Interpreter bursts into tears on live TV – now she explains the incident
Created: 03/02/2022 05:16
By: Max Darga
When the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenksyj broadcast live, the simultaneous translator burst into tears - live on television.
© picture alliance/dpa/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP |
Uncredited/Screenshot Twitter (Montage)
During a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, an interpreter bursts into tears on German live TV.
In an interview, she talks about the trigger.
Berlin - These are difficult times for those who are following the Ukraine conflict with suspense.
If you have acquaintances, friends or family in Ukraine, the current situation will certainly affect you even more.
For Berlin-based Kateryna Rietz-Rakul, an interpreter by trade, the latter is probably particularly the case.
During a speech by Volodimir Zelenskyj, which she simultaneously translated into German for television, her voice broke.
At first she only gets single words out and finally starts to cry, apologizing for it.
These are scenes that German viewers rarely see or hear.
The interpreter, who studied American Studies in Lviv, Ukraine, and has been interpreting conferences professionally since 1999, is emotionally caught up in the serious situation.
She herself has friends and family in war-torn Ukraine.
“Russia is on the path of evil.
Russia must lose its voice in the UN.
Ukrainians, we know exactly what we are defending..." Rietz-Rakul's voice is heard, translating the Ukrainian President's words before only his voice can be heard.
The interpreter takes a quiet breath before apologizing in a shaky voice for breaking off the translation.
The Ukraine conflict has been escalating since February 24th.
Selenskyj speaks to Ukrainians - interpreter in tears
What triggered Reitz-Rakul's burst of tears during the live switch, she cannot say exactly.
In an interview with
watson
, the 43-year-old talks about the difficult situation: "At that moment, one drop made the camel overflow." There was not a single word that moved her to tears: "Of course he's a good speaker , but he didn't say anything that wasn't already known.”
It was more the overall situation that finally took its toll, according to Reitz-Rakul: "You sit in your translator's booth all day and watch speeches, read every piece of news and absorb every piece of information while you're on your action awaits.
At some point you just go crazy.” She thinks about her family in Ukraine every second and is afraid for them, even if her parents are “fortunately doing well”.
The interpreter says about the day when the tears caught up with her: "I've been on duty since 6 a.m., slept a maximum of four hours and haven't been able to eat anything for days, I just don't have an appetite." About the moments of shock after the interrupted transmission She reports: "My first thought at the moment was just: Damn it, now I've screwed it up." It was her first assignment for a news medium, she explained.
So far, she has mainly interpreted at conferences.
(Further information and background information on the Ukraine war can be found in our political newsletter.)
Ukraine crisis leads to involuntary fame of interpreter: A lot of understanding from many sides
Her concern that her quiet emotional outburst could have negative consequences remains unfounded, says Reitz-Rakul.
An editor came to her in the booth immediately after the broadcast and hugged her.
She also received a lot of support and understanding from other colleagues.
The interpreter bluntly tweeted about her tears during the live switch: “I am a conference interpreter, I interpret 10-hour peace talks.
But today I couldn't finish interpreting Zelenskyj live on German TV, I burst into tears during his last words.
I love you all, my Ukrainians.”
Reitz-Rakul's initial assumption that her tears and her inability to fully translate Zelenskyj's speech was a failure was quickly contradicted vehemently on the internet.
"You didn't fail," wrote one Twitter user in capital letters.
"Seriously, breaking down in tears was so powerful.
That showed the viewers what was really going on.
You are a strong person and we stand by Ukraine.”
Ukraine war: interpreter bursts into tears - "I admire your honest dealings"
A user, who claims to be an interpreter herself, also addressed strengthening words to Reitz-Rakul: "It must have been so difficult to remain calm under these circumstances.
I admire your honest approach to your work.
I am sending prayers for peace from Japan.
Take good care of yourself!"
Apparently touched by the mass of supportive and understanding feedback on her emotional response, the interpreter thanks her again.
"I'm overwhelmed."
(mda)
