One interpreter keeps the Central Valley’s Spanish-speaking community informed. Here’s how

Interpreter Roberto Radrigan is a bridge for the Central Valley’s large Spanish-speaking community, keeping it in the know.

You’ll often spot him at community meetings throughout the region, speaking into his headset while pacing at the back of the room.

Frequently, he’s the sole live interpreter present. Amid overlapping conversations and side remarks, he adeptly navigates to ensure everyone is included and understood.

“It is a royal task,” Radrigan said about translating when people talk over each other.

Between interpreting in person or virtually and translating documents, the 67-year-old estimates he works about 60 hours per week.

In Stanislaus County, where 36% of residents speak Spanish , live interpreters frequently are the sole means through which they can remain informed in real time about what local government and organizations are doing.

About two decades of interpreting experience in the Central Valley has made Radrigan deeply knowledgeable and engaged in local affairs.

His journey didn’t begin with interpreting. Originally trained in architecture and design, Radrigan immigrated to Stockton as a refugee from Chile when he was 22 years old.

Upon his arrival, his English proficiency was limited to what he had learned in mandatory high school English classes in Chile. An avid reader, he took it upon himself to learn English through extensive reading. He said it took him about six months to fully grasp spoken English.

Radrigan later began working at The Stockton Record newspaper. Initially tasked solely with graphic design, he later expanded his role to include translation and assisting journalists with interviews.

“When I was in the streets with the reporters, I felt useful,” Radrigan said.

In 2000, the Stockton Unified School District hired him to translate the Students Conduct Code into Spanish, then its monthly newsletter, and later sponsored him to get his American Translators Association Certificate.

“My greatest reward is seeing the smiles on the people I’d helped when they return the earphones,” he said. “That’s the humongous distance between reading subtitles to having the script narrated to you.”

Building understanding

As an interpreter, Radrigan has developed expertise in education, with a focus on special education, transportation and air quality. He emphasized the importance of interpreters specializing in specific areas to become familiar with the terminology and vocabulary, enabling them to deliver accurate translations.

“Translating requires a lot of knowledge,” he said.

When interpreting for parents, he occasionally asks the school whether it prefers him to simply translate its statements into Spanish or to convey them in a manner parents can readily comprehend.

For instance, in special education, school staff frequently use acronyms or technical language that parents may struggle to comprehend. When parents are then invited to ask questions, Radrigan notices that they often remain silent out of fear of not fully understanding.

He tries to explain concepts using examples to ensure understanding. When discussing a student’s attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, for example, he simplifies it by explaining that the child struggles with concentration.

Afterward, the parents will say that the meeting was useful for them for once, which encourages them to become more engaged and ask questions. He said he’s had parents request his interpretation services for future meetings.

“They feel like they can talk because now they understand what’s going on,” Radrigan said. “I take pride in actually making it understandable.”

During a community information session in March on pesticide testing, which Radrigan was interpreting, Grayson resident John Mataka remarked that the presentation by the California Department of Pesticides Regulation was laden with jargon, even for English speakers.

Mataka suggested that presenters be more mindful of their word choice to ensure better comprehension of the communities they serve.

Radrigan noted that the heavy use of technical language sometimes seems intentional, perhaps to exclude specific communities or to make information inaccessible.

Technology’s impact on interpreting

Translation has been greatly facilitated by advancing technology like artificial intelligence through apps like Google Translate and most recently ChatGPT.

Nevertheless, Radrigan emphasized that specialized language skills are still essential for interpreting, as they enable interpreters to apply context and human knowledge to their interpretations.

“Google does a good job, but when it comes to using any particular jargon, it can be preposterous,” Radrigan said.

At a recent event, Google was used to translate a slide presentation into Spanish.

Radrigan began laughing because it translated “Paradise Road and Crows Landing” into something to the effect of “The crows are to go to paradise to help with this road.”

Keeping the community informed

Radrigan emphasized the importance of keeping the community engaged and involved.

When his daughter, who graduated from San Francisco State University, questions why he chooses to remain in the Central Valley rather than move to the Bay Area, where political beliefs are more aligned with his own, he explains his desire to make a meaningful impact in the region.

“If you don’t like it, you can change it,” he said about the area.

During a meeting about housing where he was interpreting, Radrigan found himself deeply engaged due to his background in architecture.

Later, he approached the individual who hired him and inquired if his participation and comments were excessive. To his surprise, he was told, “No, people loved it. That’s the first time that people got so engaged.”

“That’s very rewarding because that’s what my job is,” Radrigan said. “You get people actually involved.”