26 Awkward Conversations Interpreters Had to Translate

‘I had to interpret their insults to her’
26 Awkward Conversations Interpreters Had to Translate

Barring some interpreter. For a low-stakes interaction like a dinner order on vacation, a computer might do, but for conversations where accuracy is paramount? You probably need to bring in a real person.

Unfortunately, those conversations are often important because they’re incredibly sensitive. Which means interpreters can end up stuck in the middle of a conversation that none of the three people involved really want to be having. In the Reddit thread below, translators, interpreters and those who have used them share some of the most uncomfortable information they’ve ever had to transfer between languages, including one son who learned more than he wanted to about his father.

SteadfastEnd . 6y ago Edited 6y ago This may not be awkward/uncomfortable per se, but I once worked for an American teacher in Taiwan who expected his interpreters to be able to translate puns into another language. Не did not or would not understand that a pun in English isn't a pun in Chinese. 5.5K ...
annana 6y ago Edited 6y ago I'm a translator, which means I only work with the written word. Not normally anything particularly juicy. However, | once had to deal with a landlord writing to Facebook to try and get Facebook(!) to take down derogatory comments from his tenants. Basically, the landlord was accused of giving apartments to people who would sleep with him, so I had to translate a whole bunch of comments calling him a horndog, saying the whole towerblock had been under his desk, etc. Someone called him the Lidl version of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, which I thought was
Edit: I actually did once have to interpret between a woman having a stroke and a first aider (NOT as a professional interpreter, just happened to be there and speak her language). I did ok at getting her info and keeping her calm waiting for the ambulance, but then the paramedics wanted me to tell her that she was probably having a stroke and I couldn't the word... so | said she was having a brain attack:/
Another one is being called to the ER and then upon arriving, finding out it's a person I know outside of work, like a family friend. In that situation, I would try to get someone else to interpret because of ethics, but it's still a tough situation, because you want to help as much as you can while you wait on someone else to take over. I honestly could go on and on, but these are usually the exceptions, as I love my job. There's just some days that are more difficult than others.
vilhjalmurengi 6y ago There are a few. One of the worst is having to relay bad news, like cancer diagnosis, especially when the doctor is extremely blunt or hurried. As an interpreter, you cringe and wish you could change even just the tone or the insensitive wording to make it sound more humane, but you really shouldn't because as an interpreter your job is to relay the info as closely as possible. Another difficult situation is when you're called to a patient that is coding (this was especially difficult when I worked with pediatric patients at the Children's Hospital and
ctngu a 6y ago Similar to others, not an actual translator but my parents spoke poor English when I was younger. When | was 12 they filed for bankruptcy and took me to the lawyers office to translate for them. Having them go through and tell me everything they blew money on was extremely uncomfortable. Now as an adult they get offended when | don't want to take financial advice from them.
mine was what I'm assuming was a deaf young lady and her boyfriend because the conversation very quickly turned from how are you doing to I want to to tie you spread eagle on the bed and lick you all over. This continued for about 15 minutes but the best part is all the cubicles around you hearing you loudly and very clearly speak (so the voice recognition doesn't fuck up) graphic, depraved sex acts while they are trying not to lose their shit laughing and still keep up captioning an old ladies cookies recipe.
Contrariwise2 6y ago My elderly parents spoke English very poorly and I often translated for them. After my father ed away, I took my mother to the Social Security office to take care of paperwork. One of the questions they asked was whether there were any other potential beneficiaries of my father's benefits such as other children or ex wives. Being an only child, I immediately answered no. My mother asked me what the question was. I interpreted with my answer. She looked at me sheepishly and answered, 'that's not exactly correct'. It was then, at the age of 50
smittyleafs 6y ago Ok, so my parents are divorced and my dad is deaf. He's not the brightest fellow, so I sort of manage his medical stuff for him when his parents ed away. Now typically I'd book a sign language interpreter for medical appointments so I can just take notes and ask questions, but this time I didn't bother... figured I could just interpret. Now dad had a new girlfriend, and I had the joy of interpreting my father's struggles with erectile dysfunction.
Also one of his first ever clients saw his doctor was Indian and signed where's my curry. That was pretty fucking awkward, especially when the doctor then asked what the sign meant.
Meear 6y ago My cousin is a sign language interpreter and he says a big problem he and his clients have is that people talk to him rather than the client. Even at really important things like doctor appointments, the doctor will spend ages asking my cousin where he learned BSL while the Deaf client just wants to get their medical issue looked at. It's against policy for my cousin to hold their own conversation with the doctor when he's working, as he's only there to help the client understand what people are saying.
Lebbeast . 6y ago My most awkward/ uncomfortable moment by far was when I had to interpret for an Iraqi national who was briefly detained by the British Army in the early years of the war and was seeking compensation for it. The poor guy had bren rounded up with a bunch of friends/ coworkers, beaten senselessly, and r d more than once. That was a rather painful conversation.
Most uncomfortable for other people in the audience was interpreting a sex education curriculum training for teachers. I was in heaven because it's not often I get to use all the sex-relates signs but it was funny to see so many adults who were so embarrassed by talking about sex. Also sad that they would be taking that shame/embarrassment back to the classroom.
Lastofherkind . 6y ago | was interpreting for an elementary age Deaf girl. She was having trouble understanding an issue at school and some of the other students started mocking her. I had to interpret their insults to her. I felt absolutely torn apart by that.
| followed a nurse into a room where the patient was waiting. Now, I know nothing about the patient, I'm only there to translate what the nurse says, so when the nurse says You're pregnant! I gave a huge smile and went estas embarazada!!!! :DDDD Patient stares in shock for a second, and then bursts into tears. The nurse stammers a bit, and then goes...... no bueno.......?
meropenem24 . 6y ago Not a translator but I use their assistance all the time at the hospital. The worst was telling a family their loved one just died then having to wait like 10 seconds for the interpreter to say it. Then the family is distraught and crying and asking questions and you have to slowly interpret everything back and forth.
The_Golden_Image . 6y ago I'm an immigration officer who works with inissible aliens (people who are not authorized to enter the country for reasons like criminal records, ties to terrorism, or previous immigration violation). I have put so many translators in so many uncomfortable positions over the years.
cronicasmarcianas . 6y ago Translator here! Probably, the time when | had to explain to a patient that she had a vaginal infection. I had to stand next to her and watch her fully naked.
linkman0596 . 6y ago Not a translator, but my mom was a dispatcher for a translation agency for a while. Most awkward incident was when she had to explain to a woman why she couldn't get them an ASL translator over the phone...
Arachnid_the_acrobat . 6y ago I'm an ASL interpreter at video relay call center and | have had to interpret plenty of uncomfortable conversations, but most recently | had my first phone sex call.
indigoassassin . 6y ago Different Spanish speaking countries have vastly different definitions of concha, pendejo, malando etc etc. You could be talking about a specific type of bread in one country and lady parts in another.
SouthernGirl2016 . 6y ago My husband is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Не used to go to the movies with his parents and sit in between them and sign for them. Yeah, the steamy car scene in Titanic is always awkward for a young child to explain to his parents.
Yumyumsauce5661 . 6y ago Not an interpreter, but when | did a study program in a foreign country we had one of the students translate the teacher's to our group on a big project. Our group did our project at the last minute and the teacher was so critical about our assignment the student refused to translate the teacher's comments because they were so harsh. Our project was awful and the presentation was embarrassing as fuck but I had a lot of fun in the country so I can laugh about it now.
One memorable call had my interpreter flustered as I had to explain to an Arabic man that he did not have insurance on his last phone and would need to pay full price for a replacement. I the interpreter's anxiousness at translating the rudeness very well. Interpreter: The customer say that he...oh...oh he, um...he say that...oh my very goodness. Не say, that...he say you a very rude man. When I get really beside myself I'll mutter, Oh my very goodness.
Penwibble 6y ago My time has come!! I used to work as a corporate personal interpreter for visiting executives. What the personal means is that my job didn't end with the workday. I would go around with these execs from morning to night (and sometimes through the night, depending on their plans...) just interpreting/translating whatever they needed. This included any leisure activities. And WOW, executives visiting Japan sure leap to wanting to find sex as soon as they can. They'd make sure I signed an NDA, and off we would head to a red light district.
thumbstickz . 6y ago I work tech and often have to use a language line. My favorites are Asian languages and when people are pissed. The interpreters bless their hearts will faithfully translate, but every so often will say They are saying not kind things about you personally

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