今天做一個同傳會議，午飯的時候和幾個報社的攝影記者坐在同一個桌子。坐在我旁邊的攝影記者和我談了一下他的攝影工作，他提到，“攝影不是學出來的，而是練出來的。” 他說一些基本的理論和技巧一兩個星期就可以學的差不多，但是要真正提高水平還得不停地實踐和練習。
　　其實我覺得同聲傳譯也是這樣的 --- 同聲傳譯不是學出來的，而是練出來的。即使你在高級翻譯學院學習同傳，老師一開始只能教你一些基本的理論和技巧，大部分時間是放錄音帶讓你自己練習，然后給你點評一下。還有就是靠你自己課后主動練習。所以，要想成為一個合格的同傳，一定要練習一定的tape hours。同傳的實戰經驗也是非常重要。可以從每次實戰工作中學到很多東西，總結出不少經驗和教訓。但是也不是說跟著錄音帶練習的時間越長，水平就會也高。
　　口譯的練習還必須以提高雙語水平作為補充。作為一名口譯員，八八卦卦的知識都有可能用到，平時的知識積累也非常重要。比如說，今天會議的一個發言人是美國鉆石巴市 (City of Diamond Bar)的市長。他既是政治家，企業家也是慈善家。但是他自己謙虛地說道，他和Bill Gates和Warren Buffet比起來還算不上真正的慈善家。 Bill Gates大家都比較熟悉，那么Warren Buffet是誰呢？幸好我讀過Warren Buffet的傳記，最近還聽過VOA Special English關于Warren Buffet捐贈他的大部分財產的報告。所以，我很容易就跟上發言人的思路。
　　我在看Warren Buffet傳記的時候也沒有想過做同傳的時候會用上關于他的背景知識，但是實踐證明，我看過的很多書都在我做口譯的時候幫上了忙。有時候可能只是一個人名或是機構名，如果你對這個人或是機構有基本的了解，考(試^大做口譯的時候就可以脫口而出。所謂的“閃電般的思維”其實是靠良好的身體狀況和知識的積累。如果你的大腦數據庫沒有儲存相關的數據，你就很難處理你聽到的信息，也沒有“閃電般的思維”可言。　　

其實做翻譯，尤其是同聲傳譯，真的是非常辛苦。 我今天早上6：45就起床，會議八點半就開始，一直開到下午的6：45。也就是，我的大腦在12個小時內都處于高度緊張的狀態。 一天下來，嗓子都嘶啞了。一位外國發言人在他正式演講之前還專門在臺上感謝我們兩個同聲傳譯員。有一些外國發言人對翻譯真的很尊重，也很體諒我們的辛苦。 做完會議后和搭檔去吃大餐。坐在我們附近桌子上的亞洲臉孔的人在說英語。我就和搭檔說，“那邊的人在說英語。” 搭檔說，“你不是想把它翻譯成中文吧?” 呵呵，做了一天的同傳，一聽到英語還是豎起耳朵，這幾乎成為一種本能。
　　 下面是VOA Special English關于Warren Buffet的報告。 有人覺得VOA Special English太慢、太簡單。但是，我經常買VOA Special English的合集。因為它的知識性頂強，可以提供很多背景知識。這些背景知識對我的口譯工作很有幫助。我覺得學習的時候不能太過功利，不能老想著看一本書或一篇文章是否有用。我看過的很多書都幫了我不少忙，雖然我看書的時候沒有想過看這本書是否對我有幫助。平時踏踏實實的積累很重要。
　　 Buffett’s Gift of Wealth Will Aid Efforts to Cure Diseases This is Shep O’Neal with the VOA Special English Development Report. The decision by investor Warren Buffett to give away most of his wealth has raised the hopes of public health officials especially. The biggest gift will go to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. More than sixty percent of its giving last year went to projects related to health. The Gates Foundation is known, among other things, for supporting the development of drugs for AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases. But there is also demand for more money for projects that aim to save lives now instead of in the future. The foundation will receive yearly gifts of stock. The first gift next month will be worth about one and one-half thousand million dollars. The charity organization gave away almost as much last year.

Mister Buffett’s gift is expected to double the size of the foundation, already the largest in the world. It is currently valued at thirty thousand million dollars. Bill and Melinda Gates say they will use the gift announced last week to strengthen their work in world health and education. Mister Gates said: “There is no reason we can’t cure the top twenty diseases." The foundation began in nineteen ninety-four as the William H. Gates Foundation. At first, its efforts were mostly within the United States. Today, in developing countries, it works to improve health, reduce poverty and increase the use of technology in public libraries. The foundation has spent six thousand million dollars to fight diseases in developing countries. Melinda Gates says there is work now to bring a new drug to India and Bangladesh to fight what is known as black fever. The foundation also supports efforts in the United States to improve education and expand technology in libraries.

Mister Gates recently announced that he will withdraw from his daily responsibilities at Microsoft by July of two thousand eight. He will remain chairman of the computer software company, but wants to spend more time on his foundation. Warren Buffett is the world’s second wealthiest person after his friend Bill Gates. Mister Buffett’s gift is larger than the economies of many small nations. Some of his money will go to foundations led by his three children. These groups support efforts including family planning programs and campaigns against nuclear weapons. Other issues include the environment, education and human rights. This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Brianna Blake. This is Shep O’Neal.