ ANDREASSIER-PEARL: It’s simultaneous interpretation. You have to interpret everything you hear. You cannot choose. First of all you don’t have time, it goes very fast. AP: Do you speak your other languages often? ANDREASSIER-PEARL: I was an interpreter for more than 20 years from Spanish into French. I cannot speak Spanish, because I never practiced speaking Spanish. I never had the opportunity. I know very well how to translate from Spanish into French, in writing or orally as an interpreter, no problem. But you ask me to have a conversation in Spanish, I cannot do it. That’s why we call it a ‘passive language.’ AP: Have you ever not known a word in a speech you are interpreting? ANDREASSIER-PEARL: Of course ... You have to remember we work in the context. If we don’t know a word, it depends if it is an adjective or something, the context usually gives it away. You know what they are talking about. AP: OK, how do you interpret “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch?” ANDREASSIER-PEARL: Oh, it takes you by surprise. That’s what is really hard for the interpreter in the booth, when you listen to a speech, when they quote this kind of idiom it’s a nightmare. The translation of that into French would have nothing to do with chicken and eggs, you have to convey the idea. I would say: 11 ne faut pas vendre la peau de Fours avant de l’avoir tue. (You mustn’t sell the bear skin before you’ve killed the bear.) AP: How about “it’s cool?” ANDREASSIER-PEARL: C est chouette. (The literal translation is, “It’s an owl.”) AP: What about “wardrobe malfunction?” ANDREASSIER-PEARL: This is so absurd. I have no idea what we would say. I thought of it when I read it in the paper. Because, you know, once an interpreter always an interpreter. But because I don’t go to the booth anymore I didn’t inquire further. Some of my colleagues might have come up with something. But even in English it’s absolutely weird. ■ MOVING Continued from page 10 Take It or Leave It program with Campus Facilities, Student Government and other student organizations. The program sets up drop boxes in residence halls where students can leave items they no longer use. Donations help benefit organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Sistercare, Harvest Hope and the Salvation Army. Old clothes and shoes, unopened food, toiletries and appliances make good donations. Drop-off points are also located outside many residence halls for materials like cinder blocks, loft wood and carpet, which go to local organizations or are recycled. By donating unwanted items at drop-off locations, students can avoid extra room charges. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gw?n.sc. edu | D VD Releases I Summer Storage Special We Love... Free Storage! Don't know what you're doing with all your stuff this summer? Get a storage unit so you know it'll be there when you come back in the fall! They're your possessions ... take care of them. These two locations offer unit sizes perfect for student needs and budgets. Call about our summer college special while space lasts! i WoodhillMall HRHS9 i-Ktt inume 10 um. 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