The modern culturally diverse environment demands that information be shared and understood accurately to avoid misunderstandings. While some people are fluent in a language as their first language, others need an interpreter to understand what is being communicated.
Unfortunately, the interpreters are not the same. Achieving better results requires selecting professional consecutive interpreting services to help avoid language barriers that hinder smooth communication, creating costly and undesirable results.
Language learning – illustrative photo. Image credit: Eliott Reyna via Unsplash, free license
What is consecutive interpreting?
If you want to have a more interactive and engaging event, consecutive interpretation does the magic. With this technique, the trained interpreter listens carefully to the speaker through taking notes and translating the message accurately to the audience. There are two types of consecutive interpretations, including:
Long Consecutive: It is mainly used for more formal engagements that can last up to 5 to 10 minutes or more and usually involve taking notes to grasp the meaning. Short Consecutive: A more casual approach is required because interpretation is limited to sentence fragments at a time. Unlike its long consecutive counterpart, the note-taking technique is not used by the performer.
Consecutive interpreting is widely used for legal proceedings such as arbitrations and hearings, where the interpreter listens to the witness and translates.
Benefits of professional consecutive interpreting services
Any mode of interpretation is necessary because it allows people speaking different languages to understand each other. However, depending on the outcome of the speech, consecutive interpreting has more advantages, including:
1. More reliable translations
Even if you are an experienced interpreter, delivering quality simultaneous translation can be a challenge. Rushing through the process leaves you little time to find the right words for an effective translation.
Professional consecutive interpreting allows the interpreter to pay more attention to the subject, including body language. Moreover, you have enough time to prepare sufficiently and provide a more reliable and accurate result.
2. Increased public engagement
Sometimes listening to just one person talk can be boring. In many cases, the audience will lose concentration, and the situation can get worse, especially when two people are speaking simultaneously. However, allowing more time between speaking and translating can significantly improve the attention span of your listeners.
Additionally, your audience will likely understand the topic better since they will be able to easily compare what is spoken in both languages.
3. No specialized tools required
In many events like conferences, the speakers and the audience use different languages. This may require the organizer to use devices that support parallel communication. Fortunately, consecutive interpreting sessions do not require special audio or electronic equipment, making them more affordable.
The interpreter instead relies on his mastery of the language and his interpersonal skills. Additionally, free time allows you to take notes and rephrase content for better results.
4. It’s less demanding
Language interpretation generally results in higher costs. Indeed, at least two interpreters may be needed for each language. Fortunately, just one consecutive interpreter is enough for a small seminar or training of a few hours, making it cheaper.
Conclusion
Interpreting is a complex process that helps bridge linguistic gaps. When done in real time in a cross-cultural setting, it can be even more difficult. This is why organizations must hire professional interpreters to ensure that the public receives accurate and reliable interpretation.
Originally published in The European Times.
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