TOP 7 TYPES OF INTERPRETATION SERVICES YOU SHOULD KNOW 

Many people seem to believe that all interpretation services are the same, and most of us are probably unaware of the differences between them. 

However, there are various sorts of interpretation services, each with a distinct purpose.

The explosive growth of globalization and digitalization has dramatically affected Global Business Communication.

The interpretation service is essential for establishing corporate success. 

This article will go through the seven main types of interpretation services you should be aware of.

Seven types of interpretation services are the following:

1. Simultaneous Interpretation (SI)
2. Consecutive interpreting (liaison) 
3. Whispered interpretation
4. Liaison interpretation
5. Over-the-phone interpretation
6. Relay Interpretation
7. Travel Interpretation

SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION: 

Simultaneous interpretation, also known as conference interpretation, is a type of interpretation service in which the speaker makes a speech while the interpreter reformulates it into a targeted language that his audience understands in real-time with minimal delay.

Simultaneous interpreters, as compared to consecutive interpreters, allow speakers to talk without interruption while actively listening and structuring the message to finally replicate it to the audience.

Simultaneous interpreting is the most difficult mode for interpretation to master. 

Simultaneous interpreters used to work in a physical booth with all of the interpreting equipment but digital platforms have gradually replaced the classic interpretation booth mostly to avoid the inconveniences of setting up a physical booth.

CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETATION:

Consecutive interpreting is the practice of interpreting speech after each phrase or two phrases. 

By slowing down the speaker's speech, the consecutive interpreter has more time to translate the message into the target language.

Consecutive interpretation allows people from diverse backgrounds to openly communicate their thoughts and feelings without fear of miscommunication or misinterpretation, overcoming any type of language barrier, particularly during business meetings and conferences, given that 90% of the world's population uses only 5% of the world's languages, leaving many native speakers of other languages unable to communicate.

These interpretation services are used in both official and informal settings, and demand for consecutive interpretation services increased throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic eras.

WHISPERED INTERPRETATION:

Chuchotage is a French name that means "whispering," and it is a type of interpretation. 

This method of interpreting, as the name suggests, requires the interpreter to whisper the message he or she has translated for the speaker into the ear of the person who wishes to understand what the speaker is saying in their native language.

This form of interpretation is best used in smaller settings, especially diplomatic settings on account of this being a more discreet way to go about things. 

The main challenge with whispered interpreting can be ensuring that both parties are understanding each other due to how close they must stand when working together. 

However, whispers can easily be heard by nearby people so many times those involved in whispered interpretation will utilize different techniques such as writing notes or pointing out objects, gestures and locations on maps whenever possible.

LIAISON INTERPRETATION:

Liaison interpreting is another type of interpretation mode during small meetings or business negotiations when clients do not speak each other's language. 

From a professional point of view, liaison interpreting does away with technicalities and puts focus on cultivating relationships and successful negotiations rather than communicating the essence of every word. 

This is the reason why liaison interpreting is less precise compared to consecutive interpretations where interpreters must provide word-to-word translations. 

The best professional liaisons can swiftly adapt to their environment – which goes hand in hand with their light attitude during meetings, given their role as connectors rather than content providers - enabling them to fulfill their purpose and meet the specific requirements of both parties despite the aforementioned constraint. 

OVER-THE-PHONE INTERPRETATION (OPI): 

Over-the-phone interpreting (OPI) falls under the category of remote interpretation services, and in most cases, telephone interpreters provide services in numerous languages. 

Public sectors often use Over-the-phone interpretation services on different occasions, such as healthcare or law. 

However, interpreters and the speaker do not see each other and only see the body language and facial expressions of the speakers, which means that interpreters do not see the client's emotions and other non-verbal cues, which leads to confusion, long pauses, and breaks on both sides.

While interpreting, the interpreter must have excellent listening skills and be alert to any potential distractions. 

These types of interpreting services typically do not take much time or time, and the meeting does not usually go in-depth, given that other interpreting services may be better suited for longer meetings. 

Remote phone interpretation can be appealing from a business standpoint because the company does not have to pay for travel costs or time outside of the meeting when the interpreter is not working.

RELAY INTERPRETATION:

The best way to describe relay interpreting is that it’s simply a form of indirect interpretation. 

In the instance when someone uses the terminology, “relay interpreting” in lieu of “interpretation” and “indirect interpretation,” you can safely assume they are referring to a session that involves multiple interpreters. 

During relay interpreting, an interpreter listens intently to a speaker who speaks within their primary language and then renders the message into one that is commonly spoken among all the other different languages within the interpreting collective.

The phrase "relay interpreting" is frequently interpreted to mean just "simultaneous relay interpreting." This, however, is incorrect, and let's see the difference between simultaneous relay interpretation & consecutive relay interpretation. 

• Simultaneous relay interpretation:

Simultaneous relay interpretation is useful at large events or multilingual conferences or when a specific language pairing interpreter is unavailable.

For example, imagine a meeting in French with attendees who only know English, Japanese, and Russian. The first interpreter translates from French to English using the simultaneous relay facility. The other translators then translated from English to Japanese and Russian.

• Consecutive relay interpretation:

In the consecutive relay, the interpreter speaks consecutively after each speaker finishes a statement (without any pause with the exception of short breaks). There is no preparation time before interpreting. 

The interpreters work with written material and speech (audio or video). 

TRAVEL INTERPRETATION: 

The interpreter in travel interpreting interprets everything that a client says in the target language as well as everything that is said from that foreign language in the client's language.

In other words, the escort interpreter guarantees that both the client and others around the client understand everything that is communicated.

An escort interpreter (also known as a travelling interpreter) can act practically as a personal assistant, assisting clients with guidance while on business trips. 

Clients may be accompanied by these interpreters to a single meeting or a series of sessions. 

Escort/travel interpreters are not only interpreters but also cultural liaisons who are in charge of everything from ordering food to closing multimillion-dollar business deals.

Summary: 

If you need to communicate in many languages, you must choose an interpretation service that matches your language needs which might vary depending on a lot of factors.

An experienced and competent interpreter or interpretation service provider will be able to assist you in reaching out to people all around the world.

Call the OUispeak team now to learn more about how you may discover multilingual solutions.