Find out more about conference interpreters

Conference interpreters have been specially trained for their demanding interpreting work. They are language professionals who provide an excellent service in order to ensure that a client’s event is a success. Conference interpreters who are members of the AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters, see below) have demonstrated their expertise in a peer review process and therefore have the credentials to ensure a professional service.

As consultant interpreters (and experienced conference interpreters ourselves), we know how to match the language expertise of our experienced interpreters with the specific topic of your event and understand that excellent conference interpreting requires perfect teamwork and close cooperation between all stakeholders: event organisers, speakers, interpreters, and technicians.

 

AIIC

The French acronym for the Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence = the International Association of Conference Interpreters.
Membership of the AIIC is the recognised “mark of quality” for experienced conference interpreters, who have usually attained qualifications from a university or technical college and then undergone a strict peer review process in order to demonstrate their language skills. They also provide evidence of a specific number of successfully completed interpreting jobs.
http://www.aiic.org

 

Consultant conference interpreters

Consultant conference interpreters are able to tell you which form of interpreting and which technical solution is the best fit for your event, and can then advise you accordingly. Over their careers as conference interpreters, they have amassed a vast wealth of experience in the organisation of events, and can draw on this experience to ensure that your event is a success.

A consultant interpreter acts as the link between the event organiser and the individual conference interpreters in the team, providing support to the event organiser and client, while also ensuring their colleagues have the best possible preparation for the event. The consultant interpreter coordinates all of these tasks and ensures the quality of the interpreting service by selecting the right colleagues for your specific sector.
For more information, please contact your consultant interpreter.

 

Whisper interpreting/chuchotage

With this service, the interpreter sits next to or behind the listener and “whispers” what has been said in the other language. If the listener then also speaks, the interpreter provides consecutive interpreting (see above) for the other listeners/participants. This form of interpreting is used for occasions where there are one or maximum two listeners. One drawback of this form of interpreting is the background noise that it creates for other participants, since the interpreter is not actually “whispering” but is in fact speaking in a low voice.

Another form of whisper interpreting is offered by tour guide systems, which are ideal for group tours, site visits, etc. In this option, the interpreter uses a wireless infrared system. The interpreter walks next to the speaker and interprets into a microphone; the individual participants can stand a few metres away from both speaker and interpreter and they receive the interpreter’s voice via their headphones. This method is therefore also suitable for larger groups.

 

Conference languages

Conference languages are the languages that are spoken at a conference, in which presentations are made and questions can be asked. For the interpreters, these are the languages that will require active interpreting.

 

Conference technology

In a conventional conference situation, one interpreting booth equipped with interpreter desks for two or three interpreters is needed for each language requiring simultaneous interpreting. The participants receive headphones/headsets so that they can follow the conference on the desired language channel. The speaker’s sound must be transmitted to the interpreters via a microphone system. A public address (PA) system ensures that all participants in the room can hear the speakers in a defined language. The interpreters require a view of the speaker or if this is not possible then a video link of the speaker, together with a copy of their presentations and much more. 
If the interpreters are in an external interpreting hub, the conference technicians ensure that the original sound and the interpreted sound are exchanged without losses. In this case, external participants or speakers are connected having been briefed in advance as to the requirements of this solution, e.g. a secure and fast Internet connection and high-quality wired headsets, in order to ensure secure and uninterrupted transmission in excellent sound quality in all directions. A test of the technology together with all participating speakers is essential prior to the event itself. All of these details fall under the category of “Conference technology” and are taken into account during our planning stage: after all, your interpreters can only interpret clearly if they can hear clearly.

 

Consecutive interpreting

With consecutive interpreting, the interpreter takes notes while the speaker is talking and then uses these notes to relay (consecutively) what was said in the other language. This form of interpreting is used, for example, in the following scenarios: after-dinner speeches, receptions, welcome/farewell announcements, press conferences, interviews, informal discussions. When this interpreting technique is used, it should be noted that all speeches will take twice as much time (if only one interpreted language is needed) and that all participants will have to listen to all of the languages (if several interpreted languages are needed).

 

Costs

Since every setting is different, we will create an individual cost estimate for every event, which includes all necessary cost items, e.g. professional interpreter fees (conference interpreters are exclusively booked for your event on the given day and time, and prepare rigorously for each assignment, so they are always paid a daily fee), per diem and accommodation allowances, compensation for time spent travelling, travel costs, copyright fees for recording interpreting services and/or transmission on the Internet or Intranet, plus the hire, transport, set-up, removal, and operation of the conference technology by specialist engineers during the conference.

 

Simultaneous interpreting

With simultaneous interpreting, the interpreters work in soundproof booths, which are either a permanent feature of the meeting room or conference building or are mobile booths hired and installed specifically for your event. Alternatively, this service can be provided by one of the technology hubs offered by our technology partner. For their work, the interpreters require a clear view of the speakers and their presentations; depending on the conference situation this could be via video link to the physical interpreting booth either on site or in the hub. In each booth, there are two or three interpreters who switch places every 30 minutes. They relay the presentations in the desired language and the conference participants listen to the interpreter via headphones at the same time (simultaneously) as the speaker. This removes language barriers and you can focus immediately on your listeners. Interpreters work in the background, so you rarely see us – but you certainly hear us.

 

Subtitles

Subtitling for live events is a service provided by specially trained speech-to-text interpreters. It should be noted that live subtitling is only available in the speaker’s language; the creation of subtitles simultaneously in another language is not currently possible.

 

Confidentiality and non-disclosure

AIIC conference interpreters are bound by the professional code of ethics of the AIIC when it comes to confidentiality. All the interpreters in the team will of course also be happy to sign an additional non-disclosure agreement that is specific to your event.

 

How we can help ...

Are you looking for simultaneous translation, synchronous translation, a dubbing actor, spontaneous translation, live interpreting, a voiceover, a booth interpreter, or a “voice in your ear”? Our simultaneous interpreters are here to help.

Do you want a speech to be translated sentence by sentence, section by section, segment by segment, bit by bit, or sequentially? This is a job for our consecutive interpreters.

 

Facts and figures

In 1972, Christa B. Zander launched her career as a conference interpreter working in the office of the Munich Olympic Organizing Committee.
Thereafter, she worked at countless conferences as a freelance interpreter, team leader, consultant interpreter, and, increasingly, as the organizer of large teams of interpreters and the necessary conference technology. She is also a technical translator.

In 1979, she was accepted as a full member of the AIIC, the International Association of Conference Interpreters (Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence).

In 1997, after 25 years as a successful freelancer, Christa B. Zander founded Dialog International GmbH.

In 2006, Anna Lauretta joined the team. She works in project management for Dialog International GmbH and is a freelance translator and interpreter for Italian.

In 2009, Dialog International awarded its first scholarship for students at the SDI (Sprachen & Dolmetscher Institut München - Munich Professional College for Translating and Interpreting).

In 2011, Anna Lauretta became a co-partner of Dialog International GmbH and took on the role of second Managing Director of the company.

In 2017, Dialog International GmbH celebrated 20 years of success! The office moved from the Berg am Laim district of Munich to a greener location in Gröbenzell, in the countryside west of Munich. 

 

Further information:

PDF document Notes for event organisers and speakers (466k)

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