Once, a client told me, "I don't understand what you're saying," even though we were speaking the same language. Why did this happen?
Going from resistance to trust requires effort, but it also earns respect.
The Finnish Border Guard asked me to provide interpretation for a male suspect. He was middle-class and spoke English well, but his native language was Chinese. I was tasked with interpreting during the investigation. During our first meeting, he was clearly resistant, sizing me up with a hint of disdain.
Shortly after we began, he impatiently said, "I don't understand what you're saying." Reading his expression, I responded patiently but firmly: "Okay, I'll say it again." After a few rounds of careful adjustment, he stopped challenging me and began answering the investigators' questions through my interpretation.
Sometimes, when a client doesn't understand, an interpreter needs to consider where the communication breakdown is and find a timely solution. This case was under investigation for seven months, and during each prison visit, I noticed his attitude gradually improving. The investigators were also satisfied, as they had gained a clear understanding of the case. Before the court hearing, the suspect said to me, "I don't need another interpreter; I want you to interpret for me in court."