What is interpretation and why it’s important to multilingual business interactions.
Whether you are closing an international deal, creating business partnerships abroad, or negotiating, it is no secret that effective communication between languages is important in your success. Language barriers can stop important business deals, partnerships, and negotiations. This is where interpretation plays an important role.
Around 1 in every 4 U.S. employers could not pursue or lost business due to a lack of language skills. These statistics show us how important correct multilingual communication is for your business and the global economy.
In this article, we explore the art of interpretation, why you need it when navigating multilingual interactions, the types of interpretation, and which type of interpretation is best suited for your needs.
Discover how a reliable and professional interpretation service will help you cross language gaps and create successful cross-cultural business deals.
What is interpretation?
Interpretation is the practice of conveying a message from one language to another in real-time. It is done by the interpreter, an expert linguist who listens to a speaker in a particular language and seamlessly translates the message into the target language for the other participants.
Some examples of situations where an interpreter is needed are speeches where the audience is multilingual, international business meetings, medical or legal communications, etc.
In any of these cases, conveying information in a correct and culturally acceptable form is vital in successful communication between the parties, and an interpreter acts as a middleman for this communication.
Why interpretation is important in multilingual interactions.
Overcoming language difficulties. When working in a multilingual environment, language barriers may negatively affect communication by not allowing the correct exchange of ideas. This challenge is overcome by interpretation, which allows the parties to focus on the idea and the content rather than struggling with language difficulties.
Conveying accurate information. Virtually all formal communication has important messages that need to be communicated in a correct and culturally acceptable form. The way a message is accepted across different languages can make or break a deal or negotiation, so when you choose a professional interpreting service, you ensure that your communication is as smooth as possible. The interpreter plays a vital role in ensuring smooth communication by actively listening to the speaker and effectively translating the message into the target language.
Types of Interpretation
We can categorize interpretation in the following two ways:
- Location-based Categorization: Remote and On-site Interpretation
- Method-based Categorization: Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpretation
Location-based: Based on location, there are two types of interpretation: remote and on-site. If the meeting or event is being held online, then the best approach is to use a remote interpreter, who will sit in the meeting and interpret the information between the parties. Remote interpreting is usually needed in webinars and online meetings. In on-site interpretation, the interpreter will be present at the location alongside the participants of the meeting. On-site interpretation is needed in seminars and in-person meetings.
Method-based: There are two types of interpretation:
- Simultaneous: Simultaneous interpretation is usually used in settings that include a larger group of participants such as conferences. In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter will listen to the speaker and at the same time convey the interpretation to the audience. It requires a great deal of concentration, as the interpreter has very little time to absorb the information and relay it back to the listeners.
- Consecutive: Consecutive interpretation is more common among smaller meetings, such as a one-on-one meeting or an interview. In consecutive interpretation, the interpreter will listen to the speaker, usually taking notes while the speaker is communicating, and when the speaker finishes a thought or pauses the linguist will communicate the interpretation to the listeners. This type gives the interpreter more time to listen but requires the interpreter to absorb a larger amount of information so he or she conveys it to the listeners.
Which type of interpretation is right for you?
When deciding whether you need consecutive or simultaneous interpretations, there are a few factors that you might want to consider.
If you are hosting a larger event or meeting, where time is an important factor, you might want to consider simultaneous interpreting. In simultaneous interpreting, there will be minimal time between the spoken sentence and the interpretation, which creates efficient communication between the parties.
On the other hand, if the meeting or event has fewer participants, and the accuracy of the interpretation is more important, consecutive interpretation might be the way to go. Take for example a medical consultation, or a courtroom proceeding, where the precision of the message is of the utmost importance. Consecutive interpretation gives room for the interpreter to articulate his or her message in the most accurate way possible.
If you are still unsure about which type of interpretation you need, contact us for a free consultation.
Conclusion
To sum up, successful multilingual business interactions heavily rely on effective communication where interpretation plays a pivotal role in bridging language gaps respectfully.
Language barriers can hinder significant business deals, collaborations, or discussions from progressing smoothly. Being assisted by a professional interpreter helps you overcome these challenges ensuring accurate interpretations which are culturally acceptable.
Interpretation enables seamless translations in real-time between languages thus allowing participants to direct their attention towards content without diverting focus due to linguistic struggles.
Interpretation ensures precise message conveyance while retaining nuances & intentions from the original speaker.
There are remote/on-site & simultaneous/consecutive interpretations catering to specific needs like event scale, time constraints, or need for precision. Accurate selection depends on various factors. Investing in professional interpretation services displays a practical solution & strategic
