Interpreters work with spoken words, while translators work with written text.
Choosing the right interpreter for your multilingual event, meeting, or conference can determine its success and enable effective dialogue among speakers.
Looking for freelance interpreters is a time-consuming job that requires the ability to evaluate the candidate’s skill and the infrastructure to set up the event. So how can you make the best choice?
What kind of interpreting service do you need?
The most important part of the selection process for the perfect interpreter should be focusing on the objective: what type of event will take place? What is the best interpreting mode for that particular event?
Here are some of the most common situations requiring the presence of specialized interpreters with experience in the field:
Conferences:
The best choice for multilingual conferences lasting one day or more is simultaneous interpreting, where the linguist translates what the speaker says in real time. This interpreting mode can be performed on site, or thanks to cloud technologies, be set up from remote.
Consecutive interpreting is an option for shorter conferences, as the interpreter repeats what the speaker said right after they finish, and this virtually doubles the duration of the event.
Business meetings:
Business interpreting is the ideal solution for small groups of people, such as in business meetings. Here the interpreter translates each phrase after it is said without needing to take notes. Also, no special equipment is required.
Hospitals, courts, airports, and hotels:
Hospitals, courts, airports, and hotels often have to face an emergency where no on-site interpreter is readily available without notice. This is why Langpros created its new SmartLangPro App, available for smartphone, tablet, and pc. The app allows requesting 24/7 on-demand interpreting services in any language without notice. The client is then video connected to the interpreter working from remote.
Common Mistakes
Interpreting is a profession that requires years of specialized training and experience to be mastered, and even the best simultaneous interpreters will prepare the task in advance by studying specific terminology and the material provided by the organizers.
Despite that, many still think that interpreting is just a matter of being fluent in two languages. While this is certainly a requirement, bilinguals do not possess the right tools to guarantee trusted communication between parties, as they might not be able to convey the message in a culturally acceptable way or one of the speakers could question their impartiality.
Moreover, here you can find a list of 5 common misconceptions people have about interpreting.
Find the perfect interpreter for your needs
Language Service Providers such as Langpros can rely on a wide network of trusted interpreters for any kind of project and can guarantee customer care and support in case of emergencies. Our language experts will make sure to put you in contact with highly trained interpreters and our technicians will provide all the necessary support for the success of your event.
