Interpreting services

Live, television interpreting with audiences of more than 2 million.
Board of Directors meetings and EWCs, high-stakes negotiations, Town Halls, cooking demos, plenaries…
You’d never guess how many different events and situations work because of interpreters.

But what can I do? I can interpret next to you during your press conference, sitting at the back of the room in a sound-proof booth, or from my computer.

Simultaneous interpreting 🎧

Simultaneous interpreting works with only a couple seconds’ delay between what the speaker says and the interpreter’s rendition.
The interpreters work from a sound-proof booth with a specialised console that feeds them audio and transmits their translation to the audience, who listen to it with a discreet receiver.
It is live, in real-time, and fit for most events where more than 3 people need to listen to the translation of one or more speakers. For any event exceeding 45 minutes, a team of two interpreters is needed, up until 7 hours.
It requires a sound-proof booth for interpreters to work from, microphones and AV equipment, receivers for the audience to listen to the interpreters from. Sometimes, a lighter setup is the better option, requiring only transmitters and receivers.

💡 One more tip: check with the venue if they already have interpreting booths in the room. If not, temporary booths are easier to hire than you would expect!

Consecutive interpreting 📝

Consecutive interpreting requires the speaker to pause after 3-5 minutes for the interpreter to provide the translation to the audience. It’s fit for smaller groups, where only one speaker uses a different language from that of the audience. It’s often seen in interviews, diplomatic meetings, business negotiations and press conferences.
Usually it goes hand in hand with whispered interpreting, also called chuchotage.
Usually, I sit next to the speaker, or to the side if the speaker has a microphone that allows me to clearly hear what they’re saying.
One more tip: bear in mind that consecutive almost doubles the time of the event.
Planning a negotiation or a board meeting? Read what to know about interpreters for business meetings in Milan →

Whispered interpreting 🗣️

The interpreter(s) whisper the translation to a maximum of 3 people, usually sitting behind them. It works just like simultaneous, and requires no additional dedicated equipment provided that the interpreter can clearly listen to the speaker(s).
When used in tandem with consecutive interpreting, it allows one speaker on the panel to listen to the translation from the interpreter before and after their speech, or to understand questions asked from the audience.

See how this works at a press conference →

💡 One more tip: the whispering might disturb speakers or delegates who don’t need the translation. Make sure to position the delegate and the interpreter in a way that does not bother others, but still allows the person to fully participate in the conversation.

Wondering what it might cost? Read how much a conference interpreter costs in Milan, or see how an interpreting quote is put together →