Interpreting Services

Interpreting Services: What They Are and When You Need a Professional Interpreter

Interpreting is the process of conveying spoken information from one language into another without producing a written translation. It is essential whenever people who speak different languages need to communicate directly and understand one another during a conversation, meeting, or event.

Professional interpreting services are commonly required for business negotiations, conferences, presentations, seminars, notarial procedures, legal and medical consultations, and meetings with international partners. An interpreter may also accompany a delegation, provide language support at an industrial site, or join an online meeting.

Unlike written translation, interpreting offers little opportunity to return to an earlier sentence, spend time considering a particular term, or compare several possible wordings. An interpreter must understand the speaker quickly, take the context into account, and accurately convey the message in another language.

This is why fluency in a foreign language is only one part of professional interpreting. Relevant interpreting experience, subject-matter knowledge, quick thinking, clear speech, sustained concentration, and confident command of terminology are equally important. The appropriate interpreting format depends on the situation: consecutive interpreting is sufficient for some events, while others require simultaneous interpreting.

What Types of Interpreting Are Available?

The two main types of interpreting are consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. Whispered interpreting and remote interpreting are also used in specific situations. The right format depends on the number of participants, the nature of the communication, the duration of the event, and the available technical facilities.

Consecutive Interpreting

In consecutive interpreting, the speaker delivers a section of speech and then pauses. The interpreter listens, takes notes if necessary, and then conveys the message in the other language.

This format works particularly well when there are relatively few participants and natural pauses do not disrupt the flow of communication. Consecutive interpreting is often used for business negotiations, meetings with international partners, notarial procedures, consultations, interviews, presentations, site visits, and delegation support.

A dedicated interpreting booth and headset system are usually not required. However, it is important to allow additional time, as the conversation takes longer because the interpreter needs to translate each section after the speaker has finished.

Simultaneous Interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting takes place almost at the same time as the speaker is talking. The interpreter listens to the original speech and conveys its meaning in another language with only a short delay.

This format is most commonly chosen for conferences, forums, congresses, international seminars, and other events involving larger audiences. Its main advantage is that speakers do not need to interrupt their presentations regularly to allow time for interpretation.

Professional simultaneous interpreting requires an exceptionally high level of concentration. For longer events, simultaneous interpreters usually work as a team and alternate at regular intervals. In-person conferences may also require specialist equipment, such as an interpreting booth or another designated workspace, headsets, microphones, receivers, transmitters, and an appropriate sound system. The exact technical setup depends on the format of the event.

Whispered and Remote Interpreting

Whispered interpreting, also known as chuchotage, is a form of simultaneous interpreting in which the interpreter quietly conveys the speaker’s message to one or a small number of listeners. It may be suitable when only a few participants need interpretation and a full simultaneous interpreting system would be unnecessary.

Remote interpreting is provided by telephone or through video conferencing platforms. It is suitable for online negotiations, consultations, business meetings, webinars, and other situations where participants are located in different cities or countries. Reliable connectivity, high-quality audio, and a clearly agreed communication procedure are particularly important when arranging this format.

Consecutive or Simultaneous Interpreting: Which Format Should You Choose?

Consecutive interpreting is usually the most practical option for negotiations, consultations, and meetings involving a small number of participants. Simultaneous interpreting is generally better suited to conferences, forums, and large-scale events where interrupting speakers for interpretation would be inconvenient.

However, the number of attendees alone does not determine the best format. For example, during a technical presentation for a small group, it may be important not to interrupt the speaker, while consecutive interpreting may work perfectly well at a formal meeting involving a larger number of participants.

Before choosing a format, it is worth considering the event schedule, the number of languages, the length of presentations, whether pauses are practical, and the technical capabilities of the venue. If interpretation is required for only one or a few participants, whispered interpreting may be appropriate. Remote consecutive or simultaneous interpreting can also be arranged for online events.

The best option should therefore be selected not simply according to the type of event, but according to how communication will actually take place.

What Types of Events Require an Interpreter?

Professional interpreting services are needed whenever a language barrier could interfere with negotiations, decision-making, or the accurate understanding of information. The interpreter’s area of expertise should also match the subject matter of the event.

Common situations include:

• business negotiations, working meetings, and communication with international partners;
• conferences, forums, seminars, presentations, and other international events;
• notarial procedures, legal consultations, and official meetings;
• technical negotiations, equipment installation and commissioning, and visits to manufacturing facilities;
• medical consultations and communication with healthcare professionals;
• online meetings, webinars, and telephone negotiations;
• support for international delegations, specialists, and business partners.

Each situation requires a different approach. A business interpreter must not only convey each party’s statements quickly but also understand business terminology and the context of the discussion. In technical interpreting, precise terminology for equipment, components, processes, and specifications is particularly important. In legal or notarial settings, inaccurate wording can alter the meaning of what has been said, so the interpreter must have a strong command of the relevant terminology. The same applies to medical interpreting, where professional vocabulary must be understood accurately without adding personal explanations or changing the original meaning. At conferences, meanwhile, linguistic competence must be combined with simultaneous interpreting skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with the technical team. For this reason, when booking an interpreter, it is helpful to provide not only the language and date but also the subject matter and expected format of the communication.

What Determines the Cost of Interpreting Services?

The cost of interpreting is calculated according to the specific requirements of each assignment. There is no single universal rate that applies to every language, subject area, and format, because a short business meeting and a multilingual international conference require very different levels of preparation and resources.

What Factors Are Considered When Calculating the Price?

The main factors are the language pair, the type of interpreting, and the duration of the assignment. Subject matter also matters: legal, medical, technical, and other specialist events require an interpreter who is familiar with the relevant professional terminology.

For simultaneous interpreting, the number of interpreters and the technical setup are calculated separately. Equipment costs may depend on the number of listeners, the number of language channels, the characteristics of the venue, and the equipment required.

The location of the event is also taken into account for on-site assignments. If the interpreter needs to work in another city or country, travel and other related expenses may need to be included. The final price may also be affected by extended waiting periods between different parts of the event, work outside standard hours, and urgent bookings.

To receive an accurate quote for interpreting services, it is therefore best to provide the date, required languages, location, approximate duration, and subject matter of the event from the outset.

How Should You Prepare for Working with an Interpreter?

The quality of interpreting depends not only on the interpreter’s professional skills but also on how well they understand the context of the upcoming event. Materials provided in advance allow the interpreter to prepare terminology, proper names, and specialist concepts before the assignment begins.

Where possible, provide the following before the event:

• the programme or agenda for the meeting, conference, or negotiations;
• presentations, speaking notes, and any other available materials;
• specialist terms, abbreviations, and names of products, equipment, or technologies;
• the correct spelling of participants’ names and the names of companies or institutions;
• information about the subject matter, venue, and participants;
• technical details of the online connection or simultaneous interpreting setup, if already known.

Advance preparation is especially valuable for specialist subjects. The same English language may be used in an everyday business conversation and in a discussion about industrial equipment, financial reporting, or a medical procedure, but the professional terminology in each case will be very different. By receiving a presentation, glossary, or even a brief description of the topic beforehand, the interpreter can verify the appropriate terminology, clarify abbreviations, and prepare the correct forms of proper names. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings during the actual conversation. Preparation is even more important for simultaneous interpreting because the interpreter works almost at the pace of the speaker. If the materials are confidential, the procedure for sharing and using them can be agreed when the interpreting service is booked.

Professional interpreting should be organised with consideration not only for the required language but also for the format and subject matter of the event, its location, and the number of participants. This approach makes it possible to select an interpreter with the appropriate expertise and anticipate the organisational and technical requirements in advance.