Translator needed for kinbaku art festival

[Esinem]

Kinoko Hajime, one of Japan's hottest young kinbakushi/nawashi, will be performing and teaching at the London Festival of the Art of Japanese Bondage (2-5 April). As he speaks little English, and we speak even less Japanese, we have a couple of people helping to interpret. However, as the event spans several days, it would be very useful to have another person who might be able to interpret during some of his classes and socially. We can offer guestlist, plus one, in recompense. It's a great chance to meet Kinoko, plus some of the best practitioners of the art and artists inspired by shibari. Please PM me if interested.

[MMM]

You are looking for an interpretor, not a translator. And access to the events is not compensation, it would be required to do the job.

If you are inviting a non-English speaker to teach and speak, why are you not budgeting for a professional interpretor for an event in less than two weeks?

There is no point in having him come if his words will not be understood without the help of a professional interpretor, and professionals do not do events like this for free (which is what you are offering in compensation).

[Esinem]

Quite right, an interpretor is what we need. I stand corrected

The compensation is admission for two to all events, regardless of whether the services of the interpretor were required. We would prefer to offer this opportunity to somebody who has a genuine interest in the subject and for whom it would be an honour spending time with Kinoko sensei, rather than somebody who is just interested in the money. As I said, we do have bi-lingual volunteers already but it would be good to have another to spread the load.

Don't bite! I'm merely making an offer, which can be accepted or rejected....I'm not holding a gun to anyone's head!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Esinem

Quite right, an interpretor is what we need. I stand corrected

The compensation is admission for two to all events, regardless of whether the services of the interpretor were required. We would prefer to offer this opportunity to somebody who has a genuine interest in the subject and for whom it would be an honour spending time with Kinoko sensei, rather than somebody who is just interested in the money. As I said, we do have bi-lingual volunteers already but it would be good to have another to spread the load.

Don't bite! I'm merely making an offer, which can be accepted or rejected....I'm not holding a gun to anyone's head!

My "bite" was due to the fact you are "offering" free entry to an event in exchange of professional (and expensive) services.

Like musicians, translators and interpreters are often regarded as hobbyists and not professionals. Their years of hard work and study is swept under the rug because they have a passion for the subject they have dedicated their lives to.

I have seen this happen too often, and is why I am speaking up.

You are counting on volunteers for a job you should be budgeting 40 or 50 Euros an hour for. If I were your guest flying in from Japan I am going to be making the assumption you have professional interpretors who will be there to make my visit comfortable and worthwhile to the guests. Again, what is the point of coming if no one can understand what I am saying? The fact you have volunteers doing it means you have hired people who don't have enough faith in their own ability to charge for it.

I haven't done a volunteer interpretation job in over 15 years, and I cringe now when I think back upon it, as I was severely under-qualified, even though I had graduated with a degree in Japanese language studies.

Interpretation is very difficult and draining. That's why I don't do it (even for money). It is more than just being able to speak in Japanese. Do your interpreters have a terms list? It sounds like there will be some specialized topics discussed, so do they know the terms talked about in both languages?

Too often at events like this interpretation is an afterthought when in reality it should be at the top of your priority list. I recommend scraping some cash together and hiring a professional, or your guest may not want to make this trip again.

Trust me. You want someone who is doing it for the money. Your guest will thank you.

[Esinem]

Haha! Now I understand. You can add kinbakushi to the list of those whose "years of hard work and study is swept under the rug because they have a passion for the subject they have dedicated their lives to", at least in the west, so I empathise as one who makes his living that way. I doubt that I'll make minimum wage from the hundreds of hours I have put in as one of the organisers of this event.

Fortunately, our volunteer interpreters, so far, are fully bi-lingual enthusiasts, so unlike a disinterested pro, won't need a list of specialist terms. To be fair, most of the teaching will be visual rather than verbal, anyway. When I had lessons from Arisue Go, I found that in spite of the limited possibilities for verbal communication, we were able to speak the universal language of kinbaku when I saw him demonstrate.

I feel the opportunity offered to genuine enthusiasts is one that is extremely valuable. It's not every day that one gets to meet a rope master of Kinoko's calibre and to benefit from his teaching, unless one is prepared to take a trip to Japan with its associated expenses and pay 10,000 JPY per hour for the privilege. It's a chance to learn in the traditional way of 'stealing knowledge' from a master.

[RickOShay]

I agree with MMM. Translating and interpreting are skills that take a long time to master. The fact that you do not think your "bi-lingual enthusiasts" need a list of terms and the fact that you are not willing to consider paying somebody professionally shows how little you respect and understand interpreting.

Even if these bi-linugal people are native speakers of both languages they will need to research some of the specialized terms used. And if they are just people that study Japanese in their spare time, claim to be fluent, and have no experience interpreting... well let me just say "good luck", then.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Esinem

Haha! Now I understand. You can add kinbakushi to the list of those whose "years of hard work and study is swept under the rug because they have a passion for the subject they have dedicated their lives to", at least in the west, so I empathise as one who makes his living that way. I doubt that I'll make minimum wage from the hundreds of hours I have put in as one of the organisers of this event.

Fortunately, our volunteer interpreters, so far, are fully bi-lingual enthusiasts, so unlike a disinterested pro, won't need a list of specialist terms. To be fair, most of the teaching will be visual rather than verbal, anyway. When I had lessons from Arisue Go, I found that in spite of the limited possibilities for verbal communication, we were able to speak the universal language of kinbaku when I saw him demonstrate.

I feel the opportunity offered to genuine enthusiasts is one that is extremely valuable. It's not every day that one gets to meet a rope master of Kinoko's calibre and to benefit from his teaching, unless one is prepared to take a trip to Japan with its associated expenses and pay 10,000 JPY per hour for the privilege. It's a chance to learn in the traditional way of 'stealing knowledge' from a master.

Interested or not, a pro provides a professional service. Professionals are hired based on their abilities, not on their interest.

good luck and I hope it works out.

[Esinem]

Originally Posted by RickOShay

Even if these bi-linugal people are native speakers of both languages they will need to research some of the specialized terms used. And if they are just people that study Japanese in their spare time, claim to be fluent, and have no experience interpreting... well let me just say "good luck", then.

I do appreciate the point you are making. As I said before, my profession is also one which is constantly undervalued. I do a lot out of my passion, rather than money. Thankfully, I have found the extra person. She is Japanese and bi-lingual. Since she is a professional dominatrix, I don't think she'll have to research any terms ;-) She is also delighted and honoured to meet and assist Kinoko sensei. For a fan, it's like a keen photographer being asked to translate for Araki, for example.