The purpose of this paper is to review research in the general area of linguistic abilities that might have relevance to the selection and training of translators and interpreters. An important issue to be addressed is what is the criterion of success, that is, how can success in translation and interpretation be measured? The procedures used in examining candidates for study at the Georgetown University Division of Interpretation and Translation are described in an attempt to arrive at criteria. The directors of this training program suggest that there would be differences among candidates, even if well qualified in linguistic knowledge, in amenability to, and success in, training. This paper offers speculations on what the dimensions of these differences might be, based on the considerable amount of research that is now available about verbal abilities and other traits that might have relevance to performance in foreign language translation and interpretation. (Author/CFM)