Frequently Asked Questions
How does the interpreting actually work?
How many interpreters do I need? Why more than one?
How can I tell whether an interpreter is a professional?
What technical equipment do I need?
How much do I pay and for what?
What do interpreters actually do?
In the case of simultaneous interpreting, the spoken word is translated immediately into one or more other languages. This requires separate booths for the interpreters and also equipment (microphones, headphones, etc.) enabling the interpreters to hear the speaker and communicate with the audience. In exceptional cases (with a small number of participants), an interpreter can also translate simultaneously for one or two listeners by “whispering” his/her translation to them (speaking in a low voice).
In the case of consecutive interpreting, the interpreter makes notes during the speech to be translated and subsequently renders it in the language required. Liaison interpreting is a form of consecutive interpreting in which exchanges between the participants are translated in short sections.
Simply describe your conference or meeting to us and we'll be happy to advise you on which mode proved to be ideal at a similar event.
How many interpreters do I need? Won't one be enough?
The number of interpreters depends on the length of the speeches, lectures, etc. to be translated and the number of different languages involved.
Consecutive interpreting into and out of one foreign language requires two interpreters for one whole day. For half a day or less, one consecutive interpreter is usually sufficient.
Simultaneous interpreting into and out of one foreign language requires at least two (possibly three) interpreters taking turns of about 30 minutes each. The reason for this is the intense concentration that simultaneous interpreting calls for. Fatigue sets in at a much earlier stage than for the speaker and his/her audience and this may lead to an impairment in the quality of the translation and also have long-term health effects for the interpreters.
Here are some points to give you an idea of what to expect. A relatively brief stint involving translation into and out of one foreign language and lasting up to 40 minutes can be dealt with by one simultaneous interpreter. If interpreting is required over a longer period, then at least two interpreters are needed. For a normal, day-long conference into and out of one foreign language we work in teams of three interpreters.
Hiring only two conference interpreters to deal with a non-stop, day-long conference/event does not comply with the recognised norms and standards established for our profession by aiic (the International Association of Conference Interpreters) and recognised by the EU and the UN. It would impair both the quality of communication at your conference and also the health of the interpreters involved. And after all, you would hardly want your interpreters to arrive completely exhausted from the last conference they had been involved in. You quite rightly expect them to be on the ball and to function reliably so that communication between the participants at your meeting runs smoothly throughout. So talk to us first. Together we can work out the most efficient solution for whatever it is you are planning.
How do I know I'm getting professional interpreters?
As a professional title the term “interpreter” is not legally protected. Anyone can call themselves interpreters. This makes the right choice of interpreters doubly important.
Our interpreters have studied conference interpreting at universities in Germany and elsewhere. In Germany, the traditional degree awarded at the end of these courses is Diplom-Dolmetscher or MA Konferenzdolmetschen. After some years of professional experience, graduates from these courses can apply for membership of the International Association of Conference Interpreters known as aiic, the abbreviation of its French name. To be admitted, applicants must not only have worked for a fixed number of conference days, they also require confirmation of the quality of their work from several active members of aiic. The Association is recognised by the major international organisations (EU, UN, etc.). So you can rely implicitly on the integrity and professional qualifications of its members. The ideal team of interpreters that we put together for your conference will be based on a selection from this group.
In some cases it may be sufficient for your purposes to entrust occasional translation work required in the course of an event to staff members with a sound knowledge of the languages in question. But if the success of the event depends on interlingual communication throughout, you should opt for the professional solution and have no misgivings about providing the funding required for the purpose.
How much equipment do I need?
Simultaneous interpreters work in sound-proof booths. If these booths are not an integral part of the venue selected, you will have to hire the transportable variety and have them set up specially for the event in question. The interpreters listen to the speakers via headphones. The audience have receivers with headphones and select the channel with the language they want to listen to. Mobile booths are set up in the auditorium itself so that the interpreters can see everything that is going on, including visual presentations. The space required is about 2x2 metres for a booth accommodating two interpreters and 3x2 metres for a team of three interpreters. In addition, there will need to be room for a table to place the mixing console on. This will be the technician’s workplace. The equipment specialist we work with will be happy to go over any other details with you, including such things as public address systems.
So-called tour guide systems are used for guided tours of plants, works, etc. Essentially they consist of a radio microphone and several receivers for the participants. The system is transported in a case. The drawback here is that the interpreters cannot hear the speaker as well as they can with a full-scale set-up. Also, they have to speak in the same room as the audience, which may sometimes be less than ideal for communication purposes. Accordingly, tour guide systems are only used in exceptional circumstances involving a small number of participants.
You can book interpreters and equipment either from one source or independently of one another. But please remember that even a Stradivari is not much use if it is played by an incompetent violinist. Leave everything to us and you can rest assured that the “performance” will be up to scratch.
What will you charge and what am I paying for?
Regardless of the actual length of time they are in action, conference interpreters are paid by the day. Alongside interpreting proper, their fees include the time required for acquainting themselves with the subject matter discussed at the conference and the specialist terminology involved. This preparation stage may take longer than the actual conference. Another reason for day-based fees is that once your interpreters have committed themselves to being at your disposal on the date agreed upon, they will refuse all later offers for the same day, or even for longer periods.
If there are no locally based interpreters available with the necessary qualifications or the required combination of languages, this will mean hiring interpreters from further afield, involving additional outlay for transport, travel times, hotel accommodation and expenses. So plan well in advance.
We are not an agency. In our firm all the partners are themselves interpreters. This means that the consultancy fees we charge are relatively low. In other words, you are not paying for the services of a middle-man but investing directly in the quality of the interpreters you get and the advice we give you. As interpreters we know exactly what is essential for a multilingual conference to run smoothly.
We will be happy to make you a detailed offer for a top-notch team ensuring that there are no hitches in communication between the participants at your conference.
