Lecture Notes: Origins and Challenges of Simultaneous Interpreting at the Nuremberg Trials

Introduction

• Speaker: A linguist involved in the Nuremberg trials
• Coordinating a group of 15 scholars from China exploring the U.S.
• Focus of the talk: Experience at the Nuremberg trials

Background

• Born in Vienna, lived in London, stayed during WWII
• Joined the 9th U.S. Air Force Battalion in Germany after WWII
• Became involved in the Nuremberg trials after actively seeking a role

The Nuremberg Trials

• Time period: 1945-1949
• Witnessed the trials of German officials post-WWII
• Personal decision to stay in Nuremberg despite orders to return to London

Pre-Trial Interrogations

• Conducted on a consecutive level
• Involvement of prosecutors and lawyers
• Pretrial phase was raw history, no defense filtering

Language Challenges

• Trials required multiple languages: German, English, French, Russian
• Need for simultaneous interpreting to avoid cumbersome consecutive interpretation

Development of Simultaneous Interpreting

• Originator: Leon Dostaire, a bilingual colonel
• Human and technical preparations
• IBM helped set up technical aspects

Personnel Selection

• Language division involved in selecting interpreters
• Mock trials to test capability
• The challenge was language agility, not just linguistic skill

Structure of Interpretation Teams

• Teams of 36 people, 3 for each language booth
• English booth: German, French, Russian into English
• Monitors coordinated interpreting flow

Technical Setup

• Use of wire recording technology
• Court reporters transcribed testimonies
• Aim for accuracy, not polished transcripts

Challenges Faced

• Special and medical terminology
• Need for preparation and material access
• German into English: verb placement challenges

Interpreting Dynamics

• Required focus and concentration
• Process was trance-like, hard to recall details post-session

Professional Impact

• Initial focus on linguistic precision
• Later interest in legal implications and international law
• Authored a book: "Nuremberg and Beyond"

Interpreters' Social Life

• Diverse group, formed friendships
• Social gatherings, media interactions, personal anecdotes

Compensation and Lifestyle

• Compensation was modest but adequate for the time
• Provided housing and transport support

Conclusion

• Simultaneous interpreting is now a standard practice
• Speaker's later career involved international relations and language promotion
• Open for questions and discussions