Simultaneous Interpreting

There are two opposing opinions about simultaneous interpreting among linguists: for some it is the most difficult type of interpreting, while others find it the easiest. Listeners, in their turn consider it the perfect thing, on the one hand, or very hard to make out, on the other.

They are all partly right.

Simultaneous interpreting is carried out at the same time as the original speech. The advantages are obvious: the speaker doesn't have to pause which can save a significant amount of time. Those listeners who understand the speaker's language can comprehend him directly without being exposed to interpreting.

This type of interpreting requires special equipment (please see the dedicated section for details). Briefly, the process is as follows: an interpreter in a stand-alone booth listens to a speaker and interprets into a microphone at the same time. The audience listens to the interpreter via earphones. Simultaneous interpreting is usually called for at international conferences, seminars, and presentations where speakers are time-constrained, and listeners are multilingual.

Simultaneous interpreting involves constant stress as ‘listening and speaking in parallel' is abnormal for most people (with some exceptions). Furthermore, it requires off-the-cuff decisions about what information to omit as irrelevant, and what to interpret as important. It also requires anticipation skills both at the level of words and of phrases/sentences/ideas. A simultaneous interpreter should have nerves of iron to keep calm if their anticipation is incorrect (oral speech is often unpredictable). The speaker can easily change his mind and start another sentence in the middle of the previous one or make grammatical mistakes. Some lecturers, when starting their speech, are completely unaware of how they intend to finish it, but such behavior is unacceptable for simultaneous interpreters. Prediction skills can be achieved with practice: the more familiar the topic, the better the interpreting in an emergency.

In point of fact, interpreting is only difficult for newcomers: a simultaneous interpreter absorbs a wide range of clichés, expands their working glossary, and learns to ‘bite the bullet'. Sometimes when working ‘automatically' it seems that simultaneous interpreting is easier than consecutive, which takes more thinking and remembering, and note-taking of lengthy segments.

However, practiced simultaneous-interpreters are as audience-friendly in terms of easy comprehension as lecturers who speak the audience's native language.

Simultaneous interpreting is also beneficial for the speaker: he or she does not have to pause (though a slower speech rate is commonly preferred), the speaker holds the audience's attention, and can respond to immediate feedback. The timesaving benefits are clear by default. In addition, this method of working is very useful for parallel multi-language interpreting.

There are several types of simultaneous interpreting, including:

• off-the-cuff (by ear): no reference information (speeches, hand-outs, etc.) provided in advance;
• prepared (at sight): interpreters are lucky enough to be given a speech in advance or even 5 minutes before the event (which is also good). This option is the best in terms of ultimate results;
• prepared (reading): the interpreter is either provided with a speech already translated or a text thereof, which he/she translates well in advance and then just reads with some amendments as the speech goes. This option seems to be the interpreter's ideal, however it is quite hard to handle variations of the text if they occur.

What does it take to be a simultaneous interpreter?

• Fluency in both the foreign language and your mother tongue, which is equally important;
• Literate speech and good articulation;
• Extensive vocabulary (both general and field-specific) in the foreign and mother language;
• Wide range of clichés, and proper usage thereof;
• Quick reaction capability;
• Good short-term memory;
• Ability to concentrate in any type of the environment;
• Aptitude for working under stress.

As a general rule, simultaneous interpreters work in pairs changing every 30 minutes or sometimes more frequently depending on the topic and the situation, thus reducing stress and giving better quality results.

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