Simultaneous interpretation services have been around for a long time now, and it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere. On the contrary – with the ever-growing globalization and international expansion of numerous companies, all interpreters and translators remain in high demand.
The list of advantages of hiring a professional instead of taking care of it on your own is endless (unless you’re an interpreter or translator yourself). To put it shortly, working with a specialist will allow you not to worry about the quality of communication and potential misunderstandings, which will result in a more professional image of your business.
But what about the current state of the world? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to stay at home and work remotely, but it didn’t put a halt to business life. Companies needed to adapt, and so did language services.
Remote simultaneous interpretation is one of the answers to the problem. So, what is it exactly, how does it work, and why should you consider it?
What Is Remote Simultaneous Interpretation?
According to the International Standards Organization, simultaneous interpretation is “the process of rendering a spoken or signed message into another spoken or signed language, preserving the register and meaning of the source language,” so remote simultaneous interpretation (or RSI) is precisely that but performed remotely.
So, if you conduct any processes internationally, working with people who speak different languages, translation and interpretation services become a necessity.
While interpretation is not a piece of cake in normal circumstances, it becomes even more challenging when it has to be performed remotely. You may have managed quite alright with your own skills or those of someone from your team then, but the pandemic and remote work changed everything. An unstable connection or poor quality of audio during a video conference can make it almost impossible to interpret for someone without experience in the field and expert knowledge. Plus, relying on someone who’s not a trained interpreter has never been ideal – there’s much more to interpretation and translation than simply being bi- or multilingual.
How Does It Work?
Long story short – when you decide to outsource remote simultaneous interpretation, you hire a language specialist with experience in the field as well as in-depth knowledge of your industry, who listens to what is being said in a source language and interprets it to a target language in real-time. The great advantage is that it doesn’t matter where you are or where the interpreters are – all is done online.
Since remote interpretation is more flexible, it can be used for a variety of purposes – for webinars and other online events, panel discussions, conferences, seminars, lectures, regular meetings, and more. It is also an excellent choice for a traditionally-hosted event, as you won’t have to worry about finding an interpreter who lives nearby, or about booking accommodation and paying for transport.
The exact form depends on the type of event you organize, but most interpreting services providers use a cloud-based RSI platform that can be integrated with various software and tools, such as Zoom, Google Meets, or Skype. Some companies also offer standalone conference interpreters.
So, listeners, along with interpreters, can see and hear the speaker. Then, interpreters translate the words in real-time, through a cloud-based platform; that’s why it’s essential for such a service provider to equip their specialists with high-quality microphones and headsets. The speech of an interpreter is transmitted via a cloud, and the listeners can choose a language they want to hear by connecting to the RSI platform – all they need is a device with an internet connection.
Benefits of RSI
- Flexibility – the location of your event is of no importance here. It is also much easier to find remote simultaneous interpreters on short notice. Remote interpreting also means that you can offer multiple languages, even the rarer ones.
- Lower costs – while providing the same high-quality solutions, simultaneous interpretation is usually cheaper when performed remotely, as many factors are not included (such as means of transport, accommodation, commuting time, etc.)
- Versatility – you can offer not only more languages, but you also don’t have to worry about where you host your event. Plus, you get to choose from the best interpreters in the industry.
- Comfort – RSI platforms are user-friendly, eliminate queueing for headsets or the need for finding space for a booth. Additionally, many providers of such solutions offer technical support and the best equipment, guaranteeing quality sound.
Final Thoughts
Remote simultaneous interpreting services are growing in popularity these days because of the restrictions implemented due to the global pandemic. However, health and safety are not the only reasons why RSI platforms can be beneficial to your business or project. They also offer flexibility, improved organization, reduced sounds, as well as a higher number of languages into which you can have your speech translated. If your company is expanding or you want your specific project to be noticed abroad, this certainly is an excellent choice.