Sign language interpretation 101

Repost from Un camino, muchas historias, BritCham Colombia’s 40th anniversary commemorative book

While bilingualism and technology have narrowed the language divide, translators and interpreters play an essential role in facilitating communication between companies and entities interested in cooperating and seeking opportunities that benefit both countries.

We wanted to take advantage of this invitation from the British-Colombian Chamber of Commerce to share an anecdote that illustrates how interpreting has contributed to strengthening relations between Colombia and the United Kingdom.

In 2013, during Charles, Prince of Wales’ and Camilla Parker’s visit to Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos, the First Lady–María Clemencia Rodríguez–and other illustrious delegates visited the HMS Argyll, a British Royal Navy frigate. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen relations between the two countries and showcase the vessel’s capabilities to combat drug trafficking and provide humanitarian support to areas affected by hurricanes.

During the visit, the strong winds and rain did not let up, forcing all the guests to take shelter under an awning. However, this did not prevent the evening’s objectives from being achieved. Our interpreter braved the bad weather and, along with the ship’s captain, went out on deck in the pouring rain (with generous support and umbrellas provided by the cadets), in order to interpret the dignitaries’ official words, as the occasion merited.

Over the years, we have worked closely with the British Embassy, BritCham, and the Prosperity Fund, providing interpretation for special guests and business representatives from both nations and facilitating communication in the areas of infrastructure, social equity, financing, sustainable agriculture, transportation, and post-conflict. It is an honour to have been chosen to interpret for Prime Minister Tony Blair, actress Tilda Swinton, and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, as well as  multiple British ministers and mayors of the City of London (See other public figures who have trusted us to tell their story).

Words of gratitude from our clients fill our team of linguists and language project managers with motivation and purpose. One such example is the accolade expressed by Ambassador Colin Martin-Reynolds: “It is of huge help and relief for us to know that we can count on such a professional team to assist with interpretation on our bilingual meetings.“

About the book

“To commemorate its 40th anniversary, BritCham Colombia (the British Chamber of Commerce in the country) launched the book Un camino, muchas historias (Spanish for “One Path, Many Stories”), with original illustrations by Colombian-Venezuelan artist Adriana Rosell.

‘This publication reflects the historical development of the bilateral relationship between Colombia and the United Kingdom, one of Colombia’s most important allies on the old continent. This collection of stories about remarkable and influential characters reveals the extensive and valuable intercultural dialogue between two friendly nations that have excelled in sharing various expressions of history, culture, sports, and trade,’ BritCham stated in a press release. (Semana Magazine)

Choosing the right type of interpretation for your event is key. Getting it right is what will ensure clear communication so that your meeting, event, visit, or mission achieves its objectives. The right option for you will depend on several factors, including event type (on-site, hybrid, or remote), venue, number of participants, number of languages, budget, and subject matter.

At interpreting, our experienced language strategy consultants are available to explain the details to you and suggest the right fit in each case. That being said, the more informed you are, the better you’ll be able to successfully plan your event’s logistics. Read on to find out the basics about simultaneous, consecutive, and whispered interpretation.

Simultaneous interpretation

How does simultaneous interpretation work?

The interpreter listens to the speech in the source (original) language and simultaneously translates it into the target language—at the same time that the speaker is talking—with a lag of only a few seconds. Participants hear the translation in real time through receiver headsets (for on-site attendees) or by selecting their preferred language channel on the online platform being used (for remote participants). This type of interpretation allows the speaker to present without pauses, saving valuable time and avoiding interruptions. 

When is simultaneous the best option?

With professional simultaneous interpretation you get the sense of communicating directly, without intermediaries or interruptions, which is amazing. It helps you optimise your time (real time interpretation means no pauses or repetitions are required for translation), ensure that communication flows without interruptions, simultaneously translate into multiple languages in real time, and minimise the possibility of details being lost in translation. 

Simultaneous interpretation is the way to go for conferences, seminars, business meetings, summits, presentations, negotiations, launches, interviews, tours, workshops, and business roundtable meetings, amongst others.

What else should I know?

Simultaneous interpretation requires the use of equipment (onsite) or software (remote), as well as competent and experienced interpreters who are trained in making split-second decisions that weigh the subtleties of expression.

Interpreting requires great effort and concentration. For onsite sessions that last longer than two hours and remote events over an hour long, interpreters must work in teams of two, taking twenty-minute turns on the mic. This international best practice is essential to ensure both a high-quality interpretation and the interpreters’ good health.

See an example of Spanish to English simultaneous interpretation here.

Interested in learning more about what goes on in a simultaneous interpreter’s brain while at work? Watch this fascinating TED talk:

Consecutive interpretation

How does consecutive interpretation work?

The speaker pauses after each sentence or two so that the interpreter can translate what was said into the target language. Please keep in mind that this process doubles the time spent in dialogue or presentations. Speakers must also be sure to pause frequently to allow the interpreter to relay the message in the target language.

When should it be used?

Consecutive interpretation has been largely replaced by simultaneous, but it can still be useful in certain instances, such as accompanying small groups on a field visit, as well as in brief meetings, negotiations, interviews, and press conferences.

What else should I know?

In addition to having appropriate mastery of the languages being used and sufficient interpretation experience, consecutive interpretation requires a specific skill set and training, which involves an excellent memory, note-taking proficiency, and polished social skills.

Click here to see an example of live consecutive interpretation in action during Rory O’Neill’s visit to Bogotá.

Whispered or chuchotage interpretation

What is whispered interpretation?

Also known as chuchotage, whispered interpretation is when the interpreter sits next to the person (or up to three people) who requires interpretation, simultaneously whispering the translation of what is being said into the person’s ear. It is perhaps the least common of the three options.

When is whispered interpretation a good idea?

At meetings or field visits in which only one or two people require translation, chuchotage may be used instead of consecutive interpretation in order to save time.

What else should I know?

The interpreter and listeners will be in close physical proximity to one another, so the interpreter’s physical presentation and social skills, in addition to essential language and interpretation skills, must be impeccable.

Additionally, the conditions—including the interpreter’s position—must allow the interpreter to clearly hear the speaker over the sound of his/her own voice. This also means whispered interpretation is not an option for events that take place in loud or noisy venues.

We hope this crash course has helped you to gain some insight into the different types of interpretation available, their relative pros and cons, and when to choose one over another. Our language strategy consultants are just a call (or email or WhatsApp) away to help answer any questions you might have and apply their invaluable experience to be at your service.

Further information

You can also check out this table comparing the main features of each type of interpretation for further information.