In global business life, there will be times when the services of an interpreter are necessary. You’re in a meeting or on a call with your new supply partner in Lahore, Pakistan, and your Punjabi is not up to scratch or non-existent, just like your opposite number’s English.

You need someone to interpret the conversation for you. Simple, each of you talk and the interpreter dances between the two languages. Everyone’s happy. This is consecutive interpretation. It’s a situation you control and it’s straightforward.

But, what if you’re at an event or conference where a speaker is on stage explaining in their native Swedish to people from all over the world who don’t speak ett ord (one word) of Swedish? You can’t ask the speaker to stop every few seconds while your interpreter translates.  

Realistically, you may not even be able to have an interpreter present because you’re in a seat surrounded by hundreds of other people in seats, who all have the same need. In situations like this, you need simultaneous interpretation.

As a Language Services Provider (LSP), we’re used to sorting our clients out with simultaneous interpreters and know the feeling of relief they experience when their language won’t be a barrier.

In this post, we’ll explain how simultaneous interpretation works so you’ll be confident talking to your LSP about it when the need arises.

The Definition of Simultaneous Interpretation

Simultaneous interpretation is a form of real-time translation in which an interpreter listens to spoken language and translates it into another language as the speaker is talking, with only a few seconds of delay.

It’s pretty straightforward, and if you’re attending an international conference, large meeting, or event where participants speak different languages, you should consult with your LSP ahead of time to make sure you have the service lined up for when you need it.

With the right lead-in time, it shouldn’t be complicated to arrange and any worthwhile LSP will have the technology and linguists to put it into practice.

The Process. How it Works.

Simultaneous interpretation requires specialized equipment for the interpreter and the person or people receiving the interpretation - the listener or audience.

The equipment includes:

• Interpreter’s booth — A soundproof booth, or area, where the interpreter can focus and listen without distractions. This can either be at the venue or via a real-time audio/video feed to a secondary location.
• Microphones and headsets — This is necessary because the interpreter listens through a headset and speaks into a microphone. The audience members listen to the interpretation on their own headphones in their language.
• Communication system — This is the technology that’s used to transmit the interpreted language to listeners in real time.

Once the infrastructure is in place, the interpreter listens to the speaker, comprehends the content, and translates the material. This is a fluid step that happens with the least amount of lag time possible, so the interpretation is essentially “simultaneous.”

This multitasking requires high concentration, quick thinking, and fluency in both languages. For the interpreter, it’s a high-intensity situation that they need to stay on top of without falling behind. It is, after all, a live situation. Because of this pressure and constant focus, interpreters work in pairs, typically switching every 20–30 minutes to avoid fatigue.

The Skillset of a Simultaneous Interpreter

A simultaneous interpreter is the epitome of thinking on your feet. Unlike consecutive interpretation, they can’t go back and clarify points or ask questions, they need to keep up with the pace of the speech with no margin for error.

Not only do they need to be fully proficient in both the source and target languages, they also have to be able to think quickly and have a strong memory so that they can process and convey complex sentences in a timely and accurate manner.

The task can be mentally exhausting, requiring interpreters to stay calm and focused under pressure. This concentration and composure add to the experience of the listener, who is the client, and helps them digest the material in their own language without feeling any friction or pressure that has come from the interpreter.

When is Simultaneous Interpretation Useful

We’ve touched on it briefly, but just to summarize, these are the times that we suggest you talk to your LSP about supporting you with simultaneous interpretation services:

• International conferences — Where delegates from different countries need instant translation.
• Diplomatic events — Where real-time communication between world and business leaders is required.
• Media and broadcasting — For live news interpretation across countries and languages.
• Multilingual meetings and business conferences — Where participants need to engage fully without language barriers.

The (Not So) Simple Process

On the face of it, simultaneous interpretation is a simple process that happens in real-time and, after set-up, with little effort.

The reality, however, is that simultaneous interpretation requires incredibly skilled linguists, with cool heads, who can bridge two languages and, regardless of how challenging the situation may be, calmly allow you to forget about language and listen to what you came to hear.

As with a lot of areas of language services, when you scratch beneath the surface, what looks like a simple process actually requires a tightly orchestrated team and technological infrastructure. This is why it’s best to lean on your LSP to use their expertise to put it in place for you.

If you have simultaneous interpretation needs, we’d love to see if we’re the right fit for you. At LinguaLinx, we can help you bring your brand or products to another country, culture or community. Consultations are free and there’s no obligation.

You’re in safe hands with us as we’re ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 compliant, have over twenty years of professional translation experience, and have earned the trust of organizations around the world.