Listen Silently: The Inner World of an Interpreter with Ryohei Onishi

What does it truly mean to be an interpreter in the deepest sense? Is it merely transferring words between languages, or something far more profound?

Ryohei Onishi, returning guest and two-time TEDx speaker from Japan, takes us on a transformative journey through the evolution of his understanding of interpretation. Five years after his first talk on "de-verbalization," Ryohei's perspective has deepened into something more spiritual – what it means to truly become "the voice of others."

The catalyst for this shift came from three simple words spoken by a client: "Be my voice." This command fundamentally changed how Ryohei approached his craft, moving beyond technical skill to a deeper embodiment of the speaker's intentions, emotions, and essence. He shares the mysterious "sync" moments that occur between interpreters and speakers, when the boundaries between them seem to dissolve.

The conversation explores the profound silence required for genuine listening, with Ryohei noting poetically that "listen" contains the same letters as "silent." This active silence allows interpreters to fully receive another's message by quieting their own internal dialogue. We hear about the emotional weight of interpreting difficult content, like discussions of war, and the intentional "unplugging" required afterward.

Perhaps most fascinating is Ryohei's perspective on interpreting in the AI age. He observes that we've moved from a world with two options (interpretation available or not) to one where some form of translation is always available – the question now is whether to choose machine or human interpretation. Rather than competing with AI on speed, Ryohei chooses to emphasize his humanity: "I'm the pilot, not the passenger."

For anyone curious about what lies beyond words, beyond terminology, and beyond the technical aspects of communication, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the soul of interpretation. Join us to discover why, in Ryohei's words, "interpreting is not just the art of language, it's also the art of life."

Connect with Ryohei Onishi:

LinkedIn

Deverbalization - 1st TEDx talk

Share your thoughts about this episode!

Thanks for tuning in, till next time! 👋

Connect with Mireya Pérez, Host
www.brandtheinterpreter.com
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram