Several types of multinational meetings and conferences often require simultaneous

interpreting. It is one of the most common forms of interpretation although it is quite

difficult. In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter has to translate what was said within
the time allowed by the speaker’s pace without changing the natural flow of the speech.

It was during the Nuremberg Trial that was held after World War II ended that The first
time that simultaneous interpreting was used.

What is interpreting?

Language interpretation involves the verbal translation of a speech being delivered. The
interpreter converts the speech in the source language into the required target language, just
like a written translation. Six types of interpretation are widely used around the world:
simultaneous, consecutive, whispered, travel/escort interpreting, over-the-phone
interpreting (scheduled) and on-demand phone interpreting.

It is the job of the interpreter to successfully deliver all the semantic elements in the speech
including its tone. The interpreter also has to deliver the intent of the message the speaker
wants to convey.

Explaining Simultaneous Interpretation

Simultaneous Interpretation happens in real time, when a speaker talks at the same time as
the interpreter transmits the message in a different language. However, the name suggests
that this process occurs simultaneously, but this this is not strictly true. There will always
be a slight pause between the speaker’s words and the interpreter’s translation, because the
interpreter must analyze, process, then translate the idea. Of course this all takes place in a
matter of seconds. According to studies, the human mind can only retain a maximum of 9
or 10 words at any one time; therefore, to ensure that the interpreter doesn’t omit or forget
essential information or lose the main concept of the speech, they must speak with a
difference of only three or four words. This slight gap ensures that the audience will
understand all the information being offered by the interpreter.

Where Is Simultaneous Interpretation Used?

Generally, Simultaneous Interpretation is used for large meetings, conferences, seminars,

conventions, multilingual events, workshops, and any other type of event that attracts a
large audience. This explains why soundproof booths, complete with an intricate audio
system, must be used.

All of the skills mentioned under consecutive interpreting apply to simultaneous.

The three main actions are also essentially the same:

1) listen actively (understand)

2) analyse (structure the message)

3) reproduce (communicate)

The difference with consecutive interpreting is that in simultaneous interpreting all of these
things need to happen at the same time (or simultaneously).

This means that besides the skills listed under consecutive interpreting – i.e. a special way
of listening, prioritising information and distinguishing between primary and secondary
information, activating short-term memory, communicating, etc. – a good simultaneous
interpreter also has to be able to anticipate what the speaker might say (especially when the
language spoken by the speaker has a very different syntactical structure to the one it is
being interpreted into). The ability to remain calm under pressure, and be resilient to stress
is even more necessary in simultaneous as well.

The active language of the interpreter is also under more pressure in simultaneous, as he is
speaking at the same time as listening and analysing. So the need for excellent mother-
tongue or active language skills is even keener here than in consecutive as well. The
possibility of 'interference' from the passive (heard) language to the active (spoken)
language is also greater in simultaneous, so interpreters have to pay even more attention to
their output. This might mean getting away from the original syntax, chopping up long
sentences into short ones and avoiding 'false friends'.

This explains why trainee interpreters learn consecutive interpreting first, as that is where
they learn the key skills necessary for interpreting. Simultaneous interpreting uses the exact
same skills but with some added layers of complexity and difficulty.

All of these different skills need to be learnt. You are not an interpreter just because you
happen to speak more than one language; it is much more complex than that.

Very demanding work

In the world of language services, simultaneous interpreting can be classified as the most
demanding. The interpreter must have excellent language skills and more than average
fluency in two languages. Further, he or she must be mentally prepared, especially if the
meeting or conference is a long one and involves many speakers. Being a simultaneous
interpreter means correctly interpreting what is being said while injecting the nuances
necessary in the target language. The environment itself can already be stressful. The
interpreter cannot consult a dictionary to look up unfamiliar expressions and terms, which
is reason enough to have excellent proficiency in the source and target languages. The
interpreter must be fully confident of their speaking skills. The job demands that the
interpreter must also be skilled in improvisation.
Typical scenario

In simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter has to translate the thoughts and words of the
speaker while he or she is still speaking, with a delay of about 30 seconds after the speaker
starts to talk to process what is being said. The interpreter is located within the confines of a
soundproof booth, while the participants in the meeting or conference listen to the
interpreters using headsets.

Simultaneous interpreting is very intense work, therefore, it often requires at least two
interpreters. Each one typically interprets for about 20 to 30 minutes and takes a 10-minute
break in between meetings. It is important that the interpreter remains alert or the
interpretation might suffer. Thus, it is essential to have two interpreters to take turns in
interpreting simultaneously.

The interpreter wears a headset to listen to the speaker in full concentration. The interpreter
listens to what is being said and interprets it immediately, which is transmitted to the
headsets of delegates or participants who speak that particular language.

Simultaneous interpreting: pros and cons

In simultaneous interpreting, the interpretation is delivered real-time, and the speaker does
not have to pause and wait for the interpreter to translate the part of the speech that has
been delivered. They can continue speaking while the interpreter does the work of
translating the speech into another language.

The interpreters are isolated from the conference participants thus it is possible to have the
speech interpreted in different languages at once. The participants choose their preferred
language by changing their headsets’ channel.

Maintaining the smooth flow of the presentation is one of the main benefits of simultaneous
interpreting. Time is precious, and in this type of interpretation, there is only a small delay
before the delivery of the information from the source language into the target language.

Simultaneous interpreting keeps the audience focused and attentive. During conferences, it
is typically for participants to talk among themselves, read conference materials and
handouts and look around to check the other participants, which means their attention is
divided. When you have a simultaneous interpretation, event participants have to give their
full attention to what the speaker is saying through the interpreters so they can understand
the message. Their attention is caught because they have to listen to the interpreter.
Simultaneous interpreting is ideal for large multilingual conferences.

However, simultaneous interpreting is not interactive like the other forms of interpreting
work. Likewise, it is more expensive because it typically requires two interpreters per target
language. Due to the high concentration demanded from the interpreter when doing
simultaneous interpreting, they need to rest every half hour.
This type of interpreting requires special equipment, like soundproof booths, conference
headsets, wiring from the booths to the headsets and microphones. The interpreters may
also need to use cameras and video screens to see the speakers if the interpreters’ booths are
placed in a different location from the conference.

Different forms of simultaneous interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting generally comes in two types – whispered and interpreting booth.

In whispered interpretation, the simultaneous interpreter is standing or sitting together with

the delegates. The interpreter translates what the speaker is saying directly to the delegates.
Whispered interpreting could be used when there are only a few delegates at the meeting,
and they are either sitting or standing close together.

Often, whispered interpreting is used in small groups or bilateral meetings where the
participants do not speak one language. It is more time saving than consecutive
interpreting.

Whispered interpretation can also use headphones for sound clarity. In this case, a portable
simultaneous interpreting equipment is used, such as portable transmitters with microphone
and receivers with headsets. It is suitable for occasions where the participants have to move
around such as during factory visits or museum tours.

For large conferences, simultaneous interpretation booth is needed, as the interpreters

require complete silence during simultaneous interpretation. Therefore, the booths have to
be soundproof and large enough to fit a table as well as between two and four interpreters.

DO’s of Interpretation

1. Do organize your interpretive talks, hikes and programs into three sections: introduction,

body and conclusion.

2. Do have a simple, clear message (also called a theme sentence) for all your interpretive

talks, hikes, programs and exhibits.

3. Do carefully research all the facts and concepts you provide in your interpretive programs,
exhibits and publications so that they are accurate and up to date.
4. Do eliminate technical jargon, or provide simple definitions of technical terms, when

giving programs to the general public.

Note: Many science words familiar to a person with a college degree in parks and

recreation, wildlife or forestry may not be familiar to the general public.

5. Do outline and practice your interpretive talks, hikes and programs before giving them to

an audience of park visitors.

6. Do prepare all your materials and/or inspect the site of your outdoor program/trail walk

before the program begins.

7. Do use a relaxed, friendly approach when providing interpretive information to park

visitors.

8. Do encourage audience participation when possible.

9. Do pass around your props to allow everyone a closer look, or invite the audience to

come up after the program for a closer look.

10. Do begin and end your programs on time.

11. Do modify your programs to better suit the needs of specific audiences and/or adjust for

changing weather conditions.

12. Do remember that the role of a park interpreter is to inspire appreciation and wonder, as

much as it is to educate.
DON’Ts of Interpretation

1. Don’t argue with members of your audience. Recognize other viewpoints and, if you

must disagree, do so respectfully.

2. Don’t make up answers to questions. Say “I don’t know” and follow up with the

interested person(s) after the program if possible.

3. Don’t cover up your mistakes. Simply admit them and explain why you were wrong.

4. Don’t be rude, sarcastic or attempt to get a laugh by making fun of someone else. Humor

is great, but it can be easily misinterpreted or abused.

5. Don’t make any racist, sexist or political comments. Be sensitive to the various members

of your audience.

6. Don’t make any negative comments about state government, the division, your park, co-

workers, etc. in front of park visitors. Maintain a professional demeanor.

7. Don’t assume anything about anyone in your audience. Keep an open mind.

8. Don’t use your interpretive program as an opportunity to “get on your soap box” and

push your opinions and ideas on others. Try to present a balanced approach when

discussing controversial issues.

9. Don’t be a “know-it-all” or try to dazzle your audience with your profound knowledge of

the natural world. A big part of interpretation is to arouse curiosity and inspire others to

learn and explore on their own.

10. Don’t forget to ask your audience and/or coworkers to evaluate your programs, talks and

hikes on a regular basis

Additional Do’s for Hikes and Outdoor Programs

1. Do set ground rules for hikes. Examples: stay behind the ranger, stay on the trail, be

very quiet so we don’t frighten the animals, don’t pick any plants, etc.

2. Do plan for the slowest person in the group on your hikes.

3. Do scout out your hike beforehand and make sure the trail (or other outdoor site) is clear

of debris and hazards.

4. Do explain any safety hazards/rules to the group at the beginning of your outdoor

program or hike. Safety first!

5. Do describe the difficulty level of the hike and/or the types of skills the participants

should have to comfortably participate in the activity.

6. Do wait for everyone to catch up before you interpret something along the trail/tour.

7. Do make sure you are facing your audience before you begin speaking; talking over your

shoulder along a trail is not effective.

8. Do make sure you are staring into the sun, not your audience, whenever you stop to

interpret an object or provide a lengthy explanation.

9. Do place the spotting scope, or one of the spotting scopes, at the height of the shortest
person in the group.

10. Do explain the rules of any environmental education game twice; then ask if the children

have questions.

11. Do allow all participants playing games to switch roles.

12. Do be patient, understanding, and considerate of the needs and abilities of all the

participants.

Simultaneous interpretation: Why is it important?

Language services, such as interpretation, are concerned about ensuring proper

understanding and effective communication by breaking down language barriers. With
simultaneous interpretation, it is very easy for a participant to follow what the speaker is
saying almost immediately.

Simultaneous interpretation is important for several reasons:

 It is an efficient communication provider as it allows delegates to enjoy the equal

opportunity of sharing their knowledge or ideas. It also offers the chance for the delegates
to listen to the speech in their mother tongue.
 As the interpretation is done real-time, messages are not lost. It allows the participants to
express their views, thoughts and ideas comfortably in the language they commonly use.
 It ensures that the multilingual conference gains a better result because correct and
proper communication is achieved with interpretation. Participants can communicate
freely in their own language, knowing that they can reach out to fellow delegates
effectively.
 Simultaneous interpretation avoids the time-consuming task of translating the documents
and speeches in the languages spoken by all the participants. Everyone attending the
conference becomes aware of everything that is being discussed because the
interpretation is quick and immediate.
 Accuracy is assured with simultaneous interpretation as the interpreter immediately relays
what the speaker is saying. In consecutive interpreting, the proper communication of the
messages depends on the notes and what the interpreter remembers.

Interpreters doing simultaneous interpretation need to hone their language and interpreting
skills regularly. The number of international events in various parts of the world creates a
high demand for the expertise of simultaneous interpreters. Using their skills is one of the
best methods of delivering your message to a multilingual audience. Individuals and
businesses will greatly benefit from simultaneous interpretation for efficient
communication by ensuring that the language barrier is crossed and the messages delivered
effectively in the other languages that the participants speak.

With the help of an experienced simultaneous interpreter, business owners can close deals
through the excellent language skills of the interpreter during a business presentation. You
can ensure business success by making a simultaneous interpreter as part of your strategic
business plan.

Tips and Tricks: Simultaneous Interpreting

Unlike consecutive interpreting where note taking is necessary, there is no time for that
during a simultaneous interpreting session. Instead of using notes and your short-term
memory, you would use your immediate short-term memory in this instance. In addition to
the inability to take notes, another challenge in simultaneous interpreting is the necessary
ability to multitask. Can you chew gum and walk at the same time? If so, you can
multitask. But try to listen, comprehend, and analyze an ongoing speech, and then interpret
it into a different language while still listening to the speech. How long can you last before
you mess up or lose track of the speech?

INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

As you can probably tell, it isn’t so easy. The speed and immediacy of simultaneous
interpreting create a few challenges. Here are some ways to overcome the challenges.

Learn to anticipate. Because the message is still in progress as you’re relaying the
interpretation, it helps to be able to anticipate what is upcoming. Familiarity with the topic
at hand is a must; familiarity with the speaker’s speech pattern is also beneficial, but that
comes with time. To practice, pay attention to how people around you speak. You’ll find
that often times, you can logically predict the next idea from the key words that are already
given.

Increase your decalage. A decalage is the length of time between the start of the speech
and the beginning of your interpretation. A longer decalage allows for higher accuracy
because you get more context before interpreting. In your training, challenge yourself to
increase your decalage.

Watch yourself. One of the downsides to simultaneous interpreting is that sometimes, due
to the speed in which the message needs to be conveyed, the interpreter isn’t able to catch
everything, leading to some omission of the message or nuances. It is important for an
interpreter to self-monitor all the time to make sure he is on top of his game.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Shadowing. A good way to start is by shadowing a 20-min-long, structured speech,. Try to

avoid newscasts or radio shows as they tend to lack continuity between segments.
Shadowing means to repeat whatever was said in the same language it was said, i.e.,
English>English. This will train your brain to listen and speak while continuing to listen at
the same time. As you practice, you can slowly lengthen your decalage to help with your
memory skills. Once you feel comfortable, you can start interpreting the speeches.

Brain exercise. Listen to a 30-second speech while writing out a series of numbers (doing
another structured task). Try to repeat what you heard, using a recorder to monitor yourself,
and see how much you retained and lost. This is will train your brain to somehow
concentrate on both tasks without sacrificing quality.

KEEP YOUR BRAIN SHARP

Interpreting is a difficult task, so challenge yourself with an even more difficult task to
prepare yourself. For instance, listen to a speech while focusing on another task. This can
be something as simple as writing down a grocery list or making a list of all your friend’s
birthdays.

Afterwards, try to see how much of the speech you can remember. It may not be much at
first, but if you keep doing brain exercises like this, your skills of interpretation at the same
time will start to improve.

You definitely won’t regret doing these kinds of simultaneous interpreting exercises, as
they will help you in the long run.

UNDERSTAND CULTURE

Knowing a language is a given when doing simultaneous interpreting, but culture is another
matter. Every culture has words and phrases that only make sense to people in that culture.
Being unprepared for one of these colloquial phrases can trip you up. That’s why is
important to understand each language along with its cultural background.

CONTROL YOUR VOICE

When interpreting, it’s important to keep your voice at a reasonable volume. If it’s too low,
people won’t be able to hear you. However, you may overshadow the speaker if your voice
gets too loud.

It’s important that you don’t attempt to match the volume and tone of the speaker. This is
because the audience can tell if he’s being animated or intense during his speech. Instead,
speak in a manner that makes you comfortable, just as long as you’re not speaking too
loudly.

Keep this tip in mind, because it is one of the simultaneous interpretation techniques that
you’ll want to remember.
STAY CALM

This may be a given, but it warrants repeating. Make sure you don’t react to anything the
speaker is saying or doing; that’s not your job. No matter what happens, stay focused on
providing the best interpretation at the same time.

If the speaker goes off on a tangent, starts speaking too fast, or starts shouting, don’t allow
it to interrupt what you’re doing. If you start to get frustrated, you’ll either fall behind or
start making mistakes.

All you can do is stay calm and remain focused on the task at hand, only worrying about
the things you can control. To reiterate, keep in mind consecutive interpreting practice
exercises when interpreting for someone. But, you can get simultaneous interpreter training
as well

Conclusion

Simultaneous interpretation is all about honing and practicing the skill for interpreters.
With an increase in international events around the world and the growing prominence of
making a mark with your speech at the United Nations, the role of a simultaneous
interpreter has come under the spotlight more now than ever before. It is one of the best
ways of conveying your message to your audience who speak a foreign language. Be it for
businesses or individuals, simultaneous interpretation is now crossing language and
communication barriers and ensuring that everything runs smoothly between the parties
concerned. An excellent simultaneous interpreter can clinch that deal for you with their
superb language skills during the presentation, which otherwise would have been difficult
for you to conduct without the proper foreign language. In fact, such is the job of an
excellent simultaneous interpreter, which a good interpreter is not even noticed.

Simultaneous interpretation is one of the most difficult skills in the language services
industry to master. You can often see this at conferences and courtrooms. Interpreters need
talent and training to do what they do.