Types of interpreting

A conference interpreter will provide any of the following services:

• Simultaneous interpreting
• Consecutive interpreting
• Liaison interpreting
• Interpret-as-you-walk'

In order to ensure smooth communication across different languages during a meeting or a conference, the organizer will call on a team of interpreters.

These professional translation experts interpret from any given source language into any given target language. Exotic language demands (Hungarian, Korean, Urdu, etc.) will, of course, have certain financial and logistic implications.

Of course, the interpreter will need technical equipment to convey their translation to the audience.

First, an infra-red sound installation will be set up in the room. The participants will be given headphones and with a channel selector, they choose a language and set the volume.

The interpreters will then work in teams of two in soundproof booths equipped with the necessary sound receiving equipment. It goes without saying that the quality of this hardware to a large extent contributes to the quality of the translation and thus to the overall communication.

Interpreters can also be required to accompany clients on a factory visit, for instance, or to liaise between two parties negotiating a contract.

Quality will also depend to a great degree on the opportunity afforded to interpreters to prepare the subject of a presentation. So, here the client can play an important part in supplying his team with necessary preparatory documents and information in due time (preferably well before the actual conference day).