Interpretation's imagery here is so melted down, mellowed in the aura of goodwill between politicians not at war, celebs with shiny teeth and all the fantasy of glitters that it pushes aside in the shade the less shiny, less sexy reality of communication under tension. It must be no fun interpreting at a police box in Shibuya when the client who did wrong needs an interpreter to answer the police. I have never done this. But I have now had to deal with a bout of business clash over the phone, one side putting the other at shame, with the shamed one ended up banging the phone and hanging up. An interesting situation I am happy not to have been involved with but as an interpreter. They were both business wise very unwise although from opposite sides. One cannot but think while delivering that not taking side is the hardest task, even if there is a client on one side, and another side I don't do business with. Makes you think about the fallacy of neutrality, and that the interpreter in the middle of the heat has other things to deal with than keeping merely neutral. Neutrality is an action, meaning being detached and available at the same time. That's the trick, the balance, the equilibrium to maintain.
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