A few years ago, I received an unexpected phone call. On the other end was a representative from the Savonlinna Opera Festival. They explained they were planning to invite Chinese musicians to perform and hoped I could provide interpretation services for the Chinese delegation. The interpreting work would also involve facilitating interaction between the Chinese performers and the audience during the event.
As an interpreter, timeliness, accuracy, and neutrality are the core fundamental criteria of the work.
The opportunity was tempting. The compensation was good, and Savonlinna is a beautiful city—especially in summer, when the opera festival brings world-renowned performances to the historic Olavinlinna Castle. Still, I declined. The reason was simple but important: the assignment required highly specialized musical expertise.
Opera and classical music contain a wealth of specialized terminology, such as vocal techniques, rehearsal instructions, musical structures, staging, and artistic directions. Even experienced and fluent interpreters can struggle without a strong background in music. Unlike written translation, interpreting doesn't allow the luxury of "looking things up on the fly." Every term and instruction must be conveyed immediately and accurately. In a live environment, even a small misunderstanding can disrupt rehearsals, collaboration, or the performance itself.
As an interpreter, the responsibility isn't merely to speak two languages. The responsibility is to ensure that communication flows smoothly, accurately, and professionally. When I realized I couldn't guarantee the required precision, I decided to decline. Saying no was not easy, but in interpretation, knowing your limits is part of professionalism. Protecting the quality of communication also means protecting the trust of all parties involved. Sometimes, the most responsible decision for an interpreter is to step aside and let the right expert handle the job.