FAQ

Simultaneous interpreting is suitable for long events with a multilingual audience, e.g. congresses or conventions.

Consecutive interpreting is suitable for events with a homogeneous audience that only speaks two different languages, e.g. small business meetings or round tables. Please bear in mind that the various sections of speech are translated consecutively to the original speech, so you also have to include the time needed for interpretation in your event schedule (10 minutes of speech + 8/10 minutes of related translation).

Whispered interpreting is suitable when there are only one or two people in the audience who do not speak the language of the other participants.

Remote interpreting is suitable for events where the physical presence of the participants is not necessary. If you would like to organise an online event with remote interpreting, please follow the VKD checklist and consult the guidelines for optimal cooperation with interpreters during a remote event and for the success of the event.

Liaison interpreting is particularly suitable for business meetings where rapid interaction is needed between parties who do not speak the same language, e.g. during a trade fair.

Sworn interpreting is required in situations such as the reading of a marriage certificate in a foreign language, a court trial, a notary appointment for the signing of a contract, and in other official situations where any future problems with language comprehension are to be ruled out.

Community interpreting is useful in situations in which you are not fluent in the language of the country but want to make full use of the services offered, such as interviews at employment agencies, job centres, insurance companies, medical examinations, appointments at local administrative bodies, police stations and embassies.

An interpreter’s primary role is to support their client to communicate with others and ensure they are, and feel, accurately represented. This requires the interpreter be empathetic, sensitive to different social contexts and discrete with the information they handle. The first thing you should expect then is an engaged and attentive professional with highly developed interpersonal skills that contributes to creating an environment where language barriers are of no concern.

If you are interested in my skills, you can contact me by phone to gain a better understanding of my service. You can also email me or fill out the contact form here on the website. Once I have collected the necessary information about your event, I will be happy to send you a non-binding offer within 24 hours.

If my offer is within your budget, we will sign a contract outlining the terms of our collaboration.

To ensure the success of your multilingual event, I will not only prepare the terminology but also carefully analyse the context and objectives of your event. To do this best, I need to receive what we interpreters call "preparation material" well in advance. What is that? Don't worry, I will provide you with a list of everything I need.

It is also advisable to arrange an online or telephone briefing a few days before the event to discuss the final details and clarify any last-minute doubts or questions.

On the day of the event, I arrive (or log-in for online events) at least half an hour early to check that the technical equipment is working and to clarify any last-minute problems.

And after the event? Depending on the agreed payment terms, you will receive an invoice by email within the stipulated time-frame. If you wish, you can also leave me a comment on the language service I provided.

As any interpreter would answer: good question!

There is no standard price. Every multilingual event in unique and varies in the following: Duration, sector, location, number of language combinations needed, technical equipment and more. For interpreting assignments, I usually apply a daily rate for which I will be happy to provide you with a non-binding and transparent quote with a clear breakdown of the costs: preparation, service provision and travel expenses, if applicable. For sworn interpreting services, an hourly rate applies.

Interpreting requires considerable cognitive effort as the interpreter listens, processes, translates and speaks at the same time. As it is a strenuous activity, the interpreter must take a break every 30 minutes to maintain the quality of the translation. For this reason, a team of interpreters usually consists of two professionals who alternate throughout the duration of the event. Thanks to my extensive network of professional colleagues, I will be happy to organise a team of interpreters for your multilingual event if you need one.

The interpreting and translation market is a free market and anyone can charge the prices they deem appropriate.

I have invested in a high level academic education, I continue to attend training courses in my field to keep up to date in an ever-changing field and I belong to a professional association that not only protects the profession but also guarantees high standards of quality and professionalism.

At certain events, issues related to sensitive information (e.g. a company's financial data or an individual’s health records) may be discussed and you may not want to share this before the event. However, it is crucial that the interpreter has access to as much material as possible in order to prepare accurately and translate as well as possible. Remember that there is a code of ethics and deontology that requires the interpreter to maintain strict professional secrecy and confidentiality. To protect both sides, I am happy to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) for both interpreting and translation assignments.