ambassadors without diplomatic passport lives with great performances in diverse arts; saved human lives as rescue workers or medical professionals; worked selflessly in educational institutions or charities, etc. Some of these fine people have been part of international teams and won acknowledgement from their foreign colleagues. In contrast to these worthy efforts, we hear every day about instances of individuals or entities seeking gain for themselves only and using unethical or illegal means to achieve that end. These unfortunate developments, and the absence or inadequacy of action to combat them, have had an adverse effect both on the way in which the Czech Republic is perceived and on the mind-set of the society: too many Czechs appear to believe that it makes no sense to get involved. As on the global scale, the Czech Republic would benefit if the fine accomplishments achieved by Czech people served as a source of inspiration for others. Cooperation with our partners within the community of democratic nations to which we now belong is clearly of great significance. Exchange of expertise and experience with those who have dealt with similar issues as those that we face now can help us improve the overall environment in our country as well as its international standing. My vision of the Czech Republic sees it as a nation that acts on the international scene with self-confidence but also with respect for the opinions of others, as a reliable ally that is prepared to contribute to a common cause while enjoying the benefits of international partnerships.
occasion, I cannot do anything wrong now.‘ Interpreting for President Havel was an especially challenging task because of his special skill with the spoken word, and the significance that he attached to the choice of words when expressing his thoughts.
Photo: Archive
Please describe a working day of an interpreter accompanying a Head of State. The protocol often gives an interpreter only a chair but no lunch or dinner. How did you cope with the permanent Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, strain? And was it possible at all Alexandra Brabcová,and Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister, United Kingdom to experience something of the countries that you visited when accompanying President Havel? An interpreter must be fully concentrated on German is of major significance too, given the conveying the speaker’s message as accurately volume of German investments in the Czech as possible. This necessitates thorough Republic. Can you say that one of the two preparation. A professional interpreter should languages is closer to your heart? Each of the two languages has presented me study the issues that are to be discussed, so as to understand the context, know the terminology, with different challenges during my studies as the names and places that are likely to be well as my work, and each of them has enriched mentioned, etc. The more an interpreter learns me. While I use mostly English in my work now, before the actual work begins the easier it is to I have maintained contact with the German handle the stress that comes with the profession. language through my membership in the An interpreter must also acquaint himself or German-speaking Rotary Club Prag Bohemia. herself with the program of the visit, including And I enjoy reading books in both languages. particulars such as the dress code prescribed Sometimes I simultaneously read the original for individual events, so at to have proper as well as a translation and think of alternative clothes ready for each occasion. This is not just solutions for the translation of the tricky phrases. a minor detail – if I had found myself improperly Is there something you would recommend to dressed at an official event I would have felt uncomfortable, and this would have affected my those who seek to learn a foreign language? Learning a foreign language properly is performance. You interpreted messages of major An official visit is never long enough to get a long-term process, therefore, perseverance significance, such as President Havel’s talks to know a country. Official delegations are and patience are a sine qua non for success. To with foreign statesmen about the our country’s often admitted to places that are not open to make the hard work somewhat less hard, I would integration into NATO and the EU. You told the general public but the time that they can advise everybody to choose topics that they enjoy me once how much you were aware of your spend touring places of interest is very limited. reading about, and try to read texts about these responsibility for conveying President Havel’s President Havel always wished that the program topics in the language they are seeking to learn. message exactly as he meant it. What did you of his State Visits should include less formal Listening to foreign songs and watching foreign feel in such strongly emotional situations? gatherings or visits to places that do not belong movies helps in the same way. When you want to To this day, I remember how I felt when to the standard routes for official trips, such as understand a text because you are interested in I accompanied President Havel to his first a visit to the Australian Aborigines or a tour into the content you will have the motivation to look meeting with President George Bush back in the country in India. up the unknown words or phrases, and you will February 1990. Before the talks began, while get a better feeling for the language generally. the Presidents posed for the cameras, I kept At present English is in most cases the first The multiple opportunities that are available thinking: ‘This is such a truly momentous choice of language learners; knowledge of for meeting foreigners and travelling to foreign countries are an additional incentive for, and a great help in, learning languages. Linda Štucbartová graduated from the Institute of International Territorial Studies. After a one year scholarship at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew What should be done to ensure the and Jewish Studies, she obtained a Diplome d’études supérieures from best performance of an interpreter when the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. Between the interpreting is used at business meetings, and years 2002 and 2006, she worked in senior positions at the Diplomatic what is most often done wrong? Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2006 she has functioned An interpreter is expected to deliver a top class in the private sphere, and lectures at the Anglo-American University, where performance; therefore, the event organisers she was named the Chair of the Department of Diplomacy. In addition should provide conditions allowing him or her to to training in negotiation and communication of clients from the private, do so. public and non-profit sector, she regularly collaborates with NGOs in the As I mentioned before, it is essential that an projects of the International Global Young Leaders Conference and the interpreter is well prepared. For this purpose, he or Women and Leadership Programme. Linda Štucbartová is a member of the Rotary Club Prague she should be granted access to the background International. She currently works for Atairu. Articles are extracts from her book Velvyslanci i bez material. People who hire interpreters often fail diplomatického pasu (Eng. “Ambassadors without a Diplomatic Passport”). to realise this. Many times, an interpreter asking
TO BE CONTINUED WITH OTHER AMBASSADORS WITHOUT DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT
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