Confessions of an interpreter

I just read the previously mentioned "Confessions of an Arabic Interpreter" by Leslie McLoughlin. It's always good to read a book of souvenirs by an interpreter, whatever the quality of writing, purpose and the value of content. And receiving the package swiftly from the UAE, a first time in life, is still somewhat thrilling, despite the banality of Internet worldwide roaming. Mr. McLoughlin starts very quickly in the intro with a diatribe against Israel. I assume that's part not only of a personal opinion, but more broadly a convention of discourse where (politely) cursing the arch-ennemy is a requisite to be published in that part of the world.

From a "pure" interpretation point of view, the author stresses also early in the beginning that it took more than 20 years before he got into interpretation. He hails with very good arguments the superiority of consecutive over simultaneous. He also announces that he will go into deeper details of the methodology of learning the language that prepared him to turn interpreting at a later stage. Unfortunately, he doesn't delve into any details, besides stressing the fact that learning has always been an alternative exercise at translating back and forth. I certainly want to agree with this "old" approach, and I am reminded reading just a few hours ago an article in the French Le Monde suggesting briefly that this method won't do. But methodology may be in the end a personal matter.

Mr. McLoughlin is humbly proud to have worked with PM Ms. Thatcher and the UK royalties. He demonstrates through a long career in-situ, in multiple Arab countries that a deep knowledge of language and the attached cultures is (was?) a conduit to find positions in business more easily than with an MBA. There are hundreds of people named and hundreds of references to regional dynamics, meaning lots of blood shedding, you hardly read or hear about in the news. Middle-East buffs will be much interested by the book even without any relationship to interpretation.

The book is prominently a life record and it feels like it. It is wrought for the pleasure of colleagues and past human network to read and remember. That's why there is a feeling of being allowed to eavesdrop on circumstances the unrelated reader is exceptionally allowed to have a glimpse at. It is at time a weird but pleasurable experience. I would  have loved to read about daily life in Lebanon - the village down the hill where the school was located -  more than the political action at play, but that is not the author's purpose. Private, daily life is kept private. Mr. McLoughlin is no Lawrence Durrell. He is in opposition to the writer-poet.

How come that the technical aspect of learning a language in regards to interpreting is not deeper covered? We hear a lot sometimes later in the book about the risky business of interpreting, meaning, the risk of screwing up, and feel for the first time a common ground. Screwing up with Ms. Thatcher, or screwing up with a VIP peddling some business software at a sales meeting in downtown Tokyo is basically the same. Erring at No. 10 Downing St. or a never heard about middle size corporation office is equally messy, whatever the scope of the consequences.