Interpreting - Glossary of Terms

Introduction to basic Interpretation and Translation terminology

Interpreting (or interpretation)

An activity that consists of establishing, either simultaneously or consecutively, oral or manual communications between two or more speakers who are not speaking (or signing) the same language.

Note that the words interpreting and interpretation can both be used to refer to this activity, the word interpreting is commonly used in the profession and in the field of translation studies in an attempt to avoid other meanings of the word interpretation.

An interpreter is a practitioner of interpreting, an activity that consists of establishing, either simultaneously or consecutively, oral or gestural communications between two or more speakers who are not speaking (or signing) the same language. A trained and officially accredited interpreter will endeavor to interpret not only elements of meaning, but also the intention and feelings of the original speaker. In fact, the end result is an intermediate stage of communication which aims to allow listeners of the target language to experience the message in a way that is as close as possible to the experience of those who understand the original.

Simultaneous Interpreting

Interpreter works in a sound proofed booth or with a portable interpreting system. With simultaneous interpreting the interpreter translates the sentence into the target language while "simultaneously" listening to and comprehending the next sentence.

Whispered Interpreting

Traditionally, this is a form of simultaneous interpreting often used in court situations. For a maximum of three people, the interpreters sit behind the delegates, listening to the speaker and translating "simultaneously" in a low voice, so as not to disturb any other audience members. Not surprisingly, this is known as "whispered interpreting", or sometimes called the French name of "chucotage".

Consecutive Interpreting

During consecutive interpreting, the speaker stops every 1-5 minutes (usually at the end of every paragraph or complete thought) and the interpreter then steps in to render what was said into the target language.

Interpreters work from memory and brief note-taking when performing consecutive interpreting. It is generally used for meetings, presentations and training courses etc.
With the use of mobile wireless equipment, the arduous process of having to remember a massive amount of information can be eliminated by using the voice-silencing technology and simultaneously interpreting the speakers’ words in real-time to the intended listeners without disruption.

Ad-Hoc Interpreting

Ad-Hoc interpreting is sometimes also called liaison interpreting, although in principle ad-hoc interpreting is any assignment where the subject matter is unprepared, such as in interviews and diplomatic visits.

In the real world, we do not make any formal distinction between consecutive and ad-hoc interpreting.

Relay Interpreting

This occurs when, for example, the audience requires French into Czech translation and there are no interpreters working between these two languages. In this case, the French interpreting team translates using a portable transmitter and PrivacyMic® into English, which the Czech team hears through headphones & receivers and renders into Czech.

Background Documentation

This includes the agenda for the event, the text of presentations - in draft or final form - and any general material, such as minutes of previous meetings, technical press releases, technical documents and company reports etc.

Translation

An activity comprising the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one language — the source text — and the production, in another language, of a new, equivalent text — the target text, or translation.

Traditionally, translation has been a human activity, although attempts have been made to automate and computerize the translation of natural-language texts (machine translation) or to use computers as an aid to translation (computer-assisted translation).

The goal of translation is to establish a relation of equivalence of intent between the source and target texts (i.e., to ensure that both texts communicate the same message), while taking into account a number of constraints. These include context, the rules of grammar of the two languages, their writing conventions, their idioms, and the like.

Glossary A - Z

Active Language

The language or languages into which the interpreter is capable of providing professional interpretation.

B Language

Language other than the interpreter's dominant language, in which he or she has native language competence and into which he or she is competent to interpret professionally. An interpreter may have one or more B languages.

Booth

Interpreters provide simultaneous interpretation in a booth. Since they remain in the booth for many hours each day and have to perform at their best, the booths must meet certain size, air quality and accessibility standards.

Booth also refers to a group of interpreters who work into a given language (ex. "the French booth").

C Language

The language(s) of which the interpreter has a complete understanding and from which she or he works. Interpreters often have several C languages.

Certified Interpreter

In the US, there is no national interpreter certification program (other than for Federally Certified Court Interpreters), although various agencies attempt certification procedures, with varying degrees of success.

Certified Translation

In the US, a certified translation is one where the translator has signed an oath before a notary public certifying the accuracy and correctness of the translation, as well as the fact that he is qualified to make such a certification.
Since in the US, there are no restrictions as to who can or cannot be a translator, anyone willing to swear that he or she is qualified to translate into and from a language pair can certify a translation.

Conference Interpreter

An interpreter trained, knowledgeable, and experienced in conference interpretation.

Conference Translator

A person who translates written text intended for use during a conference, or generated during a conference (such as conference proceedings, etc.) Sometimes the term is erroneously applied to a conference interpreter.

Double relay

Double relay refers to a method whereby the speaker's language reaches the listener after three successive interpretations. Example: the speaker speaks in Hungarian, the Hungarian is interpreted into German and the German is interpreted into English. Although double relay sometimes cannot be avoided with certain so-called "rare" languages or where interpreters of these languages only work into one language, it increases the risk that the initial message may be distorted. Therefore, it should be avoided whenever possible.

Equipment

In consecutive, the interpreter mainly needs a good memory, a pad of paper and one or more pens that work.
In simultaneous, the quality of the interpretation depends to a great extent on the quality of the equipment he/she works with.

Fixed Booth

Fixed booths are interpreting booths built permanently into meeting rooms.

ISO Standards

With contributions from AIIC, the ISO (International Standardization Organization) has established standards related to interpretation. ISO 2603 sets standards for fixed booths and ISO 4043 sets standards for mobile booths. CEI 60914 sets standards for electrical and audio systems.

Language Combination

An interpreter's language combination is comprised of his/her A, B and/or C languages. The interpreter can be recruited on the basis of active languages (spoken) and passive languages (listened to) used during the conference.

Legal interpretation

Interpretation of speeches at continuing legal education seminars, bar association conventions, etc. Not to be confused with court interpretation.

Legal interpreter

A legal interpreter is not to be confused with a court interpreter. Legal interpreters are highly skilled interpreters with an extensive knowledge of comparative law who interpret at continuing legal education seminars, bar association conventions, etc.

Legal translation

The translation of legal documents such as contracts, legislation, etc.

Legal translator

A translator with extensive knowledge of comparative law who specializes in international contracts, licenses, franchises, legislation, and other international legal documents. It takes a highly skilled legal translator to translate legal documents from a civil law country into the language of a common law country and vice versa, since many of the legal concepts do not have exact parallels.

Medical translation

Translation of medical texts, such as research, medical devices, medical equipment manuals, books, patents, etc.

Medical translator

A translator who specializes in the translation of medical texts, such as research, medical devices, medical equipment manuals, books, patents, etc.

Mobile simultaneous interpreting

For mobile interpretation, preferably a voice-silenced PrivacyMic® or masked microphone is attached to the transmitter, and the participants listen through headphones or earhooks attached to receivers. The advantage of this system is that it is fully mobile and can handle more participants than whisper interpretation. It can be advantageous for touring, trade shows, factories, plants, schools, courtrooms, etc. It can also be used for brief presentations, press conferences, etc.

Native speaker

A person who speaks the first language he or she learned, which may or may not be the person’s dominant language or language of primary competence. Native speakers can have a grossly inadequate knowledge of their native language, depending on their education and the country where that education was obtained.
For example, a person born in Mexico who immigrated to the United States as a child and received all his education here, is a native speaker of Spanish but will have a very limited knowledge of that language; his dominant language will be English.

Passive Language

For interpreters, passive languages are the languages out of which the interpreter is capable of interpreting professionally.
In a meeting, passive languages are the languages from which interpreting is provided into active languages. Thus there may be more passive languages than active languages in a meeting. Example: if interpretation is to be provided into English from French, German and Arabic, English will be the active language and French, German and Arabic will be the passive languages for that meeting. Conversely, there may also be more active languages than passive languages if an English speaker is to be interpreted into French, German and Arabic.

Radio frequency interpretation equipment

Interpretation equipment that transmits sound over radio frequencies, usually called RF. RF systems consist of a transmitter and a receiver. The advantages of RF interpretation systems are their ease of installation, reliability, and wide range.

Relay

Relay refers to double or indirect interpretation into the target language of the audience. The speaker is first interpreted into one language, which is then interpreted into a second language. AIIC discourages the use of relay because of the risk of errors creeping in as the number of intermediate languages increases. Nevertheless, this technique sometimes cannot be avoided for certain languages.

Receiver

A radio receiver or infrared receiver used to tune into the interpretation. They are just like small pocket radios, except that they are wired to operate only in the specific frequencies assigned to the interpretation equipment. In order to hear, the interpreters' equipment must be operational and a headphone or earhooks must be plugged into the receiver.

RF interpretation equipment

Interpretation equipment that transmits sound over radio frequencies, usually called RF. RF systems consist of a transmitter and a receiver. The advantages of RF interpretation systems are their ease of installation, reliability, and wide range.

Simultaneous Interpretation

In simultaneous mode, the interpreter uses a PrivacyMic® or masked microphone plugged into a transmitter, and has a clear view of the keynote speaker, and a clear hearing range of the speaker’s voice. He listens to and simultaneously interprets the speech into a target language. Simultaneous interpreting requires either mobile RF or Infrared equipment that meets ISO standards of acoustic isolation, dimensions, air quality and accessibility as well as appropriate equipment (receives, transmitters, headphones, microphones).

Simultaneous interpretation equipment

Simultaneous interpreting requires (1) appropriate equipment for the interpreters. This includes, at a minimum interpreters’ headset microphone or PrivacyMic® and transmitter. It may also include risers, video monitors, and other equipment, depending on the venue or application; and (2) appropriate equipment for the participants. This includes transmitters, receivers, headphones or earhooks, and any other equipment required by the venue or particular application.

Source language

Language in which a text to be translated is written, or in which a speech to be interpreted is spoken. The language of the original text or speech.

Source text

The text to be translated. The original text, as opposed to the translated text.

Technical interpretation

Interpretation of technical speeches, usually during meetings and conventions dealing with topics in the fields of engineering, telecommunications, avionics, etc.

Technical interpreter
An interpreter with training, knowledge, and experience in the interpretation of technical speeches, usually during meetings and conventions dealing with topics in the fields of engineering, telecommunications, avionics, etc.

Translator

A person who transfers the meaning of written text from one language into another. The person who translates orally is not a translator, but an interpreter.

Whispering interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting without the use of interpretation equipment, where the interpreter sits close to the listener and whispers the interpretation. Whispering is not recommended when there are more than two listeners or more than two interpreters working at the same time in the same room. Whispering requires a team of two interpreters and, since it is extremely taxing and hard on the vocal chords, it is only appropriate for very brief one-on-one meetings. Not a recommended way to conduct interpreting because it disrupts the other individuals in the meeting area. Using mobile, wireless communication equipment minimizes strain on the vocal cords and eliminates the disruption of “whispering”.

Wireless equipment

Although, strictly speaking, this describes all interpretation equipment that is operated by batteries, a distinction must be made between (1) interpreter's wireless equipment, which consists of a battery-operated transmitter and is used in wireless interpreting, and (2) participants' wireless equipment, which consists of wireless receivers. Nowadays, all participants' receivers are wireless, except in some of the older fixed installations.

Wireless interpretation equipment

Equipment used by interpreters to conduct a seamless meeting. (See “Wireless Equipment”)

Wireless interpreting

Another term for mobile simultaneous interpreting. Interpretation using a small wireless transmitter used for mobile simultaneous interpreting. The interpreter speaks into a voice-silenced microphone attached to the transmitter and the participants listen through headphones attached to receivers.
The advantage of this system is that it is mobile and can handle more participants than whispering interpretation. It is designed for touring trade shows, factories, plants, etc. It can also be used for brief presentations, press conferences, etc.

Wireless receiver

A radio or infrared receiver used to tune into the interpretation. They are just like small pocket radios, except that they are wired to operate only in the specific frequencies assigned to the interpretation equipment. In order to hear, the interpreters' equipment must be operational and a headphone or earphone must be plugged into the receiver.

Wireless simultaneous interpretation equipment

Although, strictly speaking, this describes all interpretation equipment that is operated by batteries, a distinction must be made between (1) interpreter's wireless equipment, which consists of a battery-operated transmitter and is used in wireless interpreting, and (2) participants' wireless equipment, which consists of wireless receivers. Nowadays, all participants' receivers are wireless, except in some of the older fixed installations.

Wireless translation equipment

There is no such thing. This term is often used by interpretation brokers and equipment companies who, apparently, don't know the difference between translation and interpretation. If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this should be a warning to you.

Wireless transmitter

A small battery-operated transmitter used for mobile simultaneous interpreting. It is the same size as a receiver (about the size of a pack of cards) and fits easily into a pocket.