6 Different Types of Interpretation

Language interpretation deals with the verbal translation of the communication that is delivered. The interpreter translates the speech of the source language into the target language. There are six types of interpretation that are widely used in the world.

These include simultaneous, consecutive, over-the-phone interpreting, travel and escort interpreting, Whisper, and on-demand phone interpreting. The interpreter needs to deliver the lingual part of the speech with its required tone. They also need to consider the intent of the message that the speaker wants to convey.

Major Types of Interpretation

As mentioned earlier, there are different types, depending upon the purpose. Each type requires interpreters to have certain skills. An individual who is good at phone interpreting might not be able to deliver good results for simultaneous interpretation. Therefore, it’s important to hire the best ones considering their skills.Let's Have a Look at Various Types of Interpretation.

Simultaneous Interpretation

Simultaneous interpretation is the process in which the interpreter translates the sentence into the target language while listening and comprehending the next sentence simultaneously. The interpreter cannot start the interpretation until he understands the general meaning of the sentence.

The objective of simultaneous interpreting is not to paraphrase but to convey the exact message. It is used in trade shows, conferences, and big meetings. The interpreter needs to sit in the booth and wear headphones to speak into the microphone during the simultaneous interpretation process.

The simultaneous interpretation is very decisive. In the process of this interpretation, there is no time to check the quality of translation or go back to listen to the idioms in the target language. In case of any delay, new words that are spoken by the client are lost.

Consecutive Interpretation

Consecutive interpreting is the process in which the interpreter begins when the speaker finishes its speech in the source language. They reproduce the speech for the target audience. During this process, the consecutive interpreter stands next to the translator.

When a speaker has a break in the speech or when he finishes his speech, the interpreter reproduces the complete statement in the target language. It is different from liaison interpreting by the parts of the fragments to be translated.

The speaker might speak for five minutes without interruption in consecutive interpreting. To interpret the contents of the speech by the speaker, the interpreter needs to use a specific system of notes such as symbols, and characters like consistency, emphasis, negation, and entailment.

In this case, an interpreter is not required to memorize words but to recreate the meaning of the information from the speaker.

Escort or Travelling Interpretation

In escort interpreting, the interpreter understands everything that client is saying in the target language. Escort interpreting can behave as an assistant to the clients that are traveling on business trips. These interpreters can help clients in a single meeting or several meetings.

Escort or traveling interpreters work as cultural ambassador that is responsible for each thing on the business trip, whether it is ordering the food or closing the business deal. This type of interpretation is used in sightseeing tours, helping foreign guests to visit a city and meet and greet foreign visitors.

An escort interpreter can be hired to cater to a small group of people or individuals. They are helpful when you are traveling to an area where different languages are spoken or when you are hosting visitors that are speaking multiple languages.

This interpreting service is more informal than consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. It also depends on the situation. The escort interpreter makes sure the interaction between the clients is well-understood.

Whisper Interpretation

Whisper Interpreting is required when a setup of simultaneous interpretation is not present, the interpreter listens to the speaker by ear and then whispers to a client while making sure that their voice does not impact the presentation.

In Whisper interpretation portable interpreting equipment which is the small pocket transmitter with a lapel around the neck microphone and headphones for the clients are used. This makes the interpreter translate the presentation for multiple clients.

Whisper interpreting can be used in both consecutive and simultaneous interpretations. Whisper interpreting is used in a conference room in which the number of people is not more than a dozen and only a selected few people require interpretation.

In small conference rooms, the presenters don't have a microphone and there is no extra place for the tabletop booth. The interpreter needs to listen to the speaker directly. The small space of the room helps the translator to listen to the speaker well and interpret accurately.

Over the Phone Interpretation

Over-the-phone interpretation or scheduled telephone interpretation can be done consecutively or simultaneously. In this interpretation, both parties are not present in person and conduct the interpreting services over the phone.

If a person on a call wants to listen to only the voice of the interpreter then the interpretation is done in simultaneous mode. If this is not the requirement, then the interpreting is done consecutively.

In the phone interpreter, the speaker cannot see each other, and there is no linguistic assistance present to ensure accurate meaning and context, so the probability of over-the-phone interpretation is lower than consecutive over-the-phone interpreting. So usually the phone interpreting is conducted consecutively.

On-Demand Phone Interpretation

On-demand phone interpreting is required by organizations and individuals who want to mitigate language barriers. This interpretation starts when a party calls a service provider and selects the required language pair, and connects with the interpreter. The interpreter then listens to the conversation online and interprets the conversation.

It is usually used by medical and legal institutions, organizations, companies, and call centers that have to deal with English speaking populations and require interpretation on demand. It is a very quick sort of interpretation and is done in minutes. One drawback of this interpretation is that if an interpreter is not from the required field then the interpretation will lack accuracy.

Wrapping Up

Every type of interpreting service has its pros and cons. You need to select the interpreting services according to your requirements. Whether you require service for your business expansion or whether you want to provide service to tourists, Mars Translation is here for you. We have a team of native interpreters who can provide you with seamless interpreting services in 120 languages. For further details. Contact us.

Related Blogs

Translation Services for Medical Offices and Clinics

Medical translation is one of the most complex and technical areas of translation. It includes rendering all elements related to

Exploring the Linguistic and Cultural Diversity of Brazil

Brazil is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in Latin America. To get the gist, just like

Why Hospitals Need Medical Interpreters?

Interpretation and translation play an integral role in many industries across the globe. While facilitating communication across language barriers may