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INTERPRETER SUPPORT for MILITARY OPERATIONS

INTERPRETER SUPPORT for MILITARY OPERATIONS. Gerard Seinhorst Foreign Language Centre Royal Netherlands Army. PRESENTATION OUTLINE. Background – the nature of the problem Workshop Aim Participants Topics Outcomes The way ahead a role for BILC?. BACKGROUND. Interpreters.

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INTERPRETER SUPPORT for MILITARY OPERATIONS

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  1. INTERPRETER SUPPORT forMILITARY OPERATIONS Gerard Seinhorst Foreign Language Centre Royal Netherlands Army

  2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • Background – the nature of the problem • Workshop • Aim • Participants • Topics • Outcomes • The way ahead • a role for BILC?

  3. BACKGROUND • Interpreters MISSION ESSENTIAL

  4. BACKGROUND • Interpreters FORCE MULTIPLIER

  5. ANOTHER VIEW ON INTERPRETERS Interpreters are at worst a nuisance and at best a necessary evil

  6. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT INTERPRETING • Anyone who speaks a foreign language can be an interpreter • Interpreting is easy • Interpreters don't need to understand what they are interpreting • Interpreters can be hired and deployed instantly

  7. THE TRUTH… • A professional interpreter is • bilingual • bicultural • accurate • impartial / unbiased • reliable / discrete • educated • experienced / knowledgeable • respected • available • compatible • physically and mentally fit

  8. THE TRUTH…

  9. THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM • How to find the right number of interpreters with the right qualifications in the right time? • Needs assessment • Recruitment, training, testing • Quality control • Tracking, registration, deployment

  10. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP • “Interpreter Support for Military Operations” • Ede, • The Netherlands • 24-25 April, 2007 • 14 participants from • Denmark • Germany • Norway • UK • Netherlands • NATO: Linguistic services SHAPE, SFOR, CC-Land HQ Heidelberg

  11. AIM OF THE WORKSHOP • To address issues concerning foreign language support during military operations • exchange experiences and knowledge • identify best practices in interpreter support • detect possible fields for multinational collaboration

  12. DISCUSSION TOPICS • Defining qualifications for interpreters in the military • Management of interpreter support • International co-operation in providing interpreter support

  13. OUTCOMES • Scope • “Linguistic Support” in general • Regular Follow-up Meetings • Separate MN Workshops? • BILC Permanent WG? • NATO Guidance • Allied Joint Publication ‘Linguistic Support for Multinational Operations’

  14. ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION 1. Planning & Preparation • Short and long term capabilities • Mapping (existing capabilities) • National and NATO OPR for linguistic matters • Coordination and cooperation among nations (through permanent NATO cell?) • Advance preparations • Phasing and redeployment • Timeliness

  15. ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION 2. Organization and Manning • Command & Control • Structure • Manpower (categories, functions, grades) • Job descriptions • Assessment and evaluation

  16. ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION 3. Recruitment and Training (1) • Categories of linguistic personnel (military, civilian, locally employed civilians) • Qualifications • Language skill levels • Translation/interpretation skill levels • Native speaker / non-native linguist • Locally employed civilians • Age, gender, ethnic background • Contracting

  17. ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION 3. Recruitment and Training (2) • Security clearance • Personal security • Training (language, techniques, ethics, military) • Testing (linguistic, medical, psychological) • Training of users of linguistic services

  18. ALLIED JOINT PUBLICATION 4. Operations • Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) • Users’ requirements • Support for linguistic services • Expectation management • limitations of linguists • limitations of technology (e.g. translation software)

  19. THE WAY AHEAD Allied Joint Operations Doctrine WG AJOD WG Meeting – September 2007 Panel • production of the AJP • permanent forum for Linguistic Support issues • link to BILC

  20. AJOD WG PANEL Temporary Point of Contact Mr. Ian Jones Head Linguistic Services SHAPE Tel. 0032-65-44 4733 E-mail: ian.jones@shape.nato.int

  21. ONE MORE MISCONCEPTION • Interpreters are expected to translate literally what is being said • But that should not be taken too literally…

  22. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

  23. QUESTIONS?

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