The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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Vol/53 No/5 2014 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER The Linguist 27 FEATURES on membership unless Maltese was recognised alongside English. In the light of that, Ireland argued for Gaelic to be recognised, though it agreed – like Malta – to limit interpretation to key meetings. This has opened a discussion on the possible use of regional languages, with both Catalan and Basque knocking at the door. Finding quality Recruiting enough interpreters of high quality is a major administrative headache. Member states are responsible for professional and vocational training, and the EU does not have its own interpreting school. For some member states, the language question is a matter of serious politics; for others, it is an issue they would rather neglect. Some finance interpreting schools; others do not even insist on a foreign language in the secondary curriculum. Therefore the Interpretation Service fosters good relations with university languages departments, in particular those with strong postgraduate reputations. It is in its interests to encourage the training of interpreters, and especially the use of European languages. Cosmidou mentioned the universities of Leeds, Bradford and Manchester in the UK. She also supports an e-learning project that has been running for three years and already seems to be increasing the number of good graduates coming into the profession. Asked what qualities make a good candidate, she replies: "Just three key elements. First, an openness to personal interaction: you must like people. Second, a lively personality: you must like speaking as well as listening. And third, you must be curious, interested in everything, never bored." She, herself, studied French and Greek Literature at Athens University and began her career teaching languages in a secondary school. After attending an interpreting school in Geneva, she taught translation and interpretation at university before being invited to take over the Greek interpretation booth in the Parliament. Working her way up to become Director General, she enlarged her studies to include Law and International Relations. She retires at the end of the year. Talking more about Parliament's needs, Cosmidou stresses that they are not looking for 'walking dictionaries'. "We can always add languages to a good interpreter, to one who shows the right approach," she says. "You have to understand what people say, even if they do not always express themselves clearly. Interpretation is there to help understanding." In the European Parliament, interpretation is now often relayed through five major language booths – English, French, German, Italian and Spanish – and to work in those booths you ideally need three more passive languages. In smaller booths you may need only two passive languages, says Cosmidou, and then, almost as an afterthought, adds that it would help if you could also work actively into one of the five major languages (in all of which she is fluent herself). Little wonder that the interpretation service is keenly seeking good candidates, as well as established professionals, particularly in the UK. Such linguistic skills are rare, and hence well rewarded. Nearly half of Parliament's interpreters are on staff; the rest are freelances. The staff costs are hard to identify, as they are spread across different headings in the personnel budget, but the freelance bill comes to €49 million a year. The multilingual aspect of the EU is said to account for 30% of its €70 billion administrative budget. On the basis of those figures, multilingualism costs each European citizen about €40 a year. The Directorate-General for Interpretation estimates that interpreting in Parliament costs €2-2.5 per head every year. It seems to me not a high price to pay for understanding each other when political decisions that affect citizens throughout the EU are being made. A COMPLETE SERVICE Interpreters at the European Parliament