You Don’t Speak Cantonese?

I work as Vietnamese interpreter. Many people think this job is simple, just listen and translate. But sometimes, honestly, it can be very confusing… even a bit crazy.

One thing I always face is this question:

“Do you speak Cantonese?”

At first I thought maybe just one or two times. But no… it happens a lot. When I take OPI call, I introduce myself clearly,

Then the LEP start speaking Cantonese.

I pause and say politely to client,
“Sorry, I am Vietnamese interpreter. I only speak Vietnamese.”

Then sometimes the client say,
“Oh, I thought Vietnamese speak Cantonese?”

Or the LEP will say,
“You don’t speak Cantonese?”

That moment always makes me don’t know whether to laugh or feel tired.

Because how to explain this every time? Vietnam is Vietnam. We speak Vietnamese. Yes, some Vietnamese people can speak Cantonese, maybe because of family background or Chinese community. But not everyone.

It is same like China. Not all people in China speak Mandarin or Cantonese. They have many dialects, many languages. But many people don’t know this. So when I explain, sometimes I get silence.

Sometimes I hear sigh. And many times… they just hang up.

No “sorry”. No asking for transfer. Just hang up. Honestly, that part is a bit frustrating.

Because I am here ready to help. I pick up the call, I focus, I want to do my job properly.

But before I even start, the call is already over.

Sometimes I feel like I am not only interpreter, I also need to explain culture, language, everything… in just a few seconds.

What I hope people understand is simple:

Interpreter is not the same for every language.

If you need Cantonese, then ask for Cantonese interpreter. If Vietnamese, then Vietnamese interpreter.

We really want to help, but we can only help in the language we speak.

Even like this, I still continue doing this job.

Because when the right call comes, when the communication works, when both sides finally understand each other… that feeling is very meaningful.

That is the reason I stay.