A translator’s work is extraordinary. What other job asks you to immerse yourself in such a variety of topics? Often, you need to do substantial research to get things right, you read books or articles you never dreamed could exist.
I have recently been learning about extremist radicalization. I had to revise a manual about de-radicalization work: it had been translated into English and my task was to read it through and make the English sound right. The translation was OK-ish but pretty stiff. Not many grammatical errors, but some cases of complete misunderstanding typical of machine translation. The author had used excellent, clear prose and it deserved to be just as limpid in English.
The subject was fascinating. It was a manual of advice to counsellors who help people who have held dangerously radical views to adjust to a more normal life. It can be difficult to understand how people become extremists, how they are radicalized and how they can be helped to reverse this process.
A central tenet was this: radicalization often occurs on the basis of more mundane problems and frustrations. Bullying, racism, growing up in a milieu that doesn’t equip you to deal with the complexities of life, there can be many issues that make it difficult to navigate the modern world. They can seem insoluble, and lead a person to seek support in an extremist group. This new circle can come to replace a more normal social support system, reinforcing feelings of victimhood and a belligerent attitude towards ‘normal’ society. I couldn’t help noticing a recent news headline that read: “New Orleans attacker fell into extremism after marital and financial woes”. A classic case.
The task is often to identify the underlying issues and solve them, which in many cases leads to a major reversal of attitude towards society. It’s a long and difficult process in which the counsellor must gain the confidence of the subject. To do this they must find the way to empathise with a person who may display wildly different attitudes and values from their own.
The work can involve the whole social system: family, friends, colleagues of the subject. It is especially difficult if the person is imprisoned for a violent or other act. They may have travelled to fight with IS, although it applies equally to Christian or right-wing extremism. The counsellor must tread a careful path with the security authorities, keeping the person’s confidence while being attentive to possible safety issues.
The book taught me a deep respect for the counsellors who do this work: the patience required, the ability to empathise with someone who holds massively different views from your own; strict control of your own feelings. It’s a difficult job, but sadly, the need for such skills seems to only be rising.