Andrey Pavlovich Chuzhakin Met RosNOU Students

Andrey P. Chuzhakin’s working languages are Russian, English and Portuguese.

It was an informal meeting, with the lecture hall full of lecturers, tutors and students. Andrey P. Chuzhakin spoke about the work of an interpreter in the USA and in European countries, including interpreting of high officials’ speeches. He also spoke about the criteria for those who seek to get a job in this sphere.

«Actually there is no difficulty working as an interpreter for Kremlin or White House officials. A conversation is usually held in a friendly atmosphere and the subjects and topics are well known. It is rarely a lasting event. Most of such meetings are brief. The only thing that may cause a problem is agitation of an interpreter which is the main disadvantage of anyone doing the job. The interpreter is subject to embarrassing mistakes if he or she is unable to cope with agitation. The reporters are hungry for such things. And the interpreter is quoted time and again which causes even more embarrassment».

Andrey P.Chuzhakin marked out several important qualities of an interpreter. First of all an interpreter should have perfect command of the mother tongue, be a man or a woman of great erudition. In addition to that he or she should be well informed about the current international situation.

«UN staff interpreters begin their day with international news to get some idea about possible subjects of the upcoming conference».

Speaking about the professional interpreters training, Andrey P.Chuzhakin highlighted that Russia is famous for its substantial education. It is easier for young people in Europe to become an interpreter because there are many bilinguals there. That is why they have to study just the technique of interpretation. In the USA there is no special system of interpreters training as the English language has become very popular all over the world. But when they train experts, for instance, those who will get a job in the Pentagon, students are supposed to master declamatory art, practice in voice-training and breathing methods in addition to other subjects.

Then Andrey P.Chuzhakin answered some questions of those present.

Q. - Could you say what languages are in great demand now? The so called rare languages, like Arabic, for instance, or popular international languages, like English?

An. - In my opinion today you cannot do without knowing a language of international communication. And as for the rare languages you have mentioned, I would say French can be regarded as one because the demand is limited. Chinese, Japanese and Korean are in great demand but it’s another story. For a Russian student the more exotic the language is the better. On the other hand, whatever the language one may choose, expert interpreters are always in great demand. So it’s the question of the standard of training. There are 35 vacancies in the UN headquarters in New York right now but the competition is quite tough and few interpreters meet the requirements.

Q. - Andrey Pavlovich, I have read that you worked for many political leaders and high officials, interpreted for them. Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, Mikhail l Gorbachev, Andrey Gromiko. What can you say about their language skills compared to that of modern politicians?

An. -In the times of the USSR many Soviet political leaders derived from the families of workers and peasants and their education left much to be desired. They didn’t learn foreign languages. However, as you probably know Stalin was a bilingual and treated interpreters with respect. Nowadays a politician is supposed to know a foreign language, so as to be able to keep up a conversation. Vladimir Putin has a perfect command of German. He sometimes even corrects some interpreters’ mistakes. But they never take offence. Dmitry Medvedev can speak English but he usually relies on his interpreter. In general, on official occasions each political leader speaks his or her mother tongue but in case he or she wants to show deep respect to the people of the country where he or she comes on a visit, he or she can speak its language.

Q. - In what case is a person considered to be unfit for the job of an interpreter?

An. – As for a translator, the reason may be poor command of the mother tongue. As far as an interpreter is concerned, it is the lack of necessary skills, i.e. inability to overcome obstacles, handle stress and withstand heavy duty.

Q. - What career opportunities may an interpreters have?

An. - In the USA or in Europe if you become an interpreter, it’s a career you will pursue till the end of your life. In Russia an interpreter may become an ambassador, a vice-president or a head of department. Do you remember one of our former foreign ministers, Mr. Ivanov? He started his career as a translator but after awhile became a minister. So the prospects are quite bright.

Translated by students of Humanities and Foreign Languages Department
under supervision of
Head of Theory and Practice of Translation Chair
E.P. Trofimova