Interpreters Are Magical
Well, that seems to be the common theme we hear. Maybe not always those exact words, but something like it.
“Wow, how do you do that?”
“I couldn’t keep up.”
“Do your fingers hurt when you are done?”
My interpretation of those statements is, “Wow, look at you, you magical being just doing magical things with your hands.” Then I imagine myself with a glittery glow beaming off me as I leave my clients in awe of my magical powers.
Is Interpreting Hard?
In reality, I am taking two languages and two cultures and becoming a bridge so they can meet in the middle and have clear communication. I am also checking in on my clients to make sure the message is clear. I’m monitoring my space to make sure I don’t hit anyone. I haven’t yet, but I have come close a few times. That glittery, glowing beam? Honestly, it’s sweat because I am working hard. The true magic is that we make it look and feel magical.
What many don’t see is the magic that happens in private settings. The doctor’s appointment where the client and their family are given devastating news. The meeting with the social worker. The job promotion that has been on hold because they didn’t have an interpreter who truly understood them—and so many more moments.
As interpreters, we are there to make sure those moments are not overshadowed by us. Imagine needing an extra person in the room every time you wanted to be heard. That is where the true magic comes in. We are magical because we are the loudest wallflower in the room. That dance is delicate, and if we aren’t careful, we can become the focal point.
What It Takes To Become An Interpreter
Interpreters are magical, but they do far more than beautiful things with their hands. They have to track their calendars, negotiate rates, keep track of mileage, manage invoices, and so much more. Those extra responsibilities can become overwhelming and lead to burnout.
That is why we want to step in and support the magic that happens while interpreters are bridging the communication gap. We want to track their mileage. We want interpreters to choose their own rates. We want to streamline their calendars. Most importantly, we want to make sure that, at the end of the day, they know they are valued. That is why Bridge Interpreting Partners came to be. We saw the burnout, and we saw how the current model was not supporting interpreters.
We said, “Let’s change that.”
Bridging Interpreting Partners Makes The Change
BIP—it even sounds a little magical—wants to change how things are done and turn the
industry on its head. We want to take control out of the agencies’ hands and put it where it belongs: with the interpreters and the clients.
Interpreters are the bridge of communication.
We are the bridge for the interpreters and their clients.
After all, interpreters are the loudest wallflowers in the room. They make communication possible without becoming the center of attention. At Bridge Interpreting Partners, our job is to make sure they have the support they need to keep performing that magic. BIP will do our magic so interpreters can continue doing theirs.