Simultaneous translation Italian English French Spanish and German

Simultaneous translation (or more properly defined simultaneous interpretation) is an act of linguistic mediation, maybe the best known in the translation field.

In order to better understand this working technique, it is necessary first to explain the difference between an interpreter and a translator.

The interpreter differs from the translator mainly for the communication channel he uses and for the mental processes involved in the translation process.
They both try to faithfully convey the meaning of a message; however, while the translator has time to reason out and, through the written language, can correct and reformulate a concept until getting the desired result, the interpreter works in the immediate time, through the oral channel, and thus in a much more istinctive and direct way, leaving no room for reflection. It’s therefore a very challenging and demanding mental process, which needs a lot of concentration and a perfect linguistic and cultural qualification.

The translator and the interpreter, moreover, work in completely different contexts. While the translator remains an invisible figure, the interpreter can be exposed to the public, both in informal situations like meetings, fairs and business visits (in this case we also use the expression liaison interpreter), and in formal situations like conferences and conventions (and we thus use the expression conference interpreter).

Simultaneous translation, as we can infer from its name, occurs simultaneously, which however does not mean contemporaneously.
The simultaneous interpreter, actually, listens to the speaker’s speech and before translating it into the target language, there is a period of time which can depend on structural differences between languages, but can also be a subjective factor varying from one interpreter to the other. This gap is also technically defined as “décalage”.

Simultaneous translation is generally used during international meeetings and conferences, in order to allow a heterogeneous audience to follow the discussion in their own language. It therefore fits for events attended by many people.
It needs the use of a particular equipment, made by a sound-prouf booth and a console.
The simultaneous interpreter, sitting in his booth, listens to the speaker’s speech in the source language through headphones, and translates it into the target language through a microphone.
His translation will then be heard directly by the audience, equipped with special headphones.

Simultaneous translation, for its features, needs this equipment to be placed so that the interpreter can see both the speaker and the audience, since it’s well-known that oral language is based also on voice tones and gestures.
Only catching the different voice intonations and observing the gestures too, the simultaneous interpreter will be able to fully understand the meaning of the message.

Simultaneous translation, just for its complexity, can not be performed by only one interpreter throughout the event. For each language, in the booth, there are two interpreters alternating to the translation, in periods of time that vary from 15 to 20 minutes, supporting each other.

Each simultaneous translation needs a period of training before the event. Actually, interpreters must be pre-emptively informed on the subject they will deal with and, also receive specific glossaries which are generally provided at job assignment. They need to get in touch with the speakers and organizers in order to arrange with them the conditions of development, to read up and train individually and finally to test the proper equipment functioning before the event takes place.

The Agency Carbone Traduzioni offers a service of professional simultaneous translation which respects all the distinctive features of this interpretation technique, as result of the high consideration we have for this service.
Simultaneous translation, in our opinion, represents a great challenge and commitment for every translator. He faces directly his qualification and abilities developed during years of study, continous practice and updating. Actually, he does not use any dictionary, encyclopedia or CAT tool but only his cultural background from which he can draw during simultaneous interpretation.
That’s why we think that it’s both a challenging and fascinating service, test bed for any translator who aims at establishing his expertise.

Carbone Traduzioni teams up with professional intepreters. We
ensure they follow continous updatings, have an adequate cultural and linguistic background and are able to deal with the stress deriving from such a working situation.
We commit ourselves to grant a high quality simultaneous translation service by choosing every time the interpreter whose features and abilities better fit for the specific needs of the client.

We are able to offer you a professional simultaneous translation service in the main European languages:
English-Italian simultaneous translation and viceversa; French-Italian and viceversa; Spanish-Italian and viceversa; German-Italian and viceversa.

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Simultaneous translation

Professional simultaneous translation service