Remote Interpreting Services

Our Remote Interpretation Process:

1. Organise meeting: The user organises the meeting for interpretation.
2. Interpreter connection: The interpreter dials into the system being used via either conferencing software or telephone.
3. Interpretation: The delegate of the first language speaks in their language.
4. Verbal translation: The interpreter listens and verbally translates into the language required by other delegates
5. Delegate response: The delegates receiving the interpreting may respond in their language and the interpreters will convey this back into the original language.

Languages we can provide remote interpretations in:

Our bank of experts includes remote interpreters with the highest level of proficiency in an array of languages. The most common languages for interpretation are as follows, and you can see our full list of languages here:

German
French
Spanish
Italian
Portuguese
Dutch
Czech

German
French
Spanish
Italian
Portuguese
Dutch
Czech

Norwegian
Danish
Finnish
Polish
Russian
Ukrainian
Korean

Vietnamese
Thai
Serbian
Romanian
Japanese
Chinese
Arabic

We can translate from English into the languages above, into English from the languages above, or between language pairings above.

Whatever languages you need, get in touch for a bespoke quote.

Remote Interpretation for:

We are proud to have helped businesses around the world with their remote interpretation needs. Our clients include global businesses looking to internationalise their communications, smaller businesses looking to expand into new audiences, and everything in between.

Our bank of specialists includes interpreters with expertise in a range of industries, letting us deliver impactful and engaging translations in fields like:  

• Retail
• Healthcare
• Energy

and many more.  

To find out how we can help your business with its interpretation needs, whatever your industry, get in touch for a bespoke quote.  

Remote Interpretation FAQs:

What is remote interpreting?

Remote interpreting is a new service offering that combines the perennial benefits of interpreting, with cost- and environmentally-conscious considerations befitting the modern world.

Interpretation is the process of understanding and translating communication, either spoken or signed, from a source language into a listener’s target language, in as close to real-time as possible. Traditional interpreting sees the interpreter in the same physical location as the speaker(s), whereas remote interpreting leverages technology to allow for interpretation to take place in a remote location.

The two types of interpretation – simultaneous and consecutive – are still applicable for remote interpreting. In the former, the interpreter translates in real-time as the speaker continues to speak, and in the latter they wait for a pause in which to provide the translation.

What does a remote interpreter do?

A remote interpreter does the same thing as a traditional interpreter: that is, listen to spoken or watch signed communication, and translate this into a target language so that people who don’t speak the source language can understand.

A remote interpreter can do their work over the phone, via video conferencing, or other communications platforms. They use specialised equipment to ensure reliable connection and high audio quality in both directions, so that they can hear what’s going on and the audience can hear the translations. Here is a breakdown of their role:

• Translation: an interpreter translates communications into a target language to facilitate understanding.
• Adapting for target audience: an interpreter will also adapt the translation to reflect nuances between the two languages, allowing for greater understanding.
• Preparation: an interpreter will research the subject matter and review materials in advance of the event to ensure their understanding

What are some advantages of remote interpretation?

Remote interpretation comes with a range of benefits that will appeal to the unique needs of any business. Here are some of the most notable:

• Environmental benefits: perhaps the most obvious benefit of remote interpretation compared to traditional is the absent need for the interpreter(s) to travel to the location of the event. When this saves on international travel, the emissions savings can be considerable.
• Cost savings: less travel means a lower price, as travel fares and potentially accommodation costs need not be factored into the quote.
• Accessibility: remote interpretation can make it easier to find an interpreter for an event in locations where traditional services may be hard to find, for example in rural areas.
• Flexibility: sourcing interpreters from different time zones may alleviate scheduling difficulties associated with using a traditional interpreter.
• Safety: as we saw with the surge of remote meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic, attending events remotely is a way to guarantee the safety of attendees. Remote interpreters can provide their services to online events, removing the need for attendees to visit a physical space.

To learn more about how remote interpretation can benefit your business, get in touch with our team.

What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

A translator generally translates written communication from one language to one or more other languages. The process allows for more time spent with the source text, and a greater amount of revision and redrafting. While a translator has more time to spend with their text, translation still relies on a high level of comprehension of source and target languages, as well as the nuances and other aspects.

An interpreter translates spoken or signed communication from one language to another, in close to real-time. The underlying skillset is different, as the translation must occur quickly and without the opportunity to review and redraft. Similarly high levels of language comprehension are required for effective interpretation.

What are the different types of remote interpreting?

The type of technology used can determine difference in the remote interpreting process:

• Over the phone interpretation: this sees the interpreter using a phone to translate a conversation in real-time.
• Video remote interpreting: this uses video conferencing tools and is often used for more advanced discussion where visual cues may be present.

The type of interpreting can also vary, whether it be simultaneous or consecutive as outlined above.

How does remote simultaneous interpretation work?

In remote simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter provides a spoken translation of the source communication as quickly as possible. However, despite being called simultaneous, there can be a slight delay between the source and translated communication while the interpreter processes and translates what has been said.

In advance of the interpretation, an interpreter will prepare by reading through relevant materials (such as slide decks, speech outlines, and so on). They may also listen to recordings of the speaker’s voice to get used to their flow and cadence.

Before the event, the interpreter will connect to the event via phone, video, or specialised platform. They will ensure the audio and video feeds are working correctly, and that their interpretations are accessible from the event.

During the event the interpreter will use noise-cancelling headphones and a high-quality mic to ensure they can hear and be heard well. They will listen to the spoken communication, process it, and speak the translated version.

Listeners at the event will hear the translation and may have the option to switch between channels (if there are multiple speakers or translations available).