2012/7/15 Goh Lip <[email protected]>: > > Clever preacher. I too was wondering why when diplomats (who speak good > English) talk to other diplomats from English-speaking countries, they need > to speak in their native language and use interpreters; I used to think they > wanted the extra time (while interpreters do their jobs) to carefully 'word > out' their responses or/and speak their native language just to demonstrate > their nations' sovereignty; neither of these reasons seems justifiable. >
A professional interpreter I know who often works in this field of high level political talks (for the German government) explained it to me: it is for both reasons, first giving the politcian the security of having a professional translation (in case he overheard something), second to have time to contemplate what the other one is really saying between the lines and finding the right answer. But he also told me that the important conversations are often held in private, without any secretary or interpreter. :) -- wobo
