Conference Interpreting

In most instances, interpreting involves one person interpreting for two people who do not share a common language. The use of interpreters is commonplace in the courts, the medical field, on guided tours, etc. These environments allow for uncomplicated communications between the interpreter and the people who need interpreting.

However, some situations are more demanding. Imagine the scenario on the right, where an audience of 96 people have come to hear a speaker who speaks English. A good many of the people in the audience understand English, but most do not. To further complicate matters, the non-English speaking audience members only speak one of three different languages- Japanese Spanish or Italian.

For many agencies, such a situation would present an impossible task. At ATS, we are well-equipped to handle such a situation. We have a wide array of multi-user simultaneous interpreting equipment using the latest in RF and infrared technologies. Our well-trained staff provides on-site setup and coordination at location in the world.

Here is how it works- in the front of the room are four people- the speaker and three interpreters. The interpreters listen to what the speaker is saying via their headsets and simultaneously interpret what the speaker is saying into a microphone. The interpreter then broadcasts via a radio transmitter. Because of the demanding speed of simultaneous interpreting, two or more interpreters will trade off about every half hour.

The audience members who require an interpreter listen to him or her on a small radio receiver. Each receiver can be tuned in to any interpreter's signal by the audience member.

An animated demo of this scenario: