Interpreters don’t have the easiest job there is. In fact, it takes quite a bit of skill and dedication to do this in an accurate fashion. After all, the interpreter has to take what the speaker is saying and immediately interpret it.
This is so that non-native speakers can not only understand the words but also convey the meaning. This can be even more difficult if there is a huge audience that needs to have this interpretation.
What are the greatest challenges of interpreters today?
Well, they have to be clear, concise and have to make themselves understood the entire time they are working. These are other challenges interpreters might face in conference interpreting jobs.
However, in this article, you will also learn how a quality interpretation company can overcome these challenges.
Long Lasting Conference Interpretation
Not all interpretations will last just an hour or two like simultaneous interpretation. In some cases, these can go on for days. Undoubtedly, this can be challenging on an interpreter. They must be “on” constantly and their throats can get sore and they can get tired quite easily.
This can take a toll on the quality of the service, especially for face to face interpreting. One of the ways to overcome this is to have two or three interpreters work in shifts to make the load easier on them.
The interpreters will work in shifts of only a couple of hours at a time to allow times for breaks, meals and to rest the vocal cords. Without these breaks, the interpreters can’t maintain their simultaneous interpreting skills.
Complex or Technical Vocabulary
Many times, conferences have technical or complex terms. In fact, there would also be vocabulary that would not be found in normal situations.
In this case, the interpreters have to know and understand the exact translations for these concepts. This is in order to get the meaning across to those who are non-native speakers.
In order to get through this type of challenge, the interpreters have to learn these words and concepts. In other words, it is up to the company to get them a transcript from the speakers.
This allows the interpreters to practice and work on the transcriptions before the conference so that they are ready to go. In addition, they should have the transcripts well before the event. This is so that they are not rushed into learning without having enough time to be well-prepared.
More Than One Language Interpretation
In many cases, there is a need for more than one language to be interpreted during the conference. In this case, it is vital for the company to have more than one interpreter. This allows the interpretation to go on without any breaks.
There is a need for more than one interpretation booth in order to accommodate the different interpreters. You don’t want them trying to talk over each other, so this keeps the interpretations free from inaccurate interpretations.
Without a doubt, overcoming the challenges faced by interpreters is never a problem for a company that is well-rounded. With this helpful article, you can translate challenging impossibilities into possibilities.
Lighthouse Translations have over 15 years experience and work with over 200 qualified interpreters to overcome all these challenges. Get in touch here and our team can create a tailored translation or interpretation package to suit your business needs.