How is Conference Interpreting Different?

Ever wondered how international meetings and conferences go where most people do not speak the same language? How do they understand each other if not everyone understands the universal language, that is English? This is where a conference interpreter comes into the picture.

Conference interpreting involves someone who is an expert in professional language and communication. What a conference interpreter usually does is to interpret the message being spoken by the speaker from one language to another to a group of listeners who happen not to understand the spoken language. Conference interpreters can be usually seen at multilingual conferences and meetings that have an international audience as attendees.

Like the other types of interpreting, conference interpreting involves an extensive intellectual exercise because it requires a lot of mental work. Because of the variety of languages during a multilingual conference, a conference interpreter requires a different kind of training and includes a diverse set of qualifications. Unlike the other types of interpreting wherein the interpreter is expected to be good in English and in another language depending on what is required, the conference interpreter is most likely required to know not only English and one foreign language but they are instead expected to know several foreign languages. Since conferences involve professionals as attendees, conference interpreters are expected to master several foreign languages like it is their mother tongue. A basic understanding of a foreign language is not enough to qualify someone to be a conference interpreter but rather an extensive understanding of the language. Search more about conference interpreting services.

Moreover, conference interpreting can be really demanding because conferences and meetings involve thorough discussions and even heated debates. The interpreter, on the other hand, should remain alert as he engages with mental work. Because of this, conference interpreters usually work in a team which is put together for a specific meeting or conference. Consultant interpreters are the ones responsible in taking into account the demand a certain conference needs, the varying languages needed and other requirements an event has.

This type of interpreting can also be an intimidating job because one will be dealing with multiple speakers and listeners who are usually from different foreign countries. The attendees usually consist of businessmen all around the globe, professionals or even foreign diplomats. Conferences like this also involve sales meetings, industry association gatherings, official state visits and negotiations between cross bordering countries. So the task of a conference interpreter is crucial to ensure the smooth flow and successful outcome of the whole conference.