Is simultaneous translation the same as simultaneous interpreting?

Have you got a conference series on Japanese film coming up? Or a presentation on a product or service for an Arab sheikh? Or maybe some user experience research for the Indian market? It is very likely, then, that you should use a simultaneous translation service... Or is it a simultaneous interpretation?

Let's tackle this common question first. Furthermore, since we are, we explain to you in a short and clear way what this activity consists of, and we briefly describe how it is done and what the three main modalities that exist today. Ready?

What is simultaneous translation?

In theory, the definition is clear. Traditionally, we understand linguistic mediation in which a translator transmits the meaning, meaning and intention of an oral message from one language to another. It's taken as a given that this is done immediately: in other words, the translator translates the message at the same time as the person speaks, making the speech as fluent as possible.

This discipline and its oral “sisters,” consecutive translation, whispered translation and bilateral translation have always had (traditionally, we repeat) a face-to-face character: The translator must be physically present, seeing both the speaker and the listener. To be more precise, in simultaneous translation the translator will be in a booth, listening to headphones and translating by voice via a microphone.

Of course, in the world we live in, where everything happens instantly, there's more scope than ever for confusion. What we're saying here is that back in the olden days of analogue, there was a sharper distinction between oral (voice) and written (text) forms. Today, the border has become blurred using instant messaging, audio, streaming, subtitles and automatic translations, until it reaches instant translation.

Is there a difference between simultaneous interpretation and translation?

No, there isn't. To be strict, the term “simultaneous translation” is incorrect, and we should talk about real-time (simultaneous) interpretation to refer to any translation in any form of oral communication. But in practice - outside of specialist, professional circles at least - the two terms are often used interchangeably. In fact, it's standard, so...

Simultaneous translation = simultaneous interpreting

So there you go. Let's make sure we're understanding each other (that's the main thing, right? ), Simultaneous interpretation and translation are the same.

How does simultaneous translation work?

Let's crack open the can of worms. To start with, live interpreting (which is the same, remember) requires some technical preparation. First, on the part of the interpreter: they need to gather information, study the topic they'll be working on, familiarise themselves with the common terminology, etc. And then there's the preparation and installation of the sound transmission system: mainly a sound-proofed cabin, a listening and speech control panel and wireless receivers.

But aside from the equipment (which is far from unimportant; we'll get to that later), in simultaneous translation the interpreter needs to fully internalise both the source and target languages, requiring high levels of concentration and next-level summarising skills. Performers usually work in pairs if the session lasts more than thirty minutes due to the mental exhaustion it causes.

Let's talk about a company presentation where a Spanish executive will address a British audience of about fifty people for one hour. They will need simultaneous translation in English, with two interpreters who speak Spanish and English. Due to the number of participants and duration of the presentation, it can't be relayed out loud - that could risk the event lasting two hours (not to mention croaky voices).

What real-time translation methods are there? Which of them gets you the best results?

Following this example of the presentation, all this from the simultaneous interpretation sounds complicated and expensive... fortunately, today we have several alternatives for performing live interpreting. There are pros and cons to each type of interpretation, depending on your circumstances, needs and resources.

Simultaneous online voice translation

We would be talking about a voice translator, that is, an application that receives an audio, recognizes it, translates it automatically and issues this translation into audio. It's like having a simultaneous translator in your pocket. This type of technology has been a decade for us and is being refined more and more.

But (just like a decent machine translation) it has its flaws and limitations in terms of your audience size. Let's get back to our example; You have to download an app or not to make the simultaneous translation of a voice to that half a hundred British people, this would not be very efficient. But to arrange a weekend of tourism in a foreign country, perfect!

Simultaneous translation AI

Yes, several software are already appearing, which are used by simultaneous machine translation functions based on artificial intelligence. These are powerful tools if you need to translate a live conference on the internet, for example. A “conversation translator” usually includes subtitled options, and for the time being it is seen as a complement to the professional simultaneous interpretation.

This simultaneous interpretation is gaining full numbers day after day, but it still lacks the usual errors (polysemia, cultural references, rare grammatical structures, technical jargon, etc.), apart from that the naturalness of a human being is an added value (many people the rarity “). But it's food for thought if you can let these deficiencies go.

Professional simultaneous interpreting team

The optimal way of carrying out a real-time translation for broad and specialised audiences in events of a certain level continues to be a human professional with all their experience and ability to adapt to various contexts and situations. Going back to our example, they would be able to navigate any strong accents or off-topic questions from VIP guests at your presentation.

As in the previous “machine” simultaneous interpretation modalities, a certain team is required. We can be talking about the classic combination of console, floor channel , wireless receivers, etc., but in the present, you can use remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) that harnesses the powers of a digital platform instead. In both cases, hiring simultaneous translation equipment is standard.

When should you opt for simultaneous translation services?

We already mentioned some of the many times when we may need to interpret it simultaneously. Some use cases of such a translation service could be:

• International institutional events (multilingual)
• Company conferences and meetings
• Educational, scientific and academic seminars or webinars
• Speeches from public figures
• In circumstances requiring medical or legal assistance
• Commercial or marketing events

In a broad sense, whenever we want to communicate with an audience who does not know our language, and whenever we want that communication to be efficient, faithful and accurate, we will be well helped by an interpreter.

And as we mentioned earlier, the type you go for will very much depend on your circumstances. If you'd like to clarify your needs, ask yourself these questions:

• What's the objective behind the event?
• How many languages will be involved, which will be 'spoken' and which will be 'listened to'?
• How many speakers and attendees are you thinking?
• Will communication be one-way or two-way?
• Is it a formal or informal event? What type of venue/space is it? How long will it be?
• Will you be tackling any sensitive, confidential or culturally sensitive issues?

What's the best simultaneous translation service?

It's going to sound like a topic, but the best live translation is the one that adapts to you.

Obviously, and as with any other aspect of life, it is your job to go to a professional, specialised, experienced, and media agency. At ATLS, we've worked on simultaneous translation in Barcelona and worldwide for almost a quarter of a century, always taking an international approach. You can consult us and we will help you to properly profile your specific need and resolve it in the most effective way.

Frequently asked questions on simultaneous translation and simultaneous interpretation

Anabel Ruiz