Archive:Court interpreter
A court interpreter (Saavdis: kinüvidüüftep "house interpreter"; Fáknir: entáp eseweri "man of the faces") is a person, originally in the service of the nobility of Fals states as well as and international tradesmen, whose profession was the interpretation of behaviour of members of other species, especially humans and Kavs, and advice based on their interpretations.
The first written records of court interpreters stem from Boorian accounts of Pelsic tribal leaders having interpreters as early as 750BC, but the practice may be far older. Around 500BC, the court interpreter was a reputable person in the Boorian Empire, and came with great esteem and wealth. They were often at the side of important people in the conduct of business with human representatives, and Boorian priests describe they were in some cases personal friends with members the royal family. In ancient times, court interpreters often grew up in unfavourable conditions. Interpreters who were children of Fals slaves of neighbouring human tribes who possessed the skill were especially favoured, as they had experience with human behaviour from a very early age and it was said they could pick up subtleties more acutely.
The institutionalisation of interpretation began with the formation two distinct guilds in the Boorian capital of Tavaaw (Tabon), and Eoanch (Heedion). While the former ended with the collapse of the Boorian Empire, the Heedionite school survived and grew to become the first recognised scholarly institution in a Fals state, and is often hailed as the first stone in Heedion's reputation of an academic hub in the Fals lands. After 900AD, such schools were often bought up entirely into the establishments of wealthy metal and ore trading guilds, who relied heavily on interaction with neighbouring Kav states. This became the norm especially after the introduction of iron and the rapid spread of its use. During this time, the status of interpreters declined due to an increase in supply, as well as their increased association with persons outside the nobility. By the year 1600, when the Fáknir Empire began to fall into decline, the schools often incorporated into universities or became independent.
In modern times, only one dedicated school of interpretation remains, the Royal Farresset Hermenetheque, founded in Andion in 1616. However, most educations in interspecies interpretation are now given standard in university trade and HR courses. Dedicated interpreters still exist and are considered necessary units of international businesses, and embassies of the Fals Empire.