Liaison Interpreting, Consecutive Interpreting, and Simultaneous Interpreting

The main types of interpreting

• Liaison Interpreting

  This is the simplest form of translation. As the name implies, the interpreter accompanies a small or large group of people that do not speak the language of the country, and generally solves the interpreting tasks at different venues and often with various partners. Liaison Interpreting is characterised by a more relaxed, informal atmosphere. It is often performed combined with consecutive Interpreting. An example: a plant visit by a foreign delegation, combined with a business meeting.

• Consecutive Interpreting

  "Consecutive" is a word of Latin origin, meaning "following one another". In this case, the interpreter translates the speaker's words into the other language when the speaker has finished or when he takes a break. Consecutive Interpreting is used in the case of formal business meetings, negotiations, as well as trainings or lectures

• Simultaneous Interpreting

  This is the most demanding form of Interpreting, posing the highest professional and psychological challange on the interpreter. It is unquestioningly the pinnacle of the profession. During simultaneous Interpreting the interpreter usually sits in a closed cabin, listens to the speech of the lecturer from a set of headphones and speaks the translation into a microphone.

The interpreters of Reflex Translation Agency practice all three forms of Interpreting at high professional standards in a wide range of language relations and several special areas.

Some advice regarding interpreting

Ensure to provide sufficient time and background information so that the interpreter can appropriately prepare for the given topic.
Supply information about your company and its business activity in the form of brochures, product descriptions, Internet references, and background discussions.

A collection of technical texts in the language pair in question and/or a list of the possible abbreviations can also prove rather useful regarding the acquisition of the relevant vocabulary.

Naturally, the accessibility of the place of interpreting is also extremely important. Interpreters always try to arrive well before the event begins but missing or inaccurate directions often make things difficult for them. Therefore, the information provided should include the parking facilities, one-way streets, or road constructions in process or, in the case of large companies, the gate number and/or name of the department/division that is housing the event.

How many people will be present? The fewer the participants, the smoother the interpreting will be. Decide within ample time as to whether any equipment will be necessary, e.g. an interpreting cabin, headphones, or microphones in the case of conference Interpreting. Speaking loudly and forcefully on stage in a large room exhausts the interpreter rapidly, especially if he/she is to translate an improvised speech.

When devising the agenda, take into consideration that interpreted meetings always last longer than usual, regardless of the interpreter’s work.

In the case of consecutive Interpreting, the lecturer should preferably use simple sentences or stop halfway in the middle of complex sentences in order to allow the interpreter sufficient time to translate. If the lecturer talks endlessly for several minutes, he will not only make the interpreter’s work harder (as he/she has to memorise the speech or make notes) but this also forces the speaker’s own guests to wait idly until the interpreting starts. You must always remember that it is not easy for the interpreter to interrupt the lecturer when he is unable to memorise any more information. This is especially true in the case of protocol meetings or when long speeches are interpreted.

Ensure frequent breaks during the event or require two interpreters in order to lessen the workload. Interpreting demands 100% concentration, which is extremely exhausting when performed for extended periods.

Should you have any questions, for a Hungarian translation quote, or to place a sample test, click here, send us an email at contact@reflex.hu, or just call us at +361-269-4781.