Services

This is the interpreting mode that’s most frequently called for nowadays: the interpreter sits in an interpreting booth, hears what the speaker is saying via headphones, and interprets this simultaneously into a microphone. The advantages of simultaneous interpreting are evident: no time is lost as the original speech and the interpreting are to be heard practically at the same time. Depending on the duration of the conference, an interpreter team consists of 2 to 3 interpreters.

Simultaneous interpreting in simple words (in German)

What does an interpreting booth look like?

Why do you need a team of two?

Why is the view of the speaker so important?

What do interpreters take into their booths?

Benefits

• The most effective mode of communication at multilingual meetings
• No time is lost due to interpreting
• Virtually no restriction on the numbers of listeners
• Allows interpreting into and from several languages
• No constraints, neither for the listeners nor the speakers

Drawbacks

• Communication only via headphones

Fields of use

• Conferences
• Symposia
• Seminars
• Congresses with an international audience
• TV interviews

Chuchotage or whispered interpreting is a form of whispered simultaneous interpreting for which no interpreting equipment is required as the interpreter, who is positioned right next to the listener, simply whispers to the listener precisely what the speaker is saying. Chuchotage is used when, on account of there being only one or two users of a specific language involved at an event, this renders consecutive interpreting impractical and the use of simultaneous interpreting equipment uneconomical.
Chuchotage, however, may well involve portable interpreting equipment, with its use being ever more on the increase. Such interpreting can be viewed as a sub-variant of whispered interpreting. It offers significant flexibility since no interpreting booth is required. It is for instance ideal for training courses, negotiations, meetings with a small number of participants (max. 25 persons), and guided plant tours. The interpreter stays close to the speaker and in a low voice interprets what is being said into a wireless microphone. Listeners in the vicinity hear what is being interpreted via headsets. Moreover, if the speaker talks into a microphone and the interpreter is equipped with a receiver/headset, everyone is free to walk around.

Benefits

• No simultaneous interpreting booth is required
• Flexible and dynamic

Drawbacks

• The whispered interpreting may distract speakers and other participants (the interpreter is not housed in a sound-proof booth, as would normally be the case).
• The interpreter may similarly be somewhat distracted, being exposed to a great variety of noises (and the original is not transmitted via a microphone to the interpreter’s headset as would be the case in an interpreting booth).
• Consequently, the interpreter almost always needs to be positioned close to the speaker, and all participants need to exercise a significant degree of discipline.
• Interpreting can only be into one language.

Fields of use

• Seminars/conferences/events with a very small number of participants who are in need of language assistance
• Guided plant tours
  

Consecutive interpreting can be viewed as the classic form of interpreting, with the speech being interpreted into the desired language as soon as the speaker has concluded, or at the end of passages within the speech, i.e. consecutively. For this purpose, the interpreter takes detailed notes during the speech, using a system of abbreviations and symbols that each interpreter has acquired during training and further developed in the light of experience. The interpreting thus lasts as long as the original speech, effectively doubling the length of the proceedings. This being so, consecutive interpreting has in the course of time gradually given way to simultaneous interpreting. Nowadays, consecutive interpreting is largely restricted to events of political significance, for instance during state visits, for after-dinner speeches, etc.

Example of interpreter's notes

Ladies and gentlemen, we are very pleased to welcome you as our new customers. We hope we will be able to fulfil all your requests and are looking forward to cooperating with you!

Benefits

• No interpreting equipment required
• As a rule just one interpreter suffices
  

Drawbacks

• Such interpreting in effect doubles the time required, and the scheduled programme needs to take this into account
• Undynamic

Fields of use

• After-dinner speeches
• Interviews
• Addresses on festive occasions
• Working sessions in small groups

Liaison Interpreting implies short passages interpreted one after another during round-table negotiations, with neither an interpreting booth nor portable interpreting equipment being used.

Benefits

• No need for a simultaneous interpreting booth
• As a rule, just one interpreter suffices
  

Drawbacks

• Such interpreting in effect doubles the time required, and the scheduled programme needs to take this into account.
• Undynamic
  

Fields of use

• Negotiations and talks held on a small scale within a corporate environment
  
• Appointments with authorities and at court hearings