Translation Equipment (or to use its more correct names: simultaneous interpreting equipment or simultaneous interpretation equipment) is used in conferences and meetings to convey the voice of an interpreter to the listeners. You've probably seen pictures of the United Nations where the delegates each have a little earpiece – that's translation equipment. Specifically, that's the earpiece attached to the receiver.

Here's how it works:

At the back of the room (or in an adjacent room) a team of interpreters sits in a sound-dampening booth, listening to the presenter through headphones. They do the hard part: they simultaneously listen and interpret what they hear into another language. Their voice is picked up by a microphone, which distributes the sound through an interpreter console to a transmitter.

The transmitter acts like a miniature radio station – it sends a signal out to the room. Each listener then hears the interpreter's voice on a small receiver, through an earpiece. Some transmitters are infrared – they use invisible light waves to distribute the signal throughout the room. The main use of infrared equipment is in top-secret conferences such as government and UN meetings, where even the slightest chance of eavesdropping cannot be tolerated. Since light cannot pass through opaque walls, infrared interpreting equipment is considered absolutely private (as long as you remember to close the drapes!)

The other main kind of translation equipment is FM radio-based. Here, a low-power radio signal on a specific frequency is broadcast through the room.

If more than one language is being interpreted, then each one is on a separate frequency or channel, and the listeners select the language they want to hear on their receiver.

Some tips for making sure your simultaneous interpretation goes smoothly:

1) Make sure your interpreters can see the people who are speaking – position them so they have a good view of the stage or podium, or set up video monitors for them instead.

2) Put the booths on risers if you can –- this helps to make sure their view is not obstructed by the audience.

3) Use a full booth whenever your budget will allow –- it makes life easier for both the interpreters and the audience.

4) Don't try to get by without a technician! Good interpreting technicians are a crucial ingredient in the success of your meeting. We have found that regular AV technicians and well-meaning volunteers cannot take the place of an interpretation technician without thorough training.

5) Choose a company that specializes in translation equipment. More generalized translation agencies will often purchase a small amount of translation equipment, but they often don't have the expertise and experience to do a good job in a wide variety of events.

If you need simultaneous interpreting, here is a great source for next conference: Translation Equipment

Chris Redish owns A Bridge Between Nations, a full-service Translation Company which leases and sells Translation Equipment in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orlando, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Washington DC, Chicago and New York and all major U.S. cities. He would be happy to provide you with a free translation estimate for your next conference: 1-888-556-3887
 

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Possibly the best plan should be to call a company that specializes in supplying simultaneous interpreters and equipment for simultaneous interpreting at conferences. Even though the term simultaneous translation is frequently used, as it happens, that is a misnomer. Translation means "written" form, whereas interpretation refers to the spoken word.

It's important to be sure you request simultaneous interpretation, instead of consecutive interpretation. Simultaneous interpreting allows the business meeting to carry on at full speed. The audience members will each wear a small headphone or ear piece that allows them to hear the interpreter's voice while the meeting is going on. Consecutive interpretation, on the other hand, slows the meeting down to half speed, because the speaker must temporarily halt after each sentence in order for the interpreter to translate.

The interpreting company you connect with will ask you questions about your event:

– What are the languages?

– What's the subject matter?

– What number of listeners will each language have?

– How many audience members will be in the room?

– Who will the audience be?

Let the potential interpreting service provider ask you the questions – it's a good way to make sure that they know what they are doing. Many translation companies specialize in other areas of language work — find one that specializes in conference interpreting. Be as specific and thorough as you can in your answers.

Make sure this agency will be providing seasoned conference interpreters. There are lots of types of interpreting. Many interpreters who are excellent at, for example, court interpreting, are substandard conference interpreters.

The interpreters need to be informed about your subject matter. A medical interpreter can probably explain the insides of a person, but may just be clueless about the insides of a computer. Each subject area, especially a technical one, has its own inherent jargon that may be bewildering to interpreters unfamiliar with that unique arena.

Conference interpreters almost always work as a team of two people per language (or occasionally, three per language in high-stress settings). Don't attempt to scrimp by hiring a single interpreter, it frequently backfires — an interpreter who's willing to work solo at an all-day conference is probably not very experienced. Remember, your guests may have spent thousands of dollars to be at your event. You would like them to be able to understand and enjoy it, so next time they'll come back with their friends.

It might be wise to receive estimates from several firms, but it's not a good idea to make the decision strictly on price. Interpreters aren't like boxes of cornflakes — each interpreter is different. Each interpreter carries a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.

Matching interpreters to clients is an art that takes years of practice. Choose a firm which you trust to make the best decision on your behalf.

Chris Redish owns A Bridge Between Nations, a Conference Interpreting company which leases and sells Translation Equipment in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orlando, Dallas and all major U.S. cities. He would be happy to provide you with a free translation estimate for your next conference: 1-888-556-3887
 

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Tips on Hiring a Conference Interpreting Company

Translation services are becoming widely popular these days. It is required by both private enterprises and government agencies. As business operations become multinationals, there is always a chance that you are confronted with the problem of language barrier. As you expand your market into virgin territories you have to deal with alien cultures and languages. There may be chores of documents that require to be translated into English or from your language to the language your clients or customer speaks. That is why you need the service of a language translator. Some may question the need for translation especially when there are automated computers or online programs that can translate major foreign languages into English. But language translation is not that simple. Computer programs cannot give accurate translation. The system merely translates by randomly picking words that are pre-programmed. As such, the intended meaning may not be conveyed by the translated document. Literal translation is not true translation. There are so many dynamic words and phrases that lose meaning when translated literally. Only an expert translator can do justice by translating with the right intent, right tone, and correct grammar. The documents that they translate are many. Apart from physical documents such as newspaper and magazine write-ups, annual reports, product labels, manuals, instructional materials, and marketing collateral, they can also translate digital and other documents including materials on CDs, subtitles, and voiceovers.

A language translation company also offers language interpretation. Many people use the terms translation and interpretation interchangeably. But technically speaking both the terms are different. Interpretation is oral whereas translation is written. So when someone expresses the meaning orally, he is actually interpreting and not translating. You may require services of language interpreters during meetings and conferences involving foreign clients and officials. Such a job requires high languages skills and deep experience. Simultaneous interpretation especially only is an expert’s job.

A translation service provider also employs medical and legal translators. Medical translation is especially helpful when you deal with foreign healthcare seekers. Such a translator makes sure that there is no communication gap between you and your patients.

Simultaneous interpretation is the kind of interpretation where the interpreter listens to a message in the source language and interprets it simultaneously. Thus, listeners may listen to the text in either language since the source as well as the interpretation is being rendered at the same time.

To enable such a process, interpreters need a number of state-of-the-art equipment, namely:

Booths Push and talk microphones FM receivers and transmitters Control units and consoles for interpreters Wireless receivers Headsets for the audience Other audio visual tools

Besides these, specific clients may have specific requirements. For instance, a highly confidential meeting may require infrared receivers and transmitters. In case of a tour, portable transmitters and receivers are required. For large scale meetings, clients may require interpretation equipment that can accommodate a number of languages at the same time. Thus, it is not possible to have a standardized set of requirements when it comes to interpretation equipment.

Many people who need the services of an interpreter also require interpretation equipment on rental. Whether a company requires pieces of equipment for very large international conferences and conventions or for smaller meetings, a reputed interpretation service will be able to provide all the support they need. For example, a large convention or educational meeting would require full size booths for the interpreters and headphones for the audience. Since the audience may be a large group of people, the number of individual headsets is also quite high. On the other hand, in case of a small meeting, a more cost effective solution would be appropriate. The company may suggest the use of portable systems that contain wireless receivers and transmitters.

As far as companies are concerned, there are options for owning or renting interpretation systems. Most clients prefer to take interpretation equipment on a rental basis. In such cases, the interpretation equipment rental company can provide all the necessary equipment and can walk you through the proper installation of such equipment. But, they would require a rough estimate of the number of attendees and the precise requirements of the client. In many cases, the company will even help clients select the right pieces of equipment for their meeting. Client specific service helps to reduce costs while improving the quality of service significantly.

Before you select an interpretation service, it is important to check whether the company owns their own interpretation equipment. Some companies may hire equipment from a third party. But the quality of such pieces of equipment may not always be reliable. Interpreting booths, microphones, headsets and receivers have to be in mint condition and qualified technicians must be at hand to offer advice on the precise setup that will result in optimal results. Such a service is vital for a stress-free onsite experience.

In the end, the interpretation experience is a sum total of various factors. The versatility of the interpreters, the quality of the equipment and your management skills play their parts to bring the whole thing together.

Simultaneous translators must have very versatile backgrounds. A strong business background may be extremely useful to the simultaneous translator. Many companies offer 60 hours worth of training for these translators once hired. To become a technical translator, applicants must pass an exam and receive special certification. These translators must also posses excellent technical writing skills. Thankfully, many companies offer test preparation classes to ready applicants for the exams. Court translators generally need to be certified by the governments of their countries and need to pass exams for this certification. Other translators work in academic fields either studying or interpreting foreign texts. This is where there is often the most room for creative expression. However, it is also the area most likely to be widely scrutinized.

The route into translation is very structured and predictable, particularly for employment in the United Nations or other government agency. Those seeking the greatest opportunities for employment should be fluent in English and in one of the official languages of the United Nations; French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese. There are, however, numerous job opportunities for those possessing fluency in other languages. Applicants should have a language degree, preferably a B.S., B.A., or Masters. Translation Service companies prefer candidates who have exceptional fluency in at least two languages, though; many language combinations can often be off-putting for an employer due to the lack of specialization in a combination they are looking for. This may often also be the case for the field a translator may specialize in. A translator specialized in a particular field and language combination for ten years is often more likely to be chosen over a translator who has several working combinations and fields for the last ten years.

Candidates should be fluent in at least two cultures. Cultural study is an area that potential translators cannot overlook as it is invaluable to understanding the nuances of any work to be translated. However there is no substitute for living in the particular target language country.

During the first year of employment an average of only five percent of translators leaves the field. This incredibly low drop-out rate is due largely to the fact that translators often sign two-year contracts with their employers. Otherwise, the effort exerted in obtaining the job is often enough incentive to remain. Finally, there are few surprises in a career in translation, as the applicant is well prepared for this position from his experience in school, the tests and interviews, and the training programs for new interpreters.