Interview with Sarkozy's interpreter: fascinating and funny!
Thread poster: Tom in London
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:35
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Jul 24, 2010

You can listen to this interesting (and funny) in-depth interview on the BBC World Service, here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p008p34g

Quote:

"President Sarkozy's official interpreter Amanda Galsworthy has sat at the top table of international politics for nearly three decades, but her name has hardly ever appeared in print. It is part of her job to kn
... See more
You can listen to this interesting (and funny) in-depth interview on the BBC World Service, here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p008p34g

Quote:

"President Sarkozy's official interpreter Amanda Galsworthy has sat at the top table of international politics for nearly three decades, but her name has hardly ever appeared in print. It is part of her job to know everything, but to tell no one. Amanda Galsworthy has been the official interpreter for three French Presidents, Francois Mitterand, Jacques Chirac and now Nicolas Sarkozy. She talks to Owen Bennett-Jones about some of the extraordinary situations she's found herself in as the President's mouthpiece."

I've found a picture of her in action:

http://www.daylife.com/photo/004QfpWbq63Zy

[Edited at 2010-07-24 16:40 GMT]
Collapse


 
Barbara Wiebking
Barbara Wiebking  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 06:35
English to German
+ ...
Thanks for sharing! Jul 24, 2010

I loved the part about the Neanderthal ambassador...

 
Noni Gilbert Riley
Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 06:35
Spanish to English
+ ...
Thanks Tom Jul 24, 2010

Very enjoyable listening. What an articulate lady.

 
Oliver Walter
Oliver Walter  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:35
German to English
+ ...
Fascinating Jul 24, 2010

Very interesting and amusing: from being one of 4 children all brought up in different languages, the French being the only ones who feed their interpreters during meals, to the neanderthal ( or netherlands) ambassador.
When it is no longer the latest of "The Interview", it should be in the ar
... See more
Very interesting and amusing: from being one of 4 children all brought up in different languages, the French being the only ones who feed their interpreters during meals, to the neanderthal ( or netherlands) ambassador.
When it is no longer the latest of "The Interview", it should be in the archive accessible here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002vsnh/episodes/player

Oliver
Collapse


 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:35
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
Vicious Jul 24, 2010

And what about Margaret Thatcher's vicious remark: "The son of a friend of mine has failed all his exams. So he's thinking of becoming an interpreter".

 
Noni Gilbert Riley
Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 06:35
Spanish to English
+ ...
Quite, Tom Jul 25, 2010

But our colleague is still working so can make no comment. I am looking forward to her memoires/autobiography!

 
mediamatrix (X)
mediamatrix (X)
Local time: 02:35
Spanish to English
+ ...
Geee... The stuff of journalists... Jul 25, 2010

BBC World Service said:

"... It is part of (Amanda Galsworthy's) job to know everything, but to tell no one. Amanda Galsworthy has been the official interpreter for three French Presidents, Francois Mitterand, Jacques Chirac and now Nicolas Sarkozy. ...


If her job was to tell no one everything, I guess it's little wonder the aforementioned French gentlemen so often seem(ed) to be out of touch with reality.

MediaMatrix


 
Robert Tucker (X)
Robert Tucker (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:35
German to English
+ ...
Reply Jul 25, 2010

Tom in London wrote:

And what about Margaret Thatcher's vicious remark: "The son of a friend of mine has failed all his exams. So he's thinking of becoming an interpreter".


"Mightn't he do better as a politician?" is surely the apt reply!



[Edited at 2010-07-25 09:51 GMT]


 
Cristina Popescu (X)
Cristina Popescu (X)  Identity Verified
Romania
Local time: 07:35
English to Romanian
+ ...
Thanks Jul 26, 2010

Thanks a lot, Tom. Really enjoyable!

 
John Farebrother
John Farebrother  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
French to English
+ ...
good if you can get it Jul 26, 2010

Tom in London wrote:



I've found a picture of her in action:

http://www.daylife.com/photo/004QfpWbq63Zy

[Edited at 2010-07-24 16:40 GMT]


Apt she's described as a translator.
How did she get the job in the first place?


 
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule
Stefanie Sendelbach
Stefanie Sendelbach  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 06:35
Member (2003)
English to German
+ ...
Interesting! Jul 26, 2010

Thanks for sharing, Tom!

 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:


You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Interview with Sarkozy's interpreter: fascinating and funny!







CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »
Protemos translation business management system
Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!

The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.

More info »