Interpreting services
Simultaneous – Consecutive – Whisper – Escort
Interpreting or translating?
What exactly is the difference between interpreting and translating?
Although the terms ‘interpreter’ and ‘translator’ are commonly used as synonyms, there is a very significant and clear difference between the titles of these two professions.
Translators transfer written content from a source language to a target language (which should always be their mother tongue).
Interpreters transfer spoken content from a source language to a target language – and, in the case of simultaneous interpreters, do so ‘in real time’.
Whereas translators have a certain amount of time to reflect and research when they transfer their written content, interpreters are required to transfer the spoken word in the shortest possible time orally into the other language – almost instantaneously in the case of the simultaneous conference interpreter.
EUROLANGUAGE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING INTERPRETING SERVICES FOR YOUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION:
- Simultaneous interpreting
- Consecutive interpreting
- Whispered interpreting
- Liaison interpreting
- Remote interpreting
The different types of interpreting.
Simultaneous interpreting
This form of interpreting is used at international conferences, trade fairs, meetings or events. Seated in soundproof booths, interpreters use headphones to listen to the presentations of the various speakers and – keeping the time lag to a minimum – interpret them from the foreign language into their mother tongue without losing the thread or omitting a single detail, accurately in terms of content and style, and with enormous constraints in terms of time, too. Simultaneous interpreting is often referred to as the supreme discipline of language services, requiring not only excellent linguistic skills, expertise, concentration and comprehension, but also exceptional cognitive flexibility and creativity.
Interpreters usually work in the interpreting booth in pairs, replacing one another other at 20-minute intervals, the time needed for an interpreter’s brain to recover before operating again at full capacity to maximum precision. During these 20-minute intervals, the ‘resting’ interpreter also jots down figures, dates and key points for the ‘live’ one to consult, and tracks the text of each speech on hard copy or on-screen if available, to help their colleague stay ‘on message’.
Our simultaneous interpreters have mastered their art perfectly, have many years of experience and deserve our highest respect.
We entrust the organisation of the interpreting booths, microphones, headphones and the associated technology to one of our long-standing partners. Also, eurolanguage’s specialist translation service can provide you with a seamless package for your event, assuring you peace of mind throughout the whole process. Since our language experts operate in every corner of the globe and we would like to reserve the right interpreter for you, please remember to speak and plan your interpreting assignments with us in good time.
Consecutive Interpreting
Consecutive interpreting is recommended for smaller discussion rounds, conferences, meetings or business lunches with your international business partners. Unlike simultaneous interpreting, technical equipment is not required. Instead, ALL YOU NEED is an exceptionally capable consecutive interpreter.
What exactly do we mean by ALL YOU NEED in this context?
Despite the fact that no technical equipment is needed for consecutive interpreting, the demands on the interpreter are, if anything, even more demanding than for simultaneous work. As the name suggests, this form of interpreting involves a time lag, with only one person speaking at once – in sharp contrast to simultaneous interpreting, so the process also takes correspondingly longer.
The interpreter listens to the speaker’s presentation, takes written notes, and then, after a brief pause, relays what they have heard in the desired target language of the foreign-speaking audience. The speaker pauses at appropriate intervals to enable the interpreter to communicate what has been said section by section. The speaker and the interpreter take it in turn to speak, swapping over at sensible points in the presentation. This enables conversation to flow naturally, creating a pleasant atmosphere for all participants.
Co-operation is important in consecutive interpreting – the speaker and the interpreter form a sort of bilingual ‘tag team’. In linguistic unison (or more to the point harmony), positive and successful conversations develop between you and your business partners.
Whispered Interpreting
At the same time, just like simultaneous interpreting but without the technical equipment (interpreting booth, microphone and headphones), whispered interpreting takes place in the background.
By way of example, this form of interpreting is recommended for sightseeing and guided tours or events with many participants in different languages. The interpreter stands or is seated right beside you and whispers the translation into your ear.
This has certain advantages, of course such as mobility throughout different premises and much lower costs because there is no need for technical equipment.
The disadvantages are that numbers are restricted to a maximum of just two to three listeners, and ambient conditions must be conducive to whispered interpreting, i.e. must not present any acoustic problems. In other words, when background noise levels are too high, or where there are too many people in a public area, whispered interpreting would probably become unintelligible for participants, making it ineffective and negating its benefits.
Liaison interpreting
Consider the following scenario: In a business meeting, all foreign-language participants are informed about subject matter and business plans. You then assemble to clarify further minutiae and work through the details. It is at this point that you should have a competent liaison interpreter at your side, as they can ensure that full content with all of its subtleties and nuances gets conveyed to the people you wish to communicate with, precisely and accurately.
This form of linguistic mediation is an indispensable tool for multinational companies when the need arises to interact expediently with foreign business partners.
Remote interpreting or tele-interpreting
To a growing extent, events and encounters are ceasing to occur at a single location in the real world. Video and audio conference systems make it possible to bring together locations right around the globe in a virtual environment – saving time, cost and in a sustainable manner. Interpreting services are no exception to this process. Regardless of the meeting venue or venues, and irrespective of the number of participants, our interpreters can log in from anywhere in the world to deliver their interpreting service into conferences, trade fairs, large meetings, negotiations or meetings. This eliminates the need for travel and accommodation costs, and nor is there any need to provide elaborate technical equipment – the key to greater flexibility, especially in cases where the services or one or more interpreters are needed at short notice.
Linguistic and expert dialogue is an important component of your international success.
Martina Schmid, the proprietor of eurolanguage, advises you with no strings attached, i.e. at no cost to you, on which form of interpreting is best for your special occasion, your event, your meeting, your trade fair, your corporate training session etc.
Please also watch this video, in which conference interpreter Barry Slaughter Olsen explains what it’s really like to be a professional interpreter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twCpijr_GeQ
The cost of interpreting services …
Our interpreting services are charged at half-day or full-day rates. Thanks to our Europe-wide network of partners, we can provide you with language professionals at many locations directly in your country. This applies especially to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy. Having said that, you can also count on our professional language services in the countries immediately adjacent to us.
In the case of events, congresses or trade fairs lasting several days, it may be necessary to add overnight accommodation and dining expenses to the daily rates.
Call us, we will be delighted to help!
Do you need professional interpreting assistance for your event, your meeting or your corporate training session?
Provide us the key items of information and we will take care of everything else. The eurolanguage team of interpreters delivers the dialogue you need for your international communication calmly and professionally, giving you the peace of mind to which you are absolutely entitled.
