The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022 - 26

Interpreting Is a
Performance Art
Much like each
character in a movie,
every person we
interpret for has a
different voice. As
interpreters, we
have to honor their
voice and be true to
their style and how
they wish to express
themselves.
By Javier Castillo
W
hen we're
interpreting,
we're essentially
" on stage " and performing
for an audience. Sometimes
it's an audience of two:
a doctor and a patient.
Sometimes we're in a
courtroom with 30 people.
Sometimes we're at a
conference speaking to 200
people. And sometimes we're
being broadcast live from a
booth at presidential debates
with millions of people
listening to us.
In addition to all the
linguistic aspects, our work
involves performance.
Thinking of yourself as
an actor giving a stellar
performance will help improve
the quality of your work.
The Actor
A question I always ask
during the presentations
I give is what traits do
good actors have? Without
fail, these are some of the
answers I get:
y They are charismatic
and convincing.
y They pay attention to detail.
y They have pleasant voices
and understand the
importance of conveying
the right tone and proper
amplification.
y They control their
body language.
y They have excellent
memories.
y They learn their lines.
y They prepare for
their roles.
y They are directable.
y They are confident.
y They have good
stage presence.
y They sometimes have
to ad-lib and think on
their feet.
Now, which of these traits
doesn't apply to interpreters?
The answer is that all the
traits good actors have
are also shared by good
interpreters.
Be Daniel Day Lewis,
Not Tom Cruise
There are certain actors
whose personalities,
characteristics, and
mannerisms always outshine
those of the characters
they're playing. It doesn't
matter if the movie is about a
military lawyer, a bartender,
or a spy; it's always Tom
Cruise you see. Likewise,
when you hear that voice
of wisdom, you know it's
Morgan Freeman. There are
dozens of actors like this.
Now, compare them to
an actor such as Daniel Day
Lewis, who is famous for
going beyond method acting
and taking his preparation
for roles to the extreme. For
example, learning to speak
Czech for The Unbearable
Lightness of Being, remaining
wheelchair-bound while
filming My Left Foot, and
learning to survive in the
forest for Last of the Mohicans.
The result of his total
immersion is a portrayal
of characters who are
completely different from
one film to the next. You only
see Hawkeye, or Abraham
Lincoln. Daniel Day Lewis,
the actor, is gone. What you
see and what you hear is the
voice of the character.
That should be the
result when you interpret.
Your mannerisms, tics,
idiosyncrasies, and " personal
voice " should disappear
completely. Your audience
should only hear the
voice of the person you're
interpreting for.
26 The ATA Chronicle | November/December 2022
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The ATA Chronicle - November/December 2022

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