Consecutive Interpreting Tips


Provide the interpreter if possible, in advance, with reference material that could help understand the subject matter as well as any terminology such as a report, copy of text, websites, etc. It is especially important that you allow adequate time for review. When the interpreter arrives for the assignment, agree on some rules, such as the way you want the meeting or interview to proceed, the breaks, where you want the interpreter to sit.

Brief the interpreter on the mood of the meeting, the age, nationalities and any other relevant characteristics of the participants, any special needs they might have. Warn the interpreter about any sensitive or delicate issue they might be facing. Also warn them of any contentious issues and whether any party is likely to take an offensive stance and whether you would want them to tone down or just literally interpret any offensive language. In which case, you may need to warn all parties involved that any interpreted offensive language is not the interpreter's.

During the session, try to avoid talking to the interpreter direct and communicate facing the other party(ies). This will break the ice and ease the communication process with all involved.
Take your time while talking to make it easier for the interpreter to do his or her job and allow double the time of a standard meeting as an interpreted session takes twice as long, sometimes longer.

Remember, an interpreter is just a word messenger. He or she will never get subjectively involved in any discussion outside the realm of pure objective interpretation. As such try to avoid any emotive discussions that will confuse and disturb the interpreter.


Simultaneous Interpreting Tips


Provide the interpreters if possible, in advance, with reference material that could help understand the subject matter as well as any terminology such as a report, copy of text or speech, websites, etc. It is especially important that you allow adequate time for review.

Provide the interpreters, as far in advance as possible, with any and all reference materials that could assist them in understanding the specifics of the subject matter as well as any specialized terminology. This includes copies of written texts or notes for a speech. It is especially crucial that you allow adequate time for review of materials on topics of a technical nature.

Set up a session with the interpreters, and try to include the scheduled speakers in this process. Doing so is extremely useful for clarifying specific points or concepts in a speech. When showing a film, slides, or transparencies, make sure that the interpreters receive the script or a copy of the transparencies. Interpreter booths are often located far from a venue's projection screen, so it's helpful if the interpreters have copies of the projected text in front of them.

If speakers wish to reply to questions from the floor, provide them with receiver headsets so that they can follow the questions as they are interpreted.

Try to place the interpreters' booths so that they have a direct line of sight to the speaker. Body language is extremely important to the interpretation process - something conference organizers usually don't consider. The interpreters will love you for it.

Make sure that speakers do not stand too close to the microphone. This makes one's words garbled and difficult to comprehend, needlessly tiring the interpreters.

Have a mobile microphone handy in case the speaker wishes to move away from his or her seat for any reason. Without a microphone, the interpreters cannot hear what is being said, no matter how loudly someone speaks.