Is simultaneous translation the same as simultaneous interpreting?

Do you have a series of conferences on Japanese cinema, the presentation of a product or service to Arabic jeques or a user experience study for the Indian market? It is very likely, then, that you should use a simultaneous translation service... Or is it a simultaneous interpretation?

This typical question is the first thing we want to resolve in this article. 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. Shall we go there?

What is simultaneous translation?

In principle, 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 is of course an immediate fact: In other words, the translator translates as the person speaks, making the speech as fluid 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 there, seeing the speaker and the listener. In addition, by putting us in need, the translator takes up a booth, listens to his headphones and translates via his microphone.

Of course, in these times of immediacy they are running, it is easier to get confused than before. We mean that in the old analog times the distinction between the oral (voice) and the written (text) was more sharp. Today, the border has become blurred using instant messaging, audio, streaming, subtitles and automatic translations, until it reaches instant translation.

Is there any difference between translation and simultaneous interpretation?

No, there's no one. 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. However, both terms are often used interchangeably outside the specialised and professional scope. In fact, it's the most normal thing, so...

Simultaneous translation = simultaneous interpretation

So, to understand us (that in the end it is what it is, right? ), Simultaneous interpretation and translation are the same.

How do I make a simultaneous translation?

Well, it has its own miga. To start with, live interpreting (which is the same, remember) requires some technical preparation. First, from the interpreter, to gather information and study the topic to be addressed, familiarize yourself with the usual terminology, etc. Second, the preparation and installation of a sound transmission equipment with certain particularities, mainly a sound-proofed cabin, a listening and speech control panel and wireless reception devices.

But leaving the team apart (which is not important, on the contrary; Then we will talk more about it), the simultaneous translation requires the interpreter to fully internalize both the source language and the target language, high levels of concentration and a lot of ability to summarize. 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. Simultaneous translation in English is required with two performers who speak Spanish and English, as the number of participants and the duration do not allow them to live in a voice or consecutively, at the risk of being aphonic or for the event to last two hours.

What real-time translation methods are there? Which of them gives 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. Each type of interpretation has its pros and cons depending on our 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, as a good machine translation, it has its inaccuracies, and its limitations on the size of the audience. Let's return 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!

IA of simultaneous translation

Yes, several software are already appearing, which are used by simultaneous machine translation functions based on artificial intelligence. They are powerful tools for translating 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 “). If you can afford these deficiencies, it is an option to take into account.

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. This one that allows you, in the previous example, to drop a closed accent or a “out of program” question from the star guest to the 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 remote simultaneous interpretation (ISR) is currently also possible if we use a digital platform. In both cases, it is normal to resort to the rental of the simultaneous translation team.

When should I choose a simultaneous translation service?

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 meetings and conferences
• Educational, scientific and academic seminars and webinars
• Presentations by personalities
• Medical or legal assistance situations
• 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.

What type of choice will depend on the circumstances, as we mentioned earlier. You can ask yourself these questions to help you define your needs:

• What is the objective of the event?
• How many languages will be involved, in which “spoken” and in which “listening” will be?
• How many speakers and attendees are we talking about?
• Will communication be one-way or two-way?
• Is it a formal or informal event? What space will it be held in? What will be its duration?
• Is any sensitive, sensitive or sensitive issue addressed?

What is 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. ATLS has been working on simultaneous translation in Barcelona and the rest of the world for almost a quarter of a century with a clear 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