XN000022-1978-03-25 — Page 5

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1978

+SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE, + MR. CHENG SAID.

+ONE OF THE MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IS THAT IT CAN ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE WITH SPECIALISED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO JOIN THE VARIOUS STATUTORY CONSULTATIVE BODIES SO THAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC.

+BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION SERVICE. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING SO BY THE LANGUAGE BARRIER,+ MR. CHENG ADDED.

ON TO THE PROFESSION ITSELF, MR. CHENG' DESCRIBED THE JOB OF A SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETER AS DEMANDING AS WELL AS CHALLENGING+,

+IN ADDITION TO THE FLUENCY IN BOTH LANGUAGES, A SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETER HAS TO BE QUICK-WITTED AND SHARP-MINDED DURING THE MEETINGS WHEN HE HAS ONLY A SPLIT SECOND TO THINK.+

+HE ALSO HAS TO KNOW SOMETHING OF EVERYTHING, FOR HE MAY OFTEN COME ACROSS TALKS ON HIGHLY-SPECIALISED SUBJECTS.

+ IT IS SAID, WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK, NO DOUBT, THAT A SIMULTANEOUS INTÉRPRETER SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN A HEART- TRANSPLANT, ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT ABLE TO PERFORM ONE,+ HE ADDED.

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