The Linguist

24 The Linguist Vol/61 No/4 2022 thelinguist.uberflip.com FEATURES interpreters because he is familiar with many of the challenges they face. Going remote Like all linguists, the trio acknowledge recent challenges, including adapting to new ways of working during the pandemic and a keen awareness of the need to be receptive to changes in practices. As Marcos notes, "20 years ago, mention of the term 'remote interpreting' sounded like science fiction and no one would have thought this modality would one day (almost) prevail over face-to- face events. Interpreters and translators at all levels have had to learn to get to grips with new tools and working methods." Remote interpreting also brought massive changes in working methods at SCIC, and Daniel admits to "being very proud of what we achieved in a very short time in the face of a pandemic that nobody saw coming". Interestingly, he sees the future threats to human interpreting coming not so much from artificial intelligence as from the even greater use of English in some contexts. When it comes to change, for Marcos it is very much a case of "bring it on". He is in no doubt that hybrid events are here to stay, and unsurprisingly, the content of new MAs is already reflecting aspects such as remote simultaneous interpreting as key forms of communication. "My generation has learnt to surf this wave, let us see which waves come our way next," he says. Advice for newcomers When asked what advice she would give to new graduates, Jo recommended being "open to the wide range of possibilities for using your language skills – and make sure you enjoy it. Choosing to go freelance was the best decision I could have made, but it has not been easy. Also, never stop learning – either the languages you speak, or about the tools and technology being developed that could help you to do your job better." Marcos advocates a lot of soul-searching before embarking on a specific career path. "First and foremost be honest with yourself. After all your years of studies, are you fully determined to make a living interpreting and translating? Are you open to travelling, working hard on all your language combinations and turning your weaknesses into opportunities? If so, then try to identify your niche, your field of expertise, and devise a plan to achieve your goals, bearing in mind that the road will most likely throw up appetising detours that you might want to take. And should they lead to a cul- de-sac, well, just turn around and start all over again." His views will strike a chord with Daniel, who took a break in 2014 to do another MA, this time in Television Journalism at London's City University. Afterwards he worked as Assistant News Editor in the ITV Newsroom before realising that he "was much more suited to the world of interpreting". Despite the time that has lapsed, all three have fond memories of their days at Bradford. In Jo's case, the simulated conferences taught her a lot about her strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of teamwork. It was "very hard work", but made easier by the realisation that "everything was based on real life and was therefore totally applicable". For Marcos, "the good memories far outnumber the moments of tension and stress, and my time there partly turned me into the person and professional I am today." Shaping that person included taking care of his mental health and ensuring it wasn't all work and no play. Activities such as "socialising and playing in a jazz band became a counterpoint to the long and demanding hours in the library". The last words to the new generation of interpreters come from Daniel, whose advice is to "follow your dream but be realistic and have a second string to your bow. Interpreting is an unpredictable profession, especially for freelancers, so it is useful to have something else to fall back on, such as translation or a completely different skill." Happy 20th anniversary to all three. We might just look in on you again in another couple of decades to see where else your fascinating careers have taken you! Notes 1 Zafar, A (2022) 'Making Strides'. In The Linguist, 61,1 20 years ago, mention of ' remote interpreting' sounded like science fiction; no one thought it would prevail THEN AND NOW In 2002, the cohort listen to an interpreting performance by a student to give feedback (left); and (right) Jo Tillotsen at her desk today

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