John Cleese – English Actor, Comedian and Writer
Alexander Gregg (1819 - 1893) American Clergyman
Seth Godin is the author of several books about “marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect”. They are bestsellers. His blog is one of my favourites and I highly recommend it. His Squidoo Lens is also worth a look.
In this blog post from 25 April 2012, Seth lays down a simple rule that every public speaker should take to heart: Don’t expect applause.
But wait a minute, isn’t the applause at the end part of the thrill of public speaking? Isn’t it a key part of the experience?
I enjoy applause as much as any speaker. The louder, the better, I say! But here’s the point: If you approach your speech or presentation expecting applause and focused on the rewards (applause, recognition, money, an invitation back, etc.) you are doing your audience and yourself a disservice.
Focus on delivering the best speech or presentation you can; focus on making the experience worthwhile for the audience; focus on your message and why they should care.
The applause is beyond your control. Leave that decision to the audience.
———
by Seth Godin
Accept applause, sure, please do.
But when you expect applause, when you do your work in order (and because of) applause, you have sold yourself short. That’s because your work is depending on something out of your control. You have given away part of your art. If your work is filled with the hope and longing for applause, it’s no longer your work–the dependence on approval has corrupted it, turned it into a process where you are striving for ever more approval.
Who decides if your work is good? When you are at your best, you do. If the work doesn’t deliver on its purpose, if the pot you made leaks or the hammer your forged breaks, then you should learn to make a better one. But we don’t blame the nail for breaking the hammer or the water for leaking from the pot. They are part of the system, just as the market embracing your product is part of marketing.
“Here, here it is, it’s finished.”
If it’s finished, the applause, the thanks, the gratitude are something else. Something extra and not part of what you created. To play a beautiful song for two people or a thousand is the same song, and the amount of thanks you receive isn’t part of that song.
Dale Carnegie (1888 - 1955) American Writer and Lecturer
My last post about delivering a speech or presentation via an interpreter has generated a lot of discussion. One of the tips that I mentioned in that post was the importance of using humour carefully when addressing an audience of non-native speakers. A few people have asked whether I had an example of a situation when humour worked well when speaking to a predominantly foreign audience.
Several years ago, I had the privilege of leading a 15-person United Nations delegation to Iran on an environmental fact-finding mission. The mission was very high level and a matter of importance for the Iranian Government. We met with several Iranian officials in Tehran on the first day and then split into three groups, each of which visited a different area of the country.
That first meeting was attended by 60 to 70 people and had all the trappings of a formal international meeting that one often sees on television. While many of our hosts spoke English, many did not and so we had simultaneous Farsi-English interpretation.
The meeting was opened by a representative of the Iranian government who made some introductory remarks. He then invited me to speak. Now, given the occasion, I had worked on my remarks for some time to make sure that everything went well.
As I have written in the past, I strongly believe that native English speakers who give presentations in another country should be able to say at least a couple of words in the local language as a sign of respect. So, I had worked with an Iranian colleague in Geneva on an introduction in Farsi (which I read) about how pleased we were to be in Iran and how we looked forward to a productive mission. I then switched to English.
The Iranians in the audience very much appreciated the effort. Seeing that I had made a good initial impression, I decided to capitalize on the moment by trying a little humour. When I had been practicing speaking in Farsi in Geneva, I asked my colleague whether my pronunciation was OK. He said that it was fine but that my accent made me sound like I was from Afghanistan (where Farsi is widely spoken in the north).
So, when I switched to English, I began by telling my audience that I hoped that they had been able to understand me and then recounted the comment of my Iranian colleague in Geneva. Well, to my delight (and relief), the audience burst out into laughter. It was a great way to break the ice at the start of an important meeting.
Why did the humour work? I think there are a few reasons:
Lost in Translation is a terrific film that received critical acclaim when it was released in 2003. Starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanson, it’s the story of an aging actor and a young college graduate who meet in Tokyo and develop a touching friendship. Both poignant and funny, the film explores the issues of loneliness and finding one’s place in the world. Definitely worth seeing if you haven’t already.
One of my favourite scenes takes place at the beginning of the film. The career of Murray’s character has been in decline. However, he is offered $2 million to travel to Japan and film a commercial for Suntory Whiskey.
The scene takes place during one of the commercial. The director speaks Japanese and Murray’s character speaks English. So they have to communicate through an interpreter. As for how much gets through … well, take a look.
This scene always makes me smile. It also calls to mind the many times that I have worked with interpreters over the years. My work in the United Nation and international organization system has seen me give numerous presentations, in Geneva, Switzerland and the Middle East, while working with interpreters.
Although I recommend that you learn at least a few basic words of the local language if you have the opportunity to speak in a foreign country, I also realize that, for many people, giving a speech or presentation in another language is not an option. In such cases, you might have to work with an interpreter.
Public speaking with an interpreter is a special type of public speaking. Interpretation adds a new dimension to the experience. There are some fundamental rules when it comes to working with interpreters. If you are going to make the most of the experience (for you and the audience), it is essential that you understand those rules.
First, let’s be clear about terms. People often use “interpreter” and “translator” interchangeably. Professionals in these fields, however, will be quick to correct you. In essence, an interpreter interprets or translates words that are being spoken by conveying the idea orally in another language. A translator interprets or translates words that are written by writing them in another language.
It’s also important to understand the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpretation. In consecutive interpretation, the speaker says a sentence or two in the source language and then stops. The interpreter, who is usually next to the speaker, conveys the meaning of what the speaker just said (though not necessarily the exact words) in the target language. Thus, the talk is broken up into chunks. For examples of consecutive interpretation, watch a couple of minutes from this video (English – Turkish) or this one (Russian – French – Arabic).
In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter is sitting in a booth with headphones and a microphone. He hears the source language in his headphones and conveys the message in the target language through the microphone, which feeds into the earpieces that the members of the audience have. All things being equal, simultaneous interpretation results in a more fluid experience for the audience. The interpreters with whom I have worked prefer it to consecutive translation.
Set out below are my tips for working with interpreters in a simultaneous interpretation situation. (I focus on simultaneous interpretation because it is the most common, especially for large meetings, and the form with which I have had most experience.)
1. Choose good interpreters. It might sound obvious, but it is vital. Most of the interpreters with whom I have worked have been outstanding. However, I have also worked with some who were not that great. The difference is huge. Poor interpretation is a killer for your message. You might not have a say in the matter, but if you do, ask around and get feedback from people who have worked with the interpreters before.
Ideally, you should meet with the interpreters beforehand to discuss the topic of your presentation, the audience, etc. The following are key qualities that good interpreters possess: (a) an extensive vocabulary in the source and target languages; (b) familiarity with the different cultures involved; (c) familiarity with the subject matter (important if the subject is highly technical); and (d) a significant amount of experience.
Sonja Willner, a reader who is an interpreter, offers some additional insight on this issue. Please see her comment below.
2. Choose a good technician. Interpreters are important but so is the technician who sets up the interpretation booth, connects the wiring, monitors the sound, etc. There are companies that provide a complete interpretation service; i.e., they have the technical equipment and will contract the individual interpreters. Make sure that the technician remains at the venue in case problems arise.
3. Send the interpreters documentation well in advance of the event. Here, I am thinking of things such as a glossary of technical terms you will use, copies of materials that you will reference, copies of slides that you will show, etc. If you have a transcript or outline of your talk, send it. A good interpreter will want to be prepared and familiar with the material. Confidentiality agreements are standard when signing a contract with an interpreter or interpretation service, so sending the material should not be a problem.
4. Factor in additional time for your talk. Because you will be speaking more slowly than usual (see below) and because technical issues can arise (see above), you should budget your allotted time accordingly. (NB – In the case of consecutive interpretation, you basically have to cut your material in half; i.e., if you have one hour of presentation time, you cannot prepare more than 30 minutes of material because everything has to be said twice: the source language followed by the target language.)
1. Bring two sets of materials for the interpreters. Sometimes they will not have the documents that you sent; sometimes a different interpreter will show up as a last-minute replacement in the case of an emergency. You want to make sure that they have what they need. (NB: Interpreters typically work in pairs. One will interpret for a period of time (15-20 minutes or so) and then take a break while the other one takes over.)
2. Speak slowly and enunciate. Even professionals need time to digest what you are saying and then come up with the proper words to express the thought in the target language. If you speak quickly, many of your ideas might get missed. Good interpreters, however, will ask the audience (through their earpieces) to tell you to slow down. And although you need not have perfect elocution, you should pronounce your words clearly.
3. Avoid colloquialisms. English is a language with a vast and rich store of colloquialisms. However, even excellent interpreters can miss the subtleties of the language, especially if English is not their mother tongue (as it often will not be). Use simple words and skip the idioms.
4. Use humour carefully. Many people caution against using humour when working with interpreters. I disagree. Humour is a wonderful way to bridge the cultural gap—provided that it is appropriate and culturally sensitive. I would avoid jokes, but anecdotal humour—for example, a funny experience that you had in the host country—can be a wonderful way to build rapport with the audience.
5. Connect with the interpreters from time to time. Usually, you can see the interpreters at the back of the room in their booth. I tell the interpreters with whom I work that if I make eye contact with them, they should give me a quick signal (agreed beforehand) to let me know whether everything is OK, whether I should slow down, whether I should speak louder, etc.
6. Always thank the interpreters. When you wrap up your presentation, it is proper form and basic politeness to thank the interpreters publicly. They work hard and their work is mentally exhausting. A sincere word of thanks will be much appreciated.
Working with interpreters takes extra effort, but it is worth it. They are your partners in getting your message across to the audience. If you follow the tips above and go into the event with the right attitude, the experience can be rewarding on many levels. And, most importantly, your message won’t be lost in translation.
Welcome to Manner of Speaking. If you're looking for informative and entertaining tips to improve your public speaking skills, you've come to the right place. Have a look around and enjoy your stay.
— John Zimmer
