Simultaneous interpreting services

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What is simultaneous interpreting?

Simultaneous interpreting is a real time translation technique, which is used to translate speech from one language into another. Simultaneous interpreters listen to the speaker at one end and keep on translating whatever they hear in the desired language.

The interpreter's objective is to convey every semantic element as well as tone and register every intention and feeling of the message that the source-language speaker is directing to target-language recipients.

The interpreters can never start the translation process instantly. They need to have a clear understanding of the sentence before they begin the translation. There have been many studies to analyze the décalage or the lapse of time after which the interpreter starts a simultaneous interpreting translation. According to few studies this time gap is about two to three seconds.

It is a well acknowledged fact that simultaneous interpreting requires extreme levels of concentration. Therefore during long events, it is normal to have a minimum of two interpreters who work in a booth and take their turn every ten to thirty minutes. The main attributes of simultaneous interpreting which directly impact the turn time are difficulty of the speeches, language combination and velocity of the speaker.

The process of simultaneous interpreting

The simultaneous interpreter works in a soundproofed booth with a minimum of one associate interpreter. The speaker in the meeting room speaks into a microphone and the interpreter receives the sound through a headset. The simultaneous interpreter then renders the message into a microphone almost simultaneously.

During simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter sits in a booth having a clear view of the meeting room and the speaker. Using these facilities the simultaneous interpreter listens to and simultaneously interprets original speech into the target language.

Simultaneous interpreting requires a booth (fixed or mobile) that meets ISO standards of acoustic isolation, dimensions, air quality and accessibility as well as high quality appropriate equipment which are headphones and microphones.

Enlisted below are some common principles and guidelines used during simultaneous interpreting:

A. Syntactic Linearity

The principle of syntactic linearity helps the simultaneous interpreter to efficiently break a sentence into various parts. While translating, the simultaneous interpreter has to convey the entire meaning of the original sentence. To make this task easier he breaks the original sentence into several parts depending on the original structure of the sentence and then combines the parts together in the target language.

It is a basic expectation from the simultaneous interpreter, to translate a sentence in the target language almost instantaneously. An efficient interpreter would always try to reduce the lapse time.

B. Adjustment

Adjustment is a vital step in the process of simultaneous interpreting. The interpreter should adjust the structure, correct mistakes (if any and with caution) and add any missing information with the new content he receives.

C. Anticipation

A good simultaneous interpreter is able to predict what the speaker would say next with his own language ability, knowledge and experience. This can help save a lot of time and energy, thus following the pace of the speaker.

 

D. Reformulation

Reformulation is the basic premise of overall strategy in simultaneous interpreting. There is a great deal of difference between different languages, so it is impossible to interpret each sentence word to word. Reformulation helps the simultaneous interpreter to reorganize the original information according to the convention of target language.

E. Simplification

Simultaneous interpreters often simplify the words to explain, induce and generalize the original content. However this should be done with caution ensuring that the underlying meaning of the original information is not affected.

A simultaneous interpreter might simplify in circumstances where he or she is faced with a word or a phrase, for which translation is difficult in the target language or some technical jargon which is often tough for the listeners to understand.

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