Our interpreting solutions

The following details about the interpreting alternatives we offer and the benefits of using an interpreter in different situations and settings.

Consecutive interpreting in meetings and training courses

Consecutive interpreting is one of the preferred forms of interpreting for business and corporate meetings for small groups and where two different languages are spoken.

Business meetings generally take place in a meeting room or office. The interpreter is in the room with the participants.

During consecutive interpretation a person utters a statement, the interpreter takes notes, the speaker pauses after an idea is finished and then the interpreter interprets.

The discourse of one person is broken down into segments to allow for the interpreter to convey the message in the language of the other participants. The interpreter uses the notes to recall the information that has been given and to render the meaning of the message in the other language.

This process makes meetings longer.

Since the presence of a consecutive interpreter is quite visible in small meetings, some people may be tempted to talk to the interpreter instead of addressing the people they want to do business with.

All participants in a meeting should speak to their interlocutors directly in first person and avoid introducing their sentences by saying to the interpreter “Tell him” or “Please tell them”.

No equipment is required for consecutive interpretation, but the interpreters need to seat in a place where they can take notes comfortably and hear all the speakers taking part in the meeting without difficulties.

Liaison interpreting for Trade Shows and Networking

Liaison interpreting is a form of consecutive interpreting used for very small groups during brief interactions between the interlocutors of two different languages.

The interpreter works as a type of chaperone, accompanying their clients during dynamic events, while they walk around a venue and talk to different people.

In those situations, note taking is restricted and pauses in speech are frequent for the interpreter to render what has been said without missing important details.

Liaison interpreting, also known as ad-hoc interpreting, does not require special equipment. It is mainly appropriate for informal meetings, networking events, trade fair visits and factory tours.

Whispered interpreting or Chuchotage for up to 2 people

Chuchotage or whispered interpreting may be useful when one - or up to two people- do not understand the language spoken by most of the participants of a meeting, and when short presentations of less than 45 minutes are introduced in the language of most of the people taking part in that meeting.

In such a situation, the interpreter seats next to the participant who does not understand the dominant language and whispers what is being said in real time.

The rest of the participants should be informed about the role of the interpreter in those situations. If the listeners who do not need interpreting are not aware that the interpreter is doing his/her job, they may consider that whispering is disrespectful and disturbing within that context.

For that reason, it is advisable that the person who requires interpreting, sits with the language professional in a place where the interpreter’s voice would not disturb the rest of the audience during the presentation.

In chuchotage, interpreters are not able to listen to the voice of the main speaker as well as through headsets, and whispering poses extra demands on how the interpreter’s voice is used.

Due to the abovementioned limitations, one professional can do whispered interpreting for up to 30 minutes without taking a break.