Considered one of the most mentally taxing tasks when it comes to working with a language, simultaneous interpreting is a mode of interpreting in which the speaker makes a speech and the interpreter reformulates the speech into a language his audience understands at the same time (or simultaneously).
HOW MENTALLY DEMANDING IS SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING?
Simultaneous interpreting is very intense work, therefore, it often requires at least two interpreters. Each one typically interprets for about 20 to 30 minutes and takes a 10-minute break in between meetings. It is important that the interpreter remains alert or the interpretation might suffer. Thus, it is essential to have two interpreters to take turns in interpreting simultaneously.
The interpreter wears a headset to listen to the speaker in full concentration. The interpreter listens to the speech and interprets it immediately — there’s a delay of about 30 seconds after the speaker starts talking. They then transmit the translation to the headsets of delegates or participants who speak that particular language. The simultaneous interpreter has to be incredibly quick-thinking and needs a superb command of the two languages with which they are working, including any specialist jargon.
WHERE DO SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETERS WORK?
Simultaneous interpreting used to be an expensive and exclusive service that only large international and government organizations could afford. However, Remote interpreting, or Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) allows conference interpreters to work from anywhere in the world through a cloud-based platform. That means live real-time interpreting from vetted pro-interpreters can be added to any online meeting, hybrid conference, webinar, and beyond.
On the other hand, they can of course, work in person, and when they do, simultaneous interpreters work in an interpreting booth (though they may also be using a bidule (portable interpretation equipment without a booth) or whispering (chuchotage).
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