What natural abilities are needed to be a successful interpreter?
First, aspiring interpreters need to have a thorough knowledge of at least two languages and their accompanying cultures. This usually means having spent prolonged periods living in a country where the languages are spoken, reading literature and history in those languages, and staying constantly up to date. However, language mastery is only the beginning. Interpreters need to have quick minds. One of the originators of the theory of emotional intelligence, Howard Gardner, defined seven distinct intelligences, one of which he described as the linguistic intelligence found in simultaneous interpreters. They need to be resourceful, analytical and intuitive, have good interpersonal skills, feel comfortable with public speaking, know that they always have more to learn, know how to express themselves articulately, and be blessed with an insatiable curiosity.
