Online interpreting services have grown within the field of linguistic mediation in recent years thanks to incredible technological advances and the current inability to physically participate in events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Online interpreting is a practical and effective remote solution for overcoming the linguistic and logistic boundaries of communication. In this article we’ll learn more about this service and how it can facilitate the internationalisation of your business.
What is online interpreting?
With remote interpreting, meetings that include participants who speak different languages can be held online, without having to deal with the logistical difficulties of organising an in-person meeting. In fact, it all takes place without even having to get up from your desk, making business meetings possible during a time when travel is impossible. Today managers, officials, intellectuals and politicians, as well as freelancers and small and medium-sized enterprises working internationally, rely on remote interpreting. As long as they have a fast, stable internet connection, interpreters can offer their services during conferences, negotiations or any other type of meeting, effortlessly respecting the timing of the interpreting, which can either be simultaneous or consecutive depending on the customer’s needs.
Remote work, virtual meetings, negotiations and digital initiatives are all daily activities of a modern business: remote interpreting meets the needs of a working world that can no longer ignore online services, facilitating the remote management of individuals’ and businesses’ international communication.
Remote interpreting includes the following services:
- liaison interpreting, during which the linguistic collaborator acts as mediator between the parties involved in an institutional interview, negotiations, a business meeting or a diplomatic meeting;
- consecutive interpreting, in which the mediator translates what a speaker has said for a group of listeners not in real time but once the speaker has finished speaking. Consecutive interpreting is unilateral when the listeners do not actively participate in the meeting, and bilateral when there is dialogue between the parties. This service is ideal for conferences, presentations and professional training sessions;
- simultaneous interpreting, in which the interpreter listens to speakers through headphones and translates for those listening in real time. This activity is ideal for international congresses and meetings and requires a great deal of concentration: in fact, simultaneous interpreters usually work in teams.
How exactly does online interpreting work?
Unlike face-to-face interpreting, remote interpreting clearly takes place through online platforms chosen according to the needs of the interlocutors, the number of participants and the nature of the communication. The software used for remote interpreting include commonly used platforms such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Meet and Skype, but also other platforms such as Interprefy, Kudo and Ablio. Each meeting participant must have the designated tool installed, after which they choose their preferred communication language.
What are the advantages of online interpreting?
One of the major advantages of remote interpreting is the reduction in costs related to the interpreter’s board, lodging and travel, as well as the rental or purchase of booths and technical equipment (such as headsets and receivers). Beyond saving costs, remote interpreting also saves time, as it makes it possible to collaborate with mediators who are not in the immediate vicinity; it also becomes easier to find linguistic collaborators who work with rare language combinations, as well as to manage unforeseen organisational issues and sudden changes in plans.
Remote interpreting also has considerable advantages from other points of view. However, it should be noted that online interpreting is not always an equal substitute of physical interpreting: technical audio or video problems may arise, which could hinder communication. Furthermore, online interpreting could prove unsuitable when the physical context in which the speaker and interlocutor are located is particularly relevant. Une such example is when the visual translation of documents is necessary: in this case, poor image quality could compromise the immediacy of communication.
Translation Agency is happy to offer specific advice on interpreting services, both in person and remote. Our collaborators will help you choose the most suitable online platform, offer you adequate technical support and will allow you to choose between various language combinations to ensure immediate and effective communication: simply contact us for more information.