You may wish to consider engaging an interpreter if:
Simultaneous Interpreting is commonly used in international conferences, seminars, workshops and focus group surveys where it is not possible to have pauses in between presentations to allow for interpreting.
The simultaneous interpreter interprets while the speaker is speaking. In the case of a conference or seminar, the speaker would speak through a microphone on-stage, while the interpreter speaks through another microphone in a sound-proof booth which typically comes as part of a full-fledged conference sound system. In cases where such a system has not been deployed, some clients may use an on-the-go “tour-guide system”.
If it is private interpreting for a small number of key executives and there is no equipment available, it will be whispering interpreting and the interpreter will interpret close to the clients’ ears, soft enough to be heard and not to disturb others.
Consecutive Interpreting is suitable for business meetings, meetings with the lawyers or doctors, media interviews and teleconferencing, for example. It is also suitable for personal events, such as registration of marriages and eulogies.
The consecutive interpreter interprets when the speaker makes pauses in his/her speeches. There is usually no equipment required because the interpreter usually sits among the clients.
Liaison Interpreting is favoured if there are various site visits involved, and an interpreter is needed not just to be sure that no important messages are being missed out, but also to help the client get around when necessary.
The liaison interpreter accompanies the client to various business venues, which could be visits to sites, factories, places of interest, meet-and-greet sessions, events, interviews and so on. The process may involve a combination of consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, depending on the situation, in order that the client understands all that is happening there and then.
