‍Picture Editing: Alexander Agelou

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This is a chronicle. Analysis and opinions are the author's own.

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My name is Gunnar Benediktsson and I was born and raised in Iceland. In midsummer 1947, I was on the first flight that took place between Reykjavik and Stockholm. It was a Skymaster DC-4 named Hekla that landed at Bromma in the heat, but it was apparently a surprise for customs because they were not there. It was not expected that there would be a plane coming from abroad on Midsummer Day itself!

I had a wonderful summer stay that was unforgettable. It took many years until the next visit took place, but it was autumn 1962 when I was to start my studies in engineering physics at KTH. Back then it wasn't as easy as today to get news from the homeland, so I used to go to Iceland's embassy to read newspapers. One day an embassy secretary asked if I could not translate an act with which it was hasty, and presumptuous as I was, I replied “of course!.” It was on that path that my translator career began, and it has at times been intense -- not least because many assignments were channeled through the embassy.

During the outbreak in the Västmanna Islands, I became an almost daily guest at the TV editorial offices and also came to participate in children's programmes together with Anita and Grodan Boll! Soon there were also interpretive assignments — mainly in hospitals and in district courts. I particularly remember my first trial where there were spouses arguing and accusing each other of awarding the opposing party a number of blows. I said “I didn't hit her” and “I didn't hit him,” but I felt forked — I hadn't hit anyone! There were many assignments in healthcare, and sometimes they were prolonged, that is, repeatedly for the same patient — mainly during marrow replacements. Most people were successful, but sometimes it felt very heavy when you thought everything was well on its way to success — but a simple infection put an end to it all.

I particularly remember my first trial where there were spouses arguing and accusing each other of awarding the opposing party a number of blows. I said “I didn't hit her” and “I didn't hit him,” but I felt forked — I hadn't hit anyone!

Nowadays, most of my assignments concern BUP patients or checking student knowledge for Icelandic children who are about to start in Swedish schools. Also, the number of transplant patients has increased lately. There are not too many cases for the police, thankfully — as they usually occur at night when someone has gotten into a fight in a restaurant. There will be a number of court cases a year, and then it usually involves custody disputes. In this context, I have often also translated documents in the case.

I am, as you can understand from the above, amused by solving problems — both in physics and linguistic in everyday life, which is why I enjoy interpreting. It is something that I have done over the years for several agencies and interpreter intermediaries. I have been at DigitalTolk since 2020, according to my tax returns.

I am, as you can understand from the above, amused by solving problems — both in physics and linguistic in everyday life, which is why I enjoy interpreting.

In parallel with all this, I have worked full-time with research and teaching at KTH, where I have a PhD in solid state physics, been a senior lecturer and also director of studies for the Engineering Physics programme. Ever since autumn 1962 I have also danced folk dance in SFV (Friends of Swedish Folk Dance). It has given rise to many different social connections—not least the great love of my life. We got fifty years together, two children and two grandchildren. The great happiness of life!