A Few Words on Interpretation
One of the newer and interesting services that our company offers is Interpretation. Potential kinds of live on-site interpretation services come in all shapes and sizes: from personal escort interpreters, to numerous simultaneous interpreters in a large conference and into a variety of languages.
The first concept to clear up is the issue of translation vs. interpretation, a common confusion among many. Whereas our translators are certified professionals who translate written text, interpreters are trained professionals who verbally ”translate” from one language to another. So, make sure precisely what you need to ask for when contacting your Account Manager.
Depending on the format of an event or situation, different types of on-site interpretations are required or suggested:
The most common types of interpretation are consecutive and simultaneous interpretation. In the former, an interpreter waits for a speaker to complete a phrase or short paragraph and then expresses the essence of what was said. In the latter, an interpreter begins as soon as the interlocutor speaks, and follows closely behind every word – almost simultaneously – speaking concomitantly with the speaker. With simultaneous interpretation, it is also common to use additional sound equipment to facilitate the interpretation, such as insulated booths, transmitters, Bluetooth/radio wave receivers and headsets (for both interpreters and audience members), audio connections, and microphones, among other equipment. All of these are factors to consider when planning an interpretation session.
When to use a given method of interpretation is of paramount importance, and is something that the prospective client should have in mind when seeking a price quote. Consecutive interpretation is a feasible option for contexts such as small focus groups or informal settings using few languages, where people are speaking and then pause as the interpreter interprets what was stated. Simultaneous interpretation is typically indicated for larger audiences, as well as for formats in which there may be numerous languages in the audience. In this case, the audience members can wear headsets to listen in the language of their choice, and various interpreters will interpret with the main speaker(s) into a plurality of languages, all of which will be heard in real-time by each language group with no overlapping.
Some clients have a precise idea of what they are looking for; others don’t. If you are either type of client, we would be more than happy to work with you in determining what kind of interpretation services are right for you, and offer a competitive price for our highly professional and trusted services.