We can offer you various types of interpretation. Each one of them meets specific needs. If you would like to find out more about our services, please refer to the explanatory notes below.
Simultaneous interpretation :
This type of interpretation requires two to three interpreters, depending on the type of event, who will work in a booth with a clear view of the conference room and speakers. They will work for 30 minute stints in rotation. This allows the speakers to speak freely at their habitual speed / pace, without stopping to allow for interpretation. It also enables the listeners to follow real-time live discussions in their mother tongue, through the use of headset receivers. High frequencies hand-held microphones can also be handed out to people in the audience if necessary, to allow for questions and discussions.
For meetings involving three languages or more, interpreting booths allow for a system called « relay », a technique that consists in translating the speakers’ words into a « bridge language » that is then, in turn, listened to by the interpreters in other booths and used to interpret into other languages. Relay interpreting is used in many organisations and international meetings : Works Councils ; the European Union ; the OECD, scientific conferences and so on.
The following example was taken from a conference organised in France, bringing together participants from France, Germany and Spain :
The words of a Spanish speaker were interpreted from Spanish into French (the so-called « bridge language » for the meeting, since the meeing was happening in France). The German-speaking interpreters then used the French translation and interpreted it into German for the German-speaking participants.
This system allows for a reduction in the number of interpreters (therefore an overall reduction in the cost of interpretation), whilst maintaining the seamless flow of discussions.
Tour guide interpretation :
This type of interpretation is usually better suited for short meetings involving a small number of participants or else for site visits, (plant or trade show visits) . It allows for simultaneous interpretation with the use of mobile lightweight equipment. The interpreters, stand a short distance from the speaker and translate into a high frequency hand-held microphone ,on a radio frequency that is connected to the headsets sported by the participants.
Whispered Interpretation :
The interpreters stand or sit slightly bedind the speaker and participants and whisper the translation to them. Whispered interpretation will work for a group of two to three people at the most. If there are more than three people requiring translation, a microphone and headsets will be necessary. This will ensure the participants and interpreters are able to hear everything that is going on and it will also guarantee high quality interpreting.
Consecutive Interpretation :
The interpreter takes notes on the speaker’s speech and translates into the target language once the person speaking has finished. The speaker has to make regular breaks in their speech to allow the interpreter to translate. This type of interpretaton requires no equipment. It does, however, increase speech time by approximately twice the time. Consecutive interpretation is generally chosen for ceremonies, banquets and dinners and other official events. It is also chosen for round table discussions and informal meetings during which a sentence by sentence approach (similar to Liaison Interpretation) might be adopted.
Preparing for meetings :
Whatever the type of interpretation chosen, preparation is essential and will need to be organised in tight-knit cooperation with decision makers.
We highly recommend that our teams are provided with all of the documents deemed necessary to prepare for the meeting and preferably in all of the languages used during the event.
These documents might include the following: the agenda, a list of speakers, draft speeches or finished speeches, powerpoint presentations, bibliographies and so on. This will enable interpreters to get to know the topics, the general situation and specificities of the various projects. All of this is, of course, strictly confidential.
Equipment :
As you have probably undersood, our work often requires the use of equipment. IAGO is there to help you find the right technical solution that will best suit your needs. We regularly work with the best technical solution providers in the region (Sedim, UHF). These highly qualified professional companies hire out equipment and technical staff to meet all interpretation needs.