美俄冷战期间，译员把赫鲁晓夫的一句话翻成了“我们要埋葬你们”，险些导致世界核武器大决战。
语言和文化交流如此复杂，那为何此类事情没有时常发生呢？译员到底是如何在两种语言中往来穿梭的呢？当他们在翻译过程中遇到不知道的单词和举例，如何处理？今天，就让天堂君带你走进神秘的同传世界，一起来看看“大神翻译官”是如何养成的。
In 1956, during a diplomatic reception in Moscow, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev told Western Bloc ambassadors, "My vas pokhoronim!"
1956年，在墨西哥的外交招待会上，苏联领导人尼基塔·谢尔盖耶维奇·赫鲁晓夫告诉西方集团大使 “不管你们喜不喜欢，历史都在我们这一边，我们会为你们掘土。”
His interpreter rendered that into English as, "We will bury you!"
他的翻译把他的话翻译成 “我们要埋葬你们”。
This statement sent shockwaves through the Western world, heightening the tension between the Soviet Union and the US who were in the thick of the Cold War.
这句话震惊了西方国家，使在冷战期间的苏联与美国关系进一步降到了冰点。
Some believe this incident alone set East/West relations back a decade.
有一些人认为就这一事故会使东西关系倒退十年。
As it turns out, Khrushchev's remark was translated a bit too literally.
最终证明发现，对于赫鲁晓夫的言辞翻译的有些太夸张了。
Given the context, his words should have been rendered as, "We will live to see you buried," meaning that Communism would outlast Capitalism, a less threatening comment.
鉴于上下文， 他的话应该渲染为：“我们会活着看你自掘坟墓” 意味着共产主义会超过资本主义，变成了一个威胁性更小的评论。
Though the intended meaning was eventually clarified, the initial impact of Khrushchev's apparent words put the world on a path that could have led to nuclear armageddon.
虽然赫鲁晓夫预期的意思最终被澄清了，但如果这句话走上了世界的道路，可能就会引发核战争。
So now, given the complexities of language and cultural exchange, how does this sort of thing not happen all the time?
所以现在，当我们考虑到语言与文化交流的复杂性，怎样才能避免这样的事情反复发生？
Much of the answer lies with the skill and training of interpreters to overcome language barriers.
大部分答案说是取决于翻译官的技能与培训，去克服语言障碍。
For most of history, interpretation was mainly done consecutively, with speakers and interpreters making pauses to allow each other to speak.
在翻译历史上，口译主要是按顺序做的，说话者和翻译员会停顿允许对方说话。
But after the advent of radio technology, a new simultaneous interpretations system was developed in the wake of World War II.
但是在无线电技术问世后，一种新的同声传声系统在二战后发展起来 。
In the simultaneous mode interpreters instantaneously translate a speaker's words into a microphone while he speaks.
在同步模式下，翻译者可以在瞬间为说话者翻译，并将翻译内容在说话者说话时传入麦克风。
Without pauses, those in the audience can choose the language in which they want to follow.
没有停顿，观众可以选择自己可听懂的语言。
On the su rface, it all looks seamless, but behind the scenes, human interpreters work incessantly to ensure every idea gets across as intended.
表面上看起来是无缝的，但是在幕后，人工翻译人员在不间断的工作着，保证每一个观点都被正确翻译。
And that is no easy task.
这可不是一个简单的任务。
It takes about two years of training for already fluent bilingual professionals to expand their vocabulary and master the skills necessary to become a conference interpreter.
即使是双语流利的人员也要经过两年的训练，去扩大他们的词汇量并且掌握主要的技能，最终成为一名会议翻译人员。
To get used to the unnatural task of speaking while they listen, students shadow speakers and repeat their every word exactly as heard in the same language.
听和说在同一时刻，去顺应不自然的工作任务，这些翻译学员是说话者的影子， 并重复他们的每一个字，就像是在同一语言，听到的一样就像是在同一语言中听到的一样。
In time, they begin to paraphrase what is said, making stylistic adjustments as they go.
随着时间的推移，他们开始释义，根据实际情况进行风格调整。
At some point, a second language is introduced.
再某些特殊点上，运用第二种语言进行介绍。
Practicing in this way creates new neural pathways in the interpreter's brain, and the constant effort of reformulation gradually becomes second nature.
翻译人员运用这种方法练习来建立新的大脑思维方式，再加上不断的努力，逐渐形成为第二天性。
Over time and through much hard work, the interpreter masters a vast array of tricks to keep up with speed, deal with challenging terminology, and handle a multitude of foreign accents.
随着时间的推移和努力的工作，翻译官在掌握大量的技巧后，逐渐提高速度，处理具有挑战性的术语， 并处理大量外语口音。
They may resort to acronyms to shorten long names, choose generic terms over specific, or refer to slides and other visual aides.
他们会运用缩写来缩短较长的名字，选择特定术语，或参考幻灯片和其他视觉助手。
They can even leave a term in the original language, while they search for the most accurate equivalent.
当他们在寻找最准确的同义词时，他们甚至可以在原先的语言中留下一个术语 。
Interpreters are also skilled at keeping aplomb in the face of chaos.
翻译官们在面对混乱的场面时善于保持沉着冷静。
Remember, they have no control over who is going to say what, or how articulate the speaker will sound.
要记住的是，他们没法控制谁会说什么，或者发言人的发音是否清晰。
A curveball can be thrown at any time.
意外随时都会发生。
Also, they often perform to thousands of people and in very intimidating settings, like the UN General Assembly.
此外，他们经常在有成千上万人的会议上执行任务，和一些非常威严的地点。
To keep their emotions in check, they carefully prepare for an assignment, building glossaries in advance, reading voraciously about the subject matter, and reviewing previous talks on the topic.
去控制自己的情绪，他们会仔细认真的准备一项任务，提前建立词汇表，大量阅读会议有关题材，并回顾以前谈论的话题。
Finally, interpreters work in pairs.
最终，在会议上翻译官配对进行翻译。
While one colleague is busy translating incoming speeches in real time, the other gives support by locating documents, looking up words, and tracking down pertinent information.
当其中一个同事正在进项忙碌的实时翻译，另一名通过定位文件进行支持，查词汇，并寻找相关信息。
Because simultaneous interpretation requires intense concentration, every 30 minutes, the pair switches roles.
因为同声传译需要精神极度集中，每三十分钟，同伴交换角色。
Success is heavily dependent on skillful collaboration.
成功很大程度上是依赖于熟练的合作。
Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic.
语言十分复杂，当翻译一些抽象或微妙的概念时容易失去方向，后果或许是充满灾难性的。
As Margaret Atwood famously noted, "War is what happens when language fails."
正如玛格丽特·阿特伍德所说 “战争是当语言失败时发生的事情”。
Conference interpreters of all people are aware of that and work diligently behind the scenes to make sure it never does.
所有会议的口译人员都意识到这一点，在幕后努力工作以确保这样的事情不会发生。
