So you’ve got a meeting approaching, and you know there will be some delegates who don’t speak English. You tried taking a crash course in Chinese, but somehow it was more difficult than you expected. What are you going to take a crack at next?
Possibly the best strategy will be to call a firm that specializes in furnishing simultaneous interpreters and equipment for simultaneous interpreting at meetings. Although the term simultaneous translation is frequently used, strictly speaking, that is a misnomer. Translation implies “written” form, whereas interpretation refers to the spoken word.
It is critical to make sure to ask for simultaneous interpretation, instead of consecutive interpretation. Simultaneous interpreting allows the gathering to advance at full speed. The listeners will each wear a small headphone or earpiece that lets them hear the interpreter’s voice while the meeting is going on. Consecutive interpretation, conversely, slows the meeting down to half speed, because the speaker must pause after each sentence in order for the interpreter to translate.
The interpreting company you get in touch with will ask you questions on your event:
— What are the languages?
— What type of audience will be attending?
— What’s the subject matter?
— What is the total number of listeners for each language?
— How many audience members will be in the room?
Let the prospective interpreting company ask you the questions – it’s a good way to be certain that they know what they are doing. Many translation businesses focus on other areas of language work — try to look for one that concentrates on conference interpreting. And be as specific and comprehensive as possible in your responses.
Make sure that the firm will be providing seasoned conference interpreters. There are several types of interpreting. Many interpreters who are excellent at, for instance, court interpreting, are mediocre conference interpreters.
The interpreters must also be informed about your subject material. A medical interpreter might be able to explain the insides of a person, but may be clueless about the insides of a computer. Each subject area, especially a technical one, has its own inherent jargon which can be puzzling to interpreters not familiar with that unique arena.
Conference interpreters more often than not work as a team of two people per language (or occasionally, three per language in high-stress circumstances). Don’t attempt to cut corners by committing to a single interpreter, it usually backfires — an interpreter who’s willing to work solo at an all-day conference is typically not very experienced. Remember, your guests may have spent thousands to be at your event. You want them to be able to understand and enjoy it, so next time they’ll come back with their associates.
It’s a wise idea to get quotes from several providers, but it’s not recommended to make the decision solely on cost. Interpreters are not like boxes of cornflakes — each interpreter is different. Each interpreter has an unique set of strengths and weaknesses.
Matching interpreters to customers is an art that takes years of training. Choose a firm which you trust to make the best decision for you.
Some tips for being confident that your simultaneous interpretation meeting goes smoothly:
1) Make sure that your interpreters can see those who are speaking – place them so they have a good view of the stage or podium, or set up video screens for them instead.
2) Position the booths on risers when you can — this helps to ensure their view isn’t blocked by the crowd.
3) Ideally, use a full interpreting booth whenever your budget will allow — it makes life less difficult for both the interpreters and the attendees.
4) Don’t try to get by without a technician! Good interpretation technicians are a fundamental ingredient in the success of your meeting. We have found that regular AV techs and well-meaning volunteers cannot replace an interpretation technician without thorough training.
5) Go with a company that are experts in translation equipment. More general translation companies will frequently purchase a small amount of translation equipment, however they often do not have the expertise and experience to do an adequate job in a wide variety of situations.
Chris Redish owns A Bridge Between Nations, a simultaneous interpreting company which leases and sells Simultaneous Translation Equipment in Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Boston, New York, Chicago, Denver, Washington DC, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Buffalo and all major U.S. cities. He would be glad to provide you with a free translation estimate for your next conference: 1-888-556-3887