Interpretation ABCs
What is the difference between interpretation and translation?
Interpretation refers to the rendition of a spoken message in another language.
Translation refers to the rendition of a written message in another language.
Types of interpretation
The following types of interpretation serve four very different markets:
Conference interpretation is used in congresses, negotiations, conferences and mass media.
Court interpreting is used for the purposes of law enforcement, and in some cases requires "sworn" interpreters.
Medical interpreting is used in hospitals or during doctor visits, and in other medical settings.
Community interpreting is used to assist people who are not proficient in the language of the country they live in and does not require specialized training.
Modes of interpretation
Depending on whether the interpreter speaks at the same time as the speaker or takes turns with the speaker, conference interpretation is either simultaneous or consecutive.
Consecutive means "bit by bit".. After expressing a thought in your language, you will pause and let your interpreter express that thought in another language. Consecutive interpretation is suitable for business meetings, press briefings, short presentations and short informal debates. It does not require special interpretation equipment. Consecutive interpretation is not suitable for congresses, long presentations, all-day workshops, etc. Although consecutive interpretation is slightly less expensive, you need to bear in mind that it doubles the duration of your event. If your event requires more than half a day of non-stop work, you will need to hire two interpreters.
Simultaneous interpretation means that your thoughts are being relayed without interruptions in real time. You will speak into a microphone, and the sound will be transmitted into the headphones of interpreters in a sound-proof booth. Your speech can be interpreted simultaneously into several languages. Your audience will listen to your speech in a different language through headphones. Interpretation will not eat into the time you need for communication. Your audience will be free to pick a language they want to listen to and will not be distracted by having to listen to several languages. You will need special interpretation equipment and two interpreters per language pair. We will be happy to organize reliable interpretation and sound equipment rental for you.