Consecutive interpreting is one of two types of conference interpreting – in addition to simultaneous (booth) interpreting.
It is a form of translation that works best during conferences, conversations, business meetings, trainings, negotiations or presentations. The speaker takes breaks in his speech to allow the interpreter to translate into the language of the listeners. The speaker's statement can be divided into shorter or longer fragments. Depending on the needs and nature of the meeting, the translation may be a detailed reproduction or a certain abbreviation of the spoken content.
In the case of long fragments of speeches, the interpreter, listening to the speaker, at the same time takes notes that help to reproduce the content in the target language. Such a translation is usually shorter than the original message, and the role of a professional translator is to skillfully select, synthesise and convey the meaning of the transmitted content.
It requires enormous skill to take notes. Interpreters have been developing and improving their system of saving all information using shortcut symbols for many years. Thanks to this, they are able to record all fragments of the speaker's statements on an ongoing basis.
When is it worth choosing consecutive translation?
With this type of translation, only one translator is needed and no additional equipment is needed. For this reason, consecutive translation is much cheaper than simultaneous translation. The disadvantage of such a solution is that it significantly extends the duration of the conference.
Consecutive interpreting is hard work that requires proper preparation and perfect knowledge of the language. In order to ensure high quality of translation before starting work, the interpreter should be provided with the necessary materials regarding the subject and field of translation: these may be presentations, speeches, lectures, negotiation program, etc. Materials should be provided in good time to allow the best possible preparation for translation.
We operate on a nationwide scale. If you need a conference translation service, especially in Wrocław, Poznań or the surrounding area, please contact us with the details of the conference or meeting, and we will advise you on the optimal solution.
The role of the interpreter during international meetings and negotiations
In business practice, consecutive interpreters perform a much broader function than just the mechanical translation of words from one language to another. The consecutive interpreter becomes an active participant in the conversation, taking care to maintain the intention of the speech, tone and cultural context. This is of great importance especially during trade negotiations, management talks or meetings with foreign partners, where language nuances may affect business decisions. Professional consecutive translation enables smooth communication, minimising the risk of misunderstandings and building the company's image as prepared and reliable. In such situations, consecutive interpreting is chosen especially often, because it does not require extensive technical facilities, and at the same time allows to maintain the natural rhythm of the conversation. In practice, this means real organisational and financial benefits, which are appreciated by entrepreneurs using services such as business translation. Most often, this model works when:
the number of participants in the meeting is limited, and the interaction is a dialogue,
issues requiring precision and the possibility of inquiry or clarification are discussed,
we care about direct contact with the interlocutor without a technological barrier,
flexibility and the ability to respond to changes in the course of the meeting are important.
Thanks to this, consecutive interpretation services remain one of the most frequently chosen solutions in international business and expert communication.
Costs and organisation – what affects the valuation of the service?
One of the services clients planning international events ask about most often is consecutive interpreting. Compared to other forms of interpreting, the price is sometimes more predictable. However, the final cost is influenced by many factors that should be taken into account at the stage of planning the meeting. The cost estimation takes into account not only the duration of the event, but also the degree of specialisation of the topic, the number of languages and the scope of substantive preparation. In practice, well-prepared consecutive interpreting allows you to optimise your budget without losing quality. The cost of the service is influenced, among others, by:
working time, usually in blocks of hours or days,
level of thematic difficulty, e.g. legal, technical or medical industry,
the need to analyze preparatory materials before the event,
location of the meeting and possible logistics costs.
It is worth remembering that the alternative are interpreting in other variants, such as simultaneous interpreting, which work well at large conferences, although they involve a greater organisational effort. Therefore, the selection of the appropriate form of translation should result from the real needs of the event, and not only from the comparison of costs. A well-planned consecutive interpretation service is an investment in effective communication, professional image and real support for business processes.