Ditto
Becoming the Voice
When I moved to the United States as a teenager, I believed I had strong English skills. However, once I arrived, it quickly became clear that I was not being understood as much as I thought. I moved to the Dallas–Fort Worth area, where Texan felt like an entirely different language, y’all. Not only was I struggling with conversational English, but I was also trying to keep up with the demands of academic English at school. I was bullied for not understanding double meanings or slang, and even for my accent—in both English and Spanish—since the population was predominantly Mexican. Determined to fit in, I made it a point to sound as American as possible.
As my phonetics improved, I decided to take a community interpreter class. I knew firsthand what it felt like to be unable to communicate—to be unable to express yourself or be understood. Communication is an invaluable asset that we often take for granted. During the course, I learned about different interpreting styles and techniques used to accurately convey meaning, tone, and intent.
Simultaneous interpreters listen to the speaker in the source language and begin speaking in the target language almost immediately, with only a brief delay and without interrupting the speaker. This style is commonly used in press conferences, courtrooms, and large-scale events. A variation of this method is known as chuchotage, where the interpreter sits next to the client and whispers the interpretation in the target language. When I interpret simultaneously, it often feels as though the information passes straight through my brain and out of my mouth—I retain very little of it afterward.
Consecutive interpreters, on the other hand, listen to short segments in the source language while the speaker pauses to allow the interpretation into the target language. This back-and-forth exchange is ideal for smaller settings, such as medical appointments, interviews, or meetings. Regardless of the style, all interpreting requires focused listening, detailed note-taking, and clear, confident speech. When I interpret consecutively, I activate my short-term memory, quickly passing the information into the corresponding language.
Have you ever seen the movie Ghost? In the famous scene where Oda Mae Brown allows Sam Wheat to “enter” her body so he can feel Molly Jensen, I often think of interpreting. At its best, interpreting requires that same kind of surrender—becoming another person. Every emotion should carry through the interpretation: the punchline of a joke, the weight of a painful story, the urgency of a plea. The message should be delivered as if the speaker themselves were speaking, without barriers or intermediaries.
Interpreting is more than translating words from one language to another; it is an act of empathy, trust, and responsibility. It gives a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard and dignity to those navigating unfamiliar systems. For me, interpreting is not just a profession—it is a calling shaped by my own experiences of being misunderstood. Each assignment reminds me that being heard can change outcomes, restore confidence, and sometimes even change lives.
