If you’re hosting a meeting or a conference where you’ll have speakers giving talks in different languages, you’ll need interpreting services to make sure nothing gets lost in translation.
It can get confusing when it comes to choosing which type of interpreter or interpreting service you need for the type or event you’re hosting/attending.
Simultaneous interpreting
If, for example, you’re hosting a conference for a large audience in a big space, perhaps you need simultaneous interpreting. In this case, interpreters are usually inside what we call interpreting booths. They have headphones connected to the speaker’s microphone and they’ll talk into a second microphone, directly into the small receivers that each member of the audience has in their pocket, connected to headphones. The receiver will have channels, one for each language, so the listener can choose which language they want to hear. This is what you can see, for example, at the EU Parliament.
In the case of simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter will do their best to speak at the same time as the speaker (hence “simultaneous”). This is really tricky, especially when there are technical terms involved. Also, there is the case of idiomatic expressions – which are frequent in informal conferences – to which the interpreter will have to find a way around if there is no equivalent in the language he’s interpreting into. This is why there are usually two interpreters per booth: while one is speaking, the other one is searching the web for terms, writing down names, numbers and providing help to his colleague. The interpreters will usually take half an hour turns to make sure they have time to rest, because this is a truly exhausting activity.
But suppose you’re attending a conference that doesn’t provide interpreting. You can always take your interpreter with you. But where will you fit that big booth? Well, there is also portable interpreting equipment. In this case, the interpreter (usually just one) has a backpack with an emitting device and a microphone. He sits somewhere not too far away from his client – a place where he can also see the speakers. Seeing the speaker is mandatory for the interpreter to be able understand what’s going on on stage. You have your pocket receiver and headphones to listen to your interpreter. In this case, the interpreting can also be whispered (I’ll get back to whispered interpreting).
Consecutive interpreting
Suppose that the event is not a conference but a meeting, a simple talk or even a guided tour. In these cases, the interpreting is usually not simultaneous but consecutive. The difference is that, in consecutive interpreting, instead of talking over the speaker, the interpreter will speak after the speaker. In order to do this the speaker must make a small pause between sentences, so that the interpreter has enough time to convey the message to his client. Although this kind of interpreting service can be performed using portable interpreting gear, this is usually where we use “whispered interpreting”, where the interpreter simply talks or whispers the message to the client in the requested language, without the help of any gear. In this case, the interpreter must be very close to the client. You can see whispered consecutive interpretation services at work when a Head of State visits a foreign country.
To summarise, there is sometimes confusion between types and services. There are two main types of interpreters, that preform several services:
- Simultaneous interpreters
- Conference cabin interpreting (typical in-booth interpreting)
- Escort interpreting with portable gear (used when the interpreter cannot be near the client)
- Consecutive interpreters
- Whispered interpreting (interpreter whispers the message to the client)
- Escort interpreting (interpreter conveys the message to both sides)
As well as these four, I’m sure you can find some more online like phone interpreting, medical interpreting, business interpreting, public service interpreting, etc. But the point is that there are two different kinds of interpreters, that can usually do several different interpreting services.
Requesting an interpreting service
Interpreters are rare and good interpreters are even rarer. Normally, translation companies have a few good interpreters at hand for the most common language pairs. If you need interpreting services, you should call a translation company or, if you use translation services regularly, try contacting your account manager.
Translation companies will not only provide you with the interpreters, but they usually also take care of the necessary audio equipment for the conference/meeting/talk and they will probably translate all the necessary documents like flyers, posters, emails, etc. They are also responsible for taking care of all the interpreter’s needs like food, transport, accommodation and so on, so you won’t need to worry about any aspect that directly relates to the interpreting service.
How to choose the right translation company for an interpreting event
First, have you ever worked with a translation company? They are the ones who usually provide this service. Try giving the Account Manager a call.
If you’re searching online for a company that provides this kind of service, go through this checklist:
- Website – does it look clean and professional? Do they have contact emails and forms?
- Phone – try to call them. Do they pick up? When they do, are they professional or do they sound like someone who just woke up?
- Experience – are they experienced in the kind of events you’re organising/attending? You can ask for some examples of events they’ve organised.
- Interpreters – do the interpreters they use have experience and/or an academic degree in interpreting or translation?
- Clients – have they worked for any big clients? You can ask – they should be able to tell you.
Then just request a quote for the services you need and let them know what you think of it.
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