Styles of Interpreting
All Interpreters convert information from one language into another language. However, they do not all do it the same way.
Simultaneous interpreting requires a high level of concentration. Two Interpreters listen or watch and speak or sign at the same time someone is speaking or signing. They know enough about the subject to anticipate the end of the speaker’s sentences.
Consecutive interpreting begins only after the speaker has said or signed a group of words or sentences. The Interpreter may take notes while listening to or watching the speakers before presenting their interpretation. Note-taking is an essential part of consecutive interpreting.
Whispered interpreting requires at least two Interpreters taking turns. They sit very close to the listeners and provide a simultaneous interpretation in a quiet voice.
In liaison interpreting, relay or ad hoc Interpreters translate every few sentences while the speaker pauses. This kind of 2-way interpretation is common in telephone interpreting as well as in legal and health situations.
In addition to the diverse styles of interpreting, there are also different kinds of Interpreters.
Community Interpreters
They work in community-based environments, providing services one-on-one, or in group settings. They often work at parent-teacher conferences, community events, business and public meetings, social and government agencies, new-home purchases, and in other work and community settings.
Conference Interpreters
They work at conferences with non-English-speaking attendees and are usually related to international business or diplomacy. However, they may assist any organization that works with speakers of foreign languages. Employers such as the UN generally prefer more experienced Interpreters who can convert two languages into one native language, for example, the ability to interpret Spanish and French into English.
Health or Medical Interpreters
They typically work in healthcare settings and help patients communicate with doctors, nurses, technicians, and other medical staff. Knowledge of medical terminology in both languages is a must.
They may also translate research material, regulatory information, pharmaceutical and informational brochures, patient consent documents, website information, and patients’ records from one language into another.
These Interpreters must be sensitive to patients’ personal circumstances; the ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical standards is mandatory. Interpretation may also be provided remotely, either by video relay or over the phone.
Liaison or Escort Interpreters
They may accompany fellow citizens to foreign lands or foreign visitors to their country. Interpreting in formal and informal settings, these specialists ensure that their clients have no communication problems during their travel. The nature of employment demands frequent travel.
Legal or Judicial Interpreters
They typically work in courts and other legal settings, helping people with limited proficiency in a particular language. They usually provide services at hearings, arraignments, depositions, and trials. An understanding of legal terminology is a must. They must sometimes read documents aloud in a language other than that in which they were written, a task known as sight translation.
Localizers
They adapt the text and graphics used in a product or service from one language into another. To foster local customer identification with the product or service, fluency in both languages, relevant technical know-how, and an objective appreciation of the native culture are indispensable.
Localizers make extensive use of computer-based and web-based localization tools; they generally work in teams. Localization may include adapting websites, software, marketing materials, and user documentation related to information technology, manufacturing, and other business sectors.
Sign Language Interpreters
They facilitate communication between people with hearing impairment and people with normal hearing. They must be fluent in a particular language and its appropriate sign language, which combines signing, fingerspelling, and specific body language.
Some people with hearing impairment can lip-read instead of using sign language. Interpreters may use “oral interpretation” with them, mouthing speech silently and carefully so that their lips can be read easily. They also may use facial expressions and gestures to help the lip-reader understand.
Other modes of sign interpretation include cued speech, which uses hand shapes placed near the mouth to give lip-readers more information; tactile signing involves putting one’s hands over a communication partner’s hands to feel their shape and movement. Sign Language Interpreters must make rapid and coordinated movements of the hand, finger, and arm when interpreting. Trilingual Interpreters They facilitate communication among speakers of two languages and a user of sign language. They must have the versatility, adaptability, and cultural understanding necessary to interpret a message in all three languages while retaining its fundamental meaning.
Why is it Worth all the Trouble?
Competition is fierce, particularly amongst interpreters of major European languages. It can take time to build a credible reputation and a regular client base. Despite this, the demand for Interpreters continues to grow because public services regard interpretation as an issue of equality, diversity, and basic humanity. Interpretation services can provide valuable assistance in many situations, from international business to local politics. But where you will be worth your weight in gold is during crises; when lives are on the line, every meaning matters.