Types of Interpretation
What is consecutive interpretation?
In consecutive interpretation, the speaker pauses after completing a segment, usually one or two sentences, and the interpreter then renders the speech into the target language. This back-and-forth pattern is well suited to small meetings, depositions, legal hearings, medical consultations, and business negotiations where the pace is conversational. No specialist equipment is required.
What is simultaneous interpretation?
In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter renders the speaker's words into the target language in real time, with a lag of only a few seconds. Delegates listen through headsets while the interpreter works from a soundproofed booth.
This format is the standard for international conferences, multilingual symposia, and large-scale events where stopping the speaker for interpretation is not practical.
When should I use consecutive and when should I use simultaneous interpretation?
Consecutive interpretation is best for small gatherings, legal proceedings, medical appointments, and business meetings with a limited number of participants. Simultaneous interpretation is better for conferences, panel discussions, and events with large audiences or tight schedules.
Simultaneous requires more planning and specialist booth equipment but keeps the event flowing at full speed.
What is whispered interpretation (chuchotage)?
Chuchotage is a form of simultaneous interpretation where the interpreter sits beside or behind one or two delegates and whispers the interpretation in real time, without equipment. It is appropriate when only a small number of participants need interpretation and installing a full booth setup is impractical.
It places high cognitive demand on the interpreter and is not suitable for sessions lasting more than one to two hours.
What is telephone and over-the-phone interpretation (OPI)?
Over-the-phone interpretation connects a professional interpreter to a conversation via telephone or a bridged call. It is the fastest way to access interpretation for short, unplanned, or one-off conversations: customer service calls, emergency situations, and brief business calls.
OPI sessions are typically billed by the minute. Tell us the language and when you need the call, and we confirm interpreter availability case by case.
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Do you offer interpretation for medical appointments?
Yes. Medical interpretation requires a specialist who understands clinical terminology in both languages and is trained to interpret with neutrality and precision. We provide interpretation for patient consultations, specialist referrals, surgical discussions, and cross-border medical treatments, frequently alongside clinical translation of supporting records.
Remote medical interpretation via video call is also available for situations where an in-person interpreter is not accessible.
What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
An interpreter works with spoken language in real time, while a translator works with written text and has time to research and revise. The two skill sets overlap but are not interchangeable, so a strong translator is not automatically a strong interpreter. If your meeting comes with contracts, slides, or minutes, the written side is handled through our translation services, and the full range of language support is on the BeTranslated homepage.
What equipment does simultaneous interpretation need?
In person, simultaneous interpretation needs a soundproofed booth, an interpreter console, microphones for the speakers, and receivers with headsets for the delegates. A technician normally installs the equipment before the event and stays on hand while it runs. Smaller rooms sometimes use a portable transmitter and receiver set instead of a full booth, which we confirm with the venue first.
What is liaison interpreting and when is it used?
Liaison interpreting, also called escort or business interpreting, is a relaxed form of consecutive interpretation in which the interpreter accompanies a delegate through a series of short conversations. It suits factory visits, supplier meetings, and a stand at a trade fair such as Hannover Messe or Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The interpreter moves with your team, so waiting time and travel are agreed in advance.
Booking, Logistics, and Costs
How far in advance do I need to book an interpreter?
For planned events such as conferences and legal hearings, we recommend booking at least two weeks in advance to ensure availability of the right specialist. For business meetings and smaller assignments, one to three days is typically sufficient.
Urgent bookings are accommodated when our schedule allows. Contact us as soon as your dates are confirmed.
What information do I need to provide when booking?
We need the date, location (or online platform), expected duration, language pair, format (consecutive or simultaneous), subject matter or industry, and a brief description of the event.
For legal or medical assignments, any preparatory materials such as case summaries or terminology lists help the interpreter prepare and deliver a higher-quality result.
How does pricing work for interpretation services?
Interpretation is priced by the half-day or full day for in-person assignments, and by the hour for remote sessions. Rates depend on the language pair, format, subject specialization, and travel requirements. Simultaneous interpretation carries a higher rate than consecutive, reflecting the specialist skill and preparation involved. We provide a clear quote with all costs itemized before you confirm a booking.
Do interpreters work in pairs for long events?
Yes. Simultaneous interpretation is cognitively intensive, and professional standards recommend that two interpreters work in rotation, switching every 30 minutes, for sessions lasting more than one hour. For full-day conferences, a team of two per language direction is standard practice.
We factor this into all simultaneous interpretation bookings automatically and explain the setup in your quote.
What sectors do your interpreters cover?
Our interpreters specialize in legal and judicial proceedings, medical and healthcare, business and finance, international diplomacy, academic and research conferences, technical and engineering, and commercial trade negotiations.
Sector match is part of how we assign every interpreter: the right subject knowledge prevents terminology errors that can have serious consequences in legal or medical settings.
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Can you provide interpretation for legal proceedings and court hearings?
Yes. Legal interpretation requires a specialist with formal training in both legal systems involved, the ability to interpret in the first person, and an understanding of procedural norms. Our legal interpreters work in courtrooms, arbitration panels, depositions, police interviews, and notarial proceedings, often coordinated with specialist legal translation of supporting documents.
Many hold official accreditation or have been sworn in before a court in their jurisdiction. Documents for the case can be translated through our professional translation services and, where a court asks for it, supplied as certified translations.
Do interpreters travel to my location?
On-site interpreters travel to the venue, whether that is a conference hall, a courthouse, a hospital, or a factory floor. Travel time, transport, and accommodation are itemized in the quote. If the venue is far from the nearest qualified interpreter, a remote session may be the faster and cheaper option, and the interpreting services overview shows the formats available.
How should I prepare before the interpreter arrives?
Send the agenda, speaker names, slides, and any glossary or earlier minutes as early as you can. Interpreters study this material beforehand, which matters most for technical, legal, and medical subjects. During the session, ask speakers to talk at a natural pace and to pause between points.
Is everything the interpreter hears kept confidential?
Yes. Interpreters treat everything they hear as confidential, and we can arrange a signed non-disclosure agreement before the assignment begins. Tell us in advance if the session will be recorded or if the briefing papers are sensitive, so we can agree how they are shared.
Do you provide interpreters for weddings and civil registry appointments?
Yes. Couples marrying abroad often need an interpreter at a registry office, for example a German Standesamt, an Italian Comune, a French mairie, or a Spanish Registro Civil. The registry decides whether it requires an officially sworn interpreter or accepts another qualified one, so ask the office first and tell us what it says. Birth and marriage certificates for the same file can be supplied as certified translations.
Does the interpreter have to be sworn or court certified?
It depends on who receives the interpretation. A US state court may appoint a court-certified interpreter from its own roster, and a German Landgericht or Amtsgericht usually calls on a sworn interpreter it already knows. These credentials belong to individual interpreters, and the court, notary, or authority decides what it accepts, so we match an interpreter to the requirement once you tell us what it is.
Remote and Video Interpretation
Do you offer remote interpretation?
Yes. Remote interpretation is available via video call for consecutive assignments, and via specialist remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) platforms for conference-scale events. Remote interpretation removes the travel barrier and is well suited to international business calls, depositions, client consultations, and smaller conference sessions where participants are joining from multiple locations.
What video platforms do you support for remote interpretation?
For consecutive remote interpretation, we work with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex, and any other standard video conferencing platform your organization uses. For simultaneous interpretation, we use specialist RSI platforms including Interprefy, KUDO, and Zoom with its built-in interpretation mode.
We advise on the right platform for your event and can handle technical setup on our end.
How does remote simultaneous interpretation work for conferences?
Remote simultaneous interpretation uses a specialist platform where interpreters work from their own soundproofed booths in different locations, and delegates receive the interpretation through a web app or phone. The experience for delegates is virtually identical to in-person conference interpretation.
RSI platforms also allow participants to switch between language channels and the floor audio without any additional equipment. We handle the interpreter coordination and platform setup.
What audio quality is required for remote interpretation sessions?
Clear audio is critical for interpreter performance and participant experience. We recommend a wired internet connection rather than Wi-Fi for all participants, a dedicated microphone or headset rather than a laptop's built-in microphone, and a quiet environment for the main speakers.
We send technical guidelines to all participants before any remote interpretation session. For high-stakes events, a technical rehearsal the day before is strongly recommended.
Can remote interpretation work for small meetings as well as large conferences?
Yes. Remote consecutive interpretation requires nothing more than a standard video call and works well for two-to-ten participant meetings, client calls, and medical consultations. Remote simultaneous interpretation scales from small focused sessions to large multilingual conferences with thousands of delegates.
We recommend the right format based on your participant count, session length, and budget.
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Can interpreters support hybrid events with a live audience and remote participants?
Yes. Interpreters can work from a booth on site or from remote locations while an RSI platform sends their language channels to people in the room and to those online. The venue needs a clean audio feed from the floor microphones, and a short technical check beforehand prevents most problems. We help plan the setup so remote delegates hear the same quality as the people in the room.
Interpreting Questions: Talk to a Specialist
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