Voices from the interpretation booths

While the Global gathering is conducted in English, speakers of French, Spanish and Indonesian are following the sessions through nine interpreters from varied backgrounds.

Johannesburg, 31 October—Interpreters have proven to be vital at the Global Gathering. With 180 delegates, 51 staff members and seven guests from over 60 countries, the need for efficient and accurate interpretation is paramount to ensure smooth communication and understanding. This reflects the value of community, highlighted on Thursday (31 October), the event’s first day. From different cultures, participants freely played a part as some nine interpreters on duty bridged the language barrier between French, Spanish, Indonesian and English. 

A Minute in the Booth

Just before one of the sessions, Elina and Olin Bourquin catch their breath and enter the booth, praying that the speaker will not be too fast. The Bourquins put on their headsets, glance through their notes and then pay full attention to what the speaker on stage says. They have no time to process the message; their key objective is simply to get it across to their target listener. A small microphone transmits their interpretation to listeners’ earbuds plugged into phones. This happens with the help of a special app called Livevoice. An interpreter signs in as “speaker” while the participant logs in as “receiver” and then navigates to the preferred language.   

The Bourquins are students from Switzerland. Elina has a background in criminology while Olin is a software developer. Olin grew up speaking English at home and French in school, while Elina found herself in an opposite setting. Their parents made conscious efforts to teach them English and French. 

‘My main hope is that people who do not speak English at all, or struggle with it, will have an easier time at the Gathering,’ Olin says. 

Elina has done this kind of work before … yet she knows the challenges the day may bring.

‘You get into this bubble where you can’t focus on anything else. You can’t process the information, and you can only translate what you hear.’ 

They both trust God for everything to function correctly as there is a significant dependence on technology. After they played the same role during the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students’ meetings, God offered them another opportunity. 

‘A friend who now works with Wycliffe learned that interpreters were needed for this Gathering,’ Olin says, adding that the friend knew they interpreted at Christian conferences.  

‘He asked if we would volunteer, and we gladly said yes’.  

Delegate Jet Rense, the Synod Leader of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church which leads Bible translation work in Indonesia, says he has been fully involved and engaged in the day’s discussions. During sessions, he looks forward to Dessy Pello’s voice. Dessy is an English-to-Indonesian interpreter at the Global Gathering. 

‘I have learned that we can only grow together through friendship, and when I go back I will encourage people in my organisation to build friendships,’ Jet says.  

He adds that interpretation has been quite helpful. ‘I can understand what people are talking about, and I am also able to contribute to this big event.’ 

Story: Isaac Forchie. Photos: Daisy Kilel, Jennifer Pillinger.