Articles and Stories

October 28, 2014

Nuremberg Interpreter Recalls Historic Trials

Simultaneous interpretation is a very demanding task. Nowadays during conferences, interpreters have a booth with a monitor and microphone and enough room for two interpreters so that they can take turns every ten or fifteen minutes.

Interpretation history was made during the Nuremberg trials. Since then, much has changed to make things a lot easier. Siegfried Ramler, who was 22 years old during the trials, spoke to federal court interpreters in Washington, D.C., in 2010. He is one of the few surviving participants of the 1945 Nuremberg Trials. His interesting speech explains how simultaneous translation evolved to meet the different language requirements during these historic trials. He explains every detail of how simultaneous interpretation works and the many challenges associated associated with it. Mr. Ramler was part of the team that invented the technique of today’s simultaneous translation.

To listen to his speech, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvY_1bMAZWY