Multilingual meetings or conferences can be challenging. Making sure that your message is well understood is key for a successful interpretation session. Your priority should be to communicate the message accurately to the delegates who do not speak your language. So here are some tips that we have gathered for you:
Speaking Pace and Interpretation Quality:
- In consecutive interpretation the Interpreter speaks after the source language speaker has finished speaking.
- The Interpreter might take notes during the session to make sure any important details are not omitted. All the notes will be destroyed at the end of the session.
- The Interpreter will not disclose any information learned during the interpretation or received prior to the meeting.
- Be mindful of when the Interpreter is speaking, either simultaneously or consecutively, and try to mark your pauses sufficiently so that the Interpreter has time to catch up.
- If you are a fast speaker, longer pauses are recommended.
- Try not to have private conversations with others, this will also be interpreted.
- Make sure to have an appropriate environment for the interpretation session, avoiding outside distraction and noises.
- Provide the Interpreter with the right tools if needed, such as a microphone or sound equipment.
- If you have any documents available that will help the Interpreter to prepare for the meeting or for your speech, please provide these in advance so that the Interpreter can become familiar with your subject and terminology.
Number of Speakers & Positioning:
- Only one speaker can be interpreted at a time.
- If two people are speaking at the same time, or interrupting each other, or if there is an excessively rapid or overlapping exchange between participants, the Interpreter will not be able to interpret.
- Speak directly to the person you are talking to and not to the Interpreter. He is a conveyor of your message to your audience.
- The positioning of the Interpreter supports or compromises the communication between people who are speaking different languages. It is recommended that the Interpreter is positioned at the provider’s side and slightly behind.
Questions and Responses
- The Interpreter may interrupt for clarifications by raising his/her hand. This will ensure that
your message is clearly understood by both parties. - The Interpreter may use a dictionary for specific clarification and words.
General Practices
- The Interpreter will need 10 minutes or less to introduce him or herself in both languages.
- If you need any information about the credentials of our Accredited/Certified Interpreters, we will provide
it without disclosing private information.
Remember: Everything in your consecutive interpretation session is confidential and you will be following the Code of Ethics for Interpreters which protects the privacy of the clients.
