What is conference interpreting?
Conference interpreters are interpreters who interpret simultaneously, i.e. at the same time as the speaker, from one language into another. Since this type of interpreting requires a very high level of concentration, conference interpreting involves interpreting exclusively into one direction of language. For example, from English into German or vice versa. If interpretation is required in both directions at the same time, it is essential to book two conference interpreters.
Here, conference interpreters translate oral speeches and statements into the language in question. The interpretation is as accurate as possible in terms of content, meaning and cultural aspects. Professional conference interpreters, like all professional interpreters and translators, are bound by professional confidentiality and perform their work to the best of their knowledge and belief.
What technical equipment is necessary for conference interpreting?
With large audiences, there is often a lot of background noise. This is why we recommend using interpreting booths when there is a large audience. When working in the interpreting booth, interpreters alternate in teams of two or three approximately every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on length and complexity of the topic. Only regular breaks can ensure that the conference interpreter is receptive and responsive at all times during this extremely strenuous activity.
In conference interpreting, therefore, special stationary or mobile interpreting booths equipped with simultaneous interpreting equipment are indispensable. This is the only way to avoid background noise from the audience, the environment or due to the equipment used during interpreting.
Planning a conference with interpreters
Are you planning an international conference with participants of different mother tongues? Then professional interpretation is essential so that everyone understands what is being said. Multiple conference interpreters simultaneously interpret contributions into several languages. The listeners can then select the appropriate channel via their headphones and follow what is being said in their native language. If necessary, in half a dozen languages from which they can choose freely. In order to organize a large team of interpreters and plan the interpretation, we recommend the following approach:
Set the date, duration and location, as well as the desired languages. These details are essential for the choice of interpreters. Also, make sure you are aware of which languages guest speakers are using so that you address the correct language. From here we can take over for you if you like.
Contact interpreters in good time, as they also usually need preparation time, especially for specialized conferences. It is important that two interpreters are always used for one language, so that they can alternate roughly every half hour. Some interpreters already have established partners and can be hired directly as a team.
Depending on the duration and travel distance, the interpreters will prepare make you an offer. Particularly in the case of events lasting several days, catering and accommodation also play a role, as does thematic preparation time in the case of events that are particularly demanding in terms of subject matter. Often, travel expenses and accommodation are charged at a flat rate, as many interpreters organize this themselves. Keep all contract details in writing. Normally, half-day or full-day rates are charged; additional hours incurred are charged per hour or part thereof. The topic of substitution should also play a role should emergencies arise.
The more information is provided beforehand, the better the interpretation will be later on, especially in the case of complex technical topics. Provide interpreters with white papers, presentations, or other conference materials as soon as possible. If requested, many interpreters also offer to translate relevant documents such as handouts for the audience. However, this should be addressed well in advance.
In order for the interpreters to get to know each other, it makes sense to hold a preparatory meeting. Within this setting, you can gather and resolve existing issues so that everyone is on the same page. Holding this preparatory meeting digitally saves time and travel costs, especially if there are a larger number of interpreters. Plan this well in advance.
Check which technical facilities (booths, microphones, headsets) are already available at the conference location. Conference hotels in particular are often already equipped with interpretation equipment, but this is not always the case. For 20 or more participants, we recommend one interpreting booth per language to minimize background noise. In addition, you need broadcast microphones for speakers as well as interpreters and enough headphones for the audience. Note that booths should only be set up by technicians.
We also recommend an equipment check before the start of the event, especially if the venue’s equipment is being used. Also, keep alternatives in mind should a microphone or headphone fail.
If everything has been organized, the event should run seamlessly. It is important for the interpreters to know who to contact on site in case of further questions, so a contact person should be determined who can be reached on site or by phone during the conference.
Keep a record of the interpreter’s exact deployment times should additional hours have been incurred. These are added to the billing in half-day or full-day rates.
Schedule an evaluation meeting with the interpreters, if possible. This is especially important if you plan to hold more conferences in the future. Ask for feedback regarding equipment and procedures to optimize your processes.
Professional conference interpreters
We support you with professional and experienced conference interpreters.
Teamwork
Conference interpreting is a team effort.
On site for you
Our interpreters travel nationwide for you.
The professional title "conference interpreter" is not protected in Germany, nor are the professional titles "interpreter" and "translator". However, it takes relevant training as a conference interpreter or years of experience in several hundred conferences before one can speak of a true conference interpreter. The peculiarity of conference interpreters is that in most conferences they do not work alone, but in a team. High-quality simultaneous interpreting in the interpreting booth requires an extremely high mental performance, which is why interpreters usually take turns every half hour.
Our interpreters are on available for our customers on a calendar day basis throughout Germany. Whether you need a face-to-face interpreter on-site or during a meeting digitally or via telephone, we are here for you!
Our interpreters regularly work at public authorities, schools, lawyers and doctors, including the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt (Main), Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dortmund, Essen, Bremen, Dresden, Hanover, Nuremberg, Duisburg, Bochum, Wuppertal, Bielefeld, Bonn, Münster, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Augsburg, Wiesbaden, Mönchengladbach, Gelsenkirchen, Braunschweig, Aachen, Kiel, Chemnitz, Halle (Saale), Magdeburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Krefeld, Mainz, Lübeck, Erfurt, Oberhausen, Rostock, Kassel, Hagen, Saarbrücken, Potsdam, Hamm, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Oldenburg, Osnabrück, Leverkusen, Heidelberg, Solingen, Darmstadt, Herne, Neuss, Regensburg, Paderborn, Ingolstadt, Offenbach am Main, Fürth, Würzburg, Ulm, Heilbronn, Pforzheim, Wolfsburg, Göttingen, Bottrop, Reutlingen, Koblenz, Bremerhaven, Erlangen, Bergisch Gladbach, Trier, Recklinghausen, Jena, Remscheid, Salzgitter, Moers, Siegen, Hildesheim, Gütersloh, Kaiserslautern, Cottbus, Witten, Hanau, Schwerin, Esslingen am Neckar, Ludwigsburg, Gera, Iserlohn, Tübingen, Düren, Flensburg, Zwickau, Gießen, Ratingen, Lünen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Konstanz, Marl, Worms, Velbert, Minden, Neumünster, Dessau-Roßlau, Norderstedt, Delmenhorst, Bamberg, Viersen, Marburg, Rheine, Wilhelmshaven, Lüneburg, Gladbeck, Troisdorf, Bayreuth, Dorsten, Detmold, Arnsberg, Landshut, Castrop-Rauxel, Lüdenscheid, Brandenburg an der Havel, Bocholt, Aschaffenburg, Celle, Kempten (Allgäu), Fulda, Aalen, Lippstadt, Dinslaken, Kerpen, Herford, Rüsselsheim am Main, Weimar, Sindelfingen, Neuwied, Plauen, Dormagen, Neubrandenburg, Grevenbroich, Rosenheim, Herten, Bergheim, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Garbsen, Friedrichshafen, Wesel, Offenburg, Hürth, Stralsund, Greifswald, Langenfeld (Rhineland), Neu-Ulm, Unna, Euskirchen, Göppingen, Frankfurt (Oder), Hameln, Eschweiler, Stolberg (Rhineland), Meerbusch, Görlitz, Sankt Augustin, Hilden, Waiblingen, Baden-Baden, Lingen (Ems), Langenhagen, Hattingen, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Bad Salzuflen, Pulheim, Nordhorn, Schweinfurt, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Wetzlar, Passau, Menden (Sauerland), Ahlen, Frechen, Kleve, Wolfenbüttel, Ibbenbüren, Bad Kreuznach, Gummersbach, Ravensburg, Speyer, Goslar, Willich, Böblingen, Erftstadt, Peine, Elmshorn, Rastatt, Emden, Heidenheim an der Brenz, Lörrach, Freising, Leonberg, Frankenthal (Pfalz), Bergkamen, Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Bad Oeynhausen, Bornheim, Gronau (Westphalia), Cuxhaven, Straubing, Dachau, Stade, Singen (Hohentwiel), Soest, Hennef (Sieg), Lahr/Black Forest, Alsdorf, Landau in der Pfalz, Dülmen, Melle, Oberursel (Taunus), Herzogenrath, Schwerte, Neunkirchen, Filderstadt, Hof, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Fellbach, Rodgau, Albstadt, Weinheim, Gotha, Bünde, Oranienburg, Bruchsal, Kaufbeuren, Neustadt am Rübenberge, Brühl, Memmingen, Lehrte, Falkensee, Erkrath, Rottenburg am Neckar, Pinneberg, Kaarst, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Erkelenz, Kamen, Wismar, Gifhorn, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Borken, Nettetal, Eisenach, Heinsberg, Amberg, Dreieich, Aurich, Homburg, Ansbach, Nordhausen, Laatzen, Seevetal, Siegburg, Wunstorf, Königswinter, Nürtingen, Coburg, Schwabach, Monheim am Rhein, Kirchheim unter Teck, Eberswalde, Bensheim, Freiberg, Lemgo, Schwäbisch Hall, Germering, Halberstadt, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Hückelhoven, Pirmasens, Buxtehude, Weißenfels, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Bernau bei Berlin, Löhne, Schorndorf, Buchholz in der Nordheide, Freital, Maintal, Hofheim am Taunus, Völklingen, Ahaus, Ettlingen, Ostfildern, Stendal, Ilmenau, Mettmann, Würselen, Niederkassel, Bautzen, Pirna, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Neu-Isenburg, Langen, Haltern am See, Papenburg, Greven, Königs Wusterhausen, Kamp-Lintfort, Backnang, Warendorf, Fürstenfeldbruck, Beckum, Suhl, Kehl, Erding, Wesseling, Coesfeld, Tuttlingen, Mühlhausen/Thüringen, Emsdetten, Voerde (Niederrhein), Limburg an der Lahn, Porta Westfalica, Cloppenburg, Sankt Ingbert, Sinsheim, Meppen, Winsen (Luhe), Ingelheim am Rhein, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Lage, Leer, Wermelskirchen, Datteln, Crailsheim, Saarlouis, Kempen, Seelze, Balingen, Steinfurt, Viernheim, Dietzenbach, Goch, Zweibrücken, Barsinghausen, Bad Vilbel, Hemer, Radebeul, Merseburg, Kornwestheim, Geldern, Ahrensburg, Deggendorf, Wedel, Stuhr, Uelzen, Biberach an der Riß, Korschenbroich, Rheinfelden (Baden), Vechta, Jülich, Lampertheim, Bernburg (Saale), Wernigerode, Bad Nauheim, Hoyerswerda, Forchheim, Naumburg (Saale), Delbrück, Fürstenwalde/Spree, Achim, Itzehoe, Georgsmarienhütte, Herrenberg, Altenburg, Radolfzell am Bodensee, Nienburg, Oer-Erkenschwick, Ganderkesee, Bramsche, Kreuztal, Emmerich am Rhein, Rheinberg, Geestland, Weyhe, Neuruppin, Werl, Burgdorf, Gevelsberg, Einbeck, Geesthacht, Schönebeck, Lohmar, Haan, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Weil am Rhein, Ennepetal, Taunusstein, Friedberg, Bad Hersfeld, Andernach, Gaggenau, Merzig, Neuburg an der Donau, Meschede, Riesa, Werne, Schwedt/Oder, Wedemark, Bretten, Vaihingen an der Enz, Rietberg, Friedberg (Hessen), Tönisvorst, Waltrop, Saalfeld, Saale, Oelde, Landsberg am Lech, Schwandorf, Northeim, Güstrow, Kelkheim, Taunus, Springe, Unterschleißheim, Bad Zwischenahn, Rendsburg, Bühl, Höxter, Rösrath, Mühlheim am Main, Schwelm, Idar-Oberstein, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Geislingen an der Steige, Rödermark, Meißen, Winnenden, Grimma, Wegberg, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Kevelaer, Königsbrunn, Leichlingen, Rheinland, Olching, Emmendingen, Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Baunatal, Hattersheim am Main, Sundern (Sauerland), Mechernich, Verden (Aller), Zeitz, Reinbek, Griesheim, Geilenkirchen, Wetter (Ruhr), Arnstadt, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Neukirchen-Vluyn, Overath, Baesweiler, Weinstadt, Leimen, Aschersleben, Rheinbach, Lohne (Oldenburg), Wangen im Allgäu, Teltow, Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, Hamminkeln, Strausberg, Ludwigsfelde, Wiesloch, Remseck am Neckar, Neckarsulm, Lauf an der Pegnitz, Butzbach, Werder (Havel), Heiligenhaus, Hennigsdorf, Ehingen, Hohen Neuendorf, Nordenham, Mühlacker, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Weiterstadt, Heppenheim (Bergstrasse), Sangerhausen, Selm, Bingen am Rhein, Kulmbach, Bad Honnef, St. Wendel, Helmstedt, Achern, Köthen (Anhalt), Zirndorf, Lübbecke, Lindau (Bodensee), Groß-Gerau, Brilon, Geretsried, Rinteln, Schleswig, Friedrichsdorf, Verl, Lennestadt, Unterhaching, Roth, Plettenberg, Pfungstadt, Rottweil, Harsewinkel, Wiehl, Weingarten, Petershagen, Zittau, Horb am Neckar, Idstein, Salzkotten, Rudolstadt, Obertshausen, Staßfurt, Norden, Ditzingen, Schmallenberg, Delitzsch, Lüdinghausen, Meckenheim, Meiningen, Stutensee, Espelkamp, Markkleeberg, Sprockhövel, Bad Oldesloe, Öhringen, Warstein, Olpe, Ellwangen (Jagst), Vaterstetten, Ronnenberg, Isernhagen, Syke, Attendorn, Rathenow, Waldshut-Tiengen, Übach-Palenberg, Varel, Senftenberg, Limbach-Oberfrohna, Bad Mergentheim, Haren (Ems), Eisenhüttenstadt, Riedstadt, Quedlinburg, Bedburg, Freudenstadt, Hann, Münden, Döbeln, Calw, Moormerland, Alfter, Sonneberg, Korbach, Mosbach, Starnberg, Salzwedel, Waldkraiburg, Sehnde, Herzogenaurach, Jüchen, Dillenburg, Gelnhausen, Husum, Wandlitz, Netphen, Warburg, Wallenhorst, Walsrode, Lutherstadt, Eisleben, Westerstede, Leutkirch im Allgäu, Bad Soden am Taunus, Wertheim, Herdecke, Rastede, Vreden, Lengerich, Weilheim in Oberbayern, Nagold, Senden, Überlingen, Edewech, Gersthofen, Bad Kissingen, Laupheim, Friesoythe, Karben, Neusäß, Stadthagen, Gardelegen, Glauchau, Apolda, Donaueschingen, Kaltenkirchen, Büdingen, Metzingen, Spremberg, Rotenburg (Wümme), Kitzingen, Bad Harzburg, Radevormwald, Heide, Waldkirch, Karlsfeld, Elsdorf, Eppingen, Ilsede, Eckernförde, Hockenheim, Ottobrunn, Flörsheim am Main, Schwetzingen, Stadtallendorf, Sonthofen, Xanten, Versmold, Eschborn, Halle (Westphalia), Osterode am Harz, Bad Rappenau, Büren, Haar, Zerbst, Anhalt, Aichach, Geseke, Puchheim, Quickborn, Lindlar, Sondershausen, Groß-Umstadt, Soltau, Neu Wulmstorf, Seligenstadt, Westoverledingen, Schramberg, Eislingen/Fils, Rees, Waren (Müritz), Günzburg, Wipperfürth, Wülfrath, Waghäusel, Traunreut, Germersheim, Mühldorf am Inn, Gauting, Fröndenberg/Ruhr, Coswig, Werdau, Steinhagen, Traunstein, Panketal, Luckenwalde, Herborn, Nidderau, Nördlingen, Enger, Reichenbach im Vogtland, Wachtberg, Bruchköbel, Blieskastel, Mössingen, Schwanewede, Schifferstadt, Senden, Greiz, Schortens, Bad Krozingen, Kleinmachnow, Meinerzhagen, Duderstadt, Aue-Bad, Schlema, Hörstel, Zülpich, Wittmund, Stadtlohn, Uetze, Burgwedel, Haßloch, Rheinstetten, Neufahrn bei Freising, Bad Waldsee, Lichtenfels, Wildeshausen, Neustrelitz, Leinefelde-Worbis, Bad Salzungen Wilnsdorf, Bad Schwartau, Oberkirch, Gröbenzell.
