Translators english to bangla who do not have extensive experience in interpreting often face problems that are not of a linguistic nature. One of these difficulties is meeting guests at the airport.
It seems that there is nothing complicated – to meet a delegation or a group of tourists at the airport, get to know each other, take them to the hotel and accommodate them. If the translator does not perform any other function than translation and at the same time there is a protocol specialist (secretary, etc.), then problems usually do not arise.
However, translators sometimes face a number of difficulties. This is especially true in cases where you have to combine the duties of an interpreter, guide and protocol service specialist in one person. This is where the problems start:
with whom from the delegation (group) to discuss protocol issues and the daily routine?
what to do with foreigners on the way to the accommodation?
what to do with them throughout the day?
to whom and how to pay for small and unforeseen expenses?
This is not a complete list of emerging issues. In addition, sometimes completely abnormal situations happen (someone gets sick, gets lost, loses money/documents).
How to prepare and what to do?
Before meeting at the airport, you need to find out a number of questions from the host company or organization:
With whom in the host company itself the interpreter can contact on issues related to the arriving delegation.
Who in the company is responsible for organizing meetings and other protocol issues.
What is the composition of the delegation (it is desirable to know in advance, as much as possible – even gender and age).
What is the purpose of the arrival of foreigners, their status.
If you have to accept not tourists, but a commercial or state delegation – who exactly is its leader, and which particular foreigner is responsible for organizing the trip.
What is the specific role and tasks of the interpreter (whether only to provide transfer, accommodation, or additionally – food, cultural program, etc.).
Financial issues – does the host take on any unforeseen and minor expenses, whether the interpreter should pay for them, and whether the appropriate budget will be allocated to him.
This, of course, is not a complete list of issues, but a priority one. In general, the more the translator clarifies for himself with the host company, the better. But the very first thing is to know who to contact in an emergency.
Algorithm of actions of the interpreter at the meeting of the delegation
When meeting a delegation at the airport, you must immediately introduce yourself to the head of the delegation and ask who exactly from its composition it is more convenient to contact on protocol and organizational issues.
When making a transfer, you can simultaneously talk about what foreigners see – they are almost always interested in this, especially those who came to the country for the first time. At the same time, it is worth trying to conduct a conversation not only as a guide, but also talk about the life of the city, its pressing problems. This is also always keenly interested. In addition, it is this approach that helps to start a more or less relaxed conversation.
Most importantly, when meeting a delegation at the airport, you should not get lost. Foreigners expect help from an interpreter first of all. Therefore, you should immediately ask if the arrivals have any problems or questions (usually they appear immediately from the first steps in a foreign country). It would be nice to think over the algorithm of their actions in emergency situations even before accepting a foreign group. This will not only give confidence in the reception of this particular delegation, but will also be useful in further work.