The Essential Guide to Working with Interpreters in International Engagement

Interpreting works with spoken languages, whereas translation deals between written languages.

Interpreting is a challenging skill as languages are rarely fully compatible with 1-1 exact meanings. The interpreter you work with will need to make informed decisions about how to convey your meaning as accurately as possible, often doing so at speed so as not to disrupt the flow of dialogue. The outcome is generally not 100% perfect due to lack of exact equivalence between languages. It can be a deeply strange experience if you’re not accustomed to it – not least as you will need to spend a significant portion of your meeting sitting in silence as you wait for the interpreter to finish.

There are three main types of interpreting. The first two, simultaneous and whispered (also known as chuchotage), are the simplest for the speaker, although potentially more challenging for the interpreter, while consecutive is slightly more complex in terms of process

• Simultaneous: Usually found at large scale conferences that can afford the headsets for all delegates. A team of usually at least two interpreters will use multi-channel radio to interpret everything said by the speakers. For the speaker there is little difference from delivering a normal speech, except for general tips when speaking to international audiences.
• Chuchotage (Whispered): You may encounter this if you are the only person at a meeting or a meal that doesn’t speak the same language as everyone else. An interpreter will sit next to or even behind you and whisper directly to you as a way to ensure you understand and can participate in the conversation.
• Consecutive: Generally used for meetings, both formal and informal, without requiring the expense of hiring interpreting equipment. Your interpreter will speak after you, conveying your meaning to the other side as quickly and accurately as possible. This style is more complex for you as a senior speaker, due to the pauses needed to allow the interpreter to relay your comments, and requires the most preparation.

Timing is crucial for successful consecutive interpreting. To start with, remember that everything being said, needs to be said at least twice. Once by you, once by the interpreter, and then potentially again in case of any misunderstandings. Therefore every meeting will take at least twice as long as usual.

• Special care needs to be taken when planning meetings and visit agendas to ensure that important topics are covered in sufficient depth, allowing time for any clarification, disagreement, and negotiation that may emerge from the dialogue. It can be tempting when travelling such a long distance to squeeze multiple meetings into a day – to make the most of the trip. But this should be approached with caution or you risk not fully addressing important issues due to time constraints, or not thinking clearly because you are rushed and tired.
• Equally crucial during the meeting itself is to plan, and practice, timing your speech. As you talk, you will need to pause to allow the interpreter to convey your words. If you talk for too long, it will become more difficult for the interpreter and you risk them losing track. This is especially likely if you are talking about specialist topics requiring great technical familiarity, such as specific areas of science or other complex issues. It is always worth, in such instances, briefing the interpreter beforehand, ideally sharing any background reading or reference material that will help them prepare. You also want to avoid delivering a larger block of speech and then sitting in silence for an equally lengthy amount of time while the interpreter talks as this can get uncomfortable for people not used to working in a foreign language setting.
• The process works best if you spend time in advance getting to know the interpreter you will be working with, but any level of practice will help. You can break your speech into manageable segments of a few sentences each, paying attention to structure so that key points aren’t broken up, and developing a comfortable rhythm of speech and interpretation.

• Remember that the point of your meeting is to communicate with your partner so, while you are being interpreted, make eye contact with your audience and pay attention to their reactions. Don’t look primarily at the interpreter(s) except if you need to specifically signal to them that you are pausing for them to speak, or for some other reason.
• As you get comfortable with the process and working with interpreters, you may agree with them that certain sections of your speech can be summarised rather than conveyed verbatim as this can save some time in the process. Similarly, if there is a particular point that is of critical importance, repeat it – even saying directly “this point is important” so that your interpreter can ensure that it is emphasised and understood accurately. Likewise, if an interpreter from the opposite party says something you don’t understand, you should interject and ask for clarification.
• Ensure you understand your interpreter’s process and when they are ready for you to proceed. Switching between languages is a demanding task so if they pause for a moment, check that they are ready for you to proceed and not just catching their breath.

While consecutive interpreting might require a bit of specific practice and preparation, talking to an international audience always needs some adjustments and the following points will help with both interpreting and general international engagement.