Interpreters’ Room

“It is in language that expectation and fulfillment make contact.” ¹ 
– Ludwig Wittgenstein

Silkross events connects the interpreting team directly with the conference proceedings. This gives all speakers and guests the opportunity to shape the overall picture of the conference with their own unique linguistic nuances—whether it’s a continuous back‑and‑forth discussion or a dynamic conference.

Our 3 Key Points for Interpretation Equipment

• The interpreters’ workplaces,
• Transmission of interpreted languages,
• The requirement—which degree of internationality to be ensured in which rooms or areas for which time.

What Is an Interpreting System?

An interpreting system is an audiotechnical system that allows conference interpreters to listen to a spoken contribution and to reproduce it orally at the same time in a desired target language.

Microphones are indispensable in environments where interpreters maintain communication for multilingual groups. This may involve either whispering through a portable interpreting system ²  or interpreting simultaneously in an interpreting booth. Silkross events works with interpreting systems from the manufacturers Bosch Security Systems and Braehler Systems. They have 31 language channels that can be used by conference interpreters during international meetings. Interpreting systems can also be integrated into multilingual tele‑conferences, so that all invited working groups and interpreter teams can cooperate with good image and sound quality, regardless of where they are.

Interpreters’ Workplaces

Conference interpreters need a protected space in which they can work without being disturbed. That space is offered by the interpreting booth. Silkross events uses portable interpreting booths. The size and composition of the interpreter team depends on the language combinations of the team members as well as on the conference topic and event duration. It is only after the interpreter team has been put together that it is finally clear how many booths with how many working places are required. In general it is two working places per language combination.

Transmission of Simultaneous Interpretation

Participants can usually receive their desired language interpretation through one of the following transmission methods. The original voices and sounds remain discreetly in the background, thus preserving their effect on sensory perception.

Mobile to their seats

Invisible infrared light is used that carries the signal with audio information through the conference room. The speakers and guests can select their desired target language on their personal receivers. This method provides a high level of security against unauthorized interception. Another version that is often used for guided tours uses wireless radio transmission.

Through a discussion system

A discussion system can be directly connected to the interpreting system to create a closed conference system.

Voice‑over during theatre plays or film shows

The interpretation comes through a loudspeaker system or directly through headphones. Theatrical inter­preters are not only concerned with the specifics of the production and the vernacular translation of a piece, they are also sensitive to the perceptions, previous experiences, and listening habits of the audience.

Other conference systems

If a multilingual video or tele‑conference is held simultaneous interpreters in every conference location can be integrated directly in the procedure of the conference. Then Silkross events creates a secured network to link the conference sites with the sites of the other microphone conference or interpreting systems. This method is also suitable in the event of limited availability of space in the conference room.

Directly

During personal meetings the interpreters can work directly to support interaction between the interlocutors. They do not use equipment and talk directly to the participants.

Transcribed interpreting (STTI) ³ 

In transcribed interpreting, the interpreter immediately relays the interpreted language and the current content of the conversation as written text. This text is displayed on special screens or incorporated into the presentation as subtitles. Depending on the agreed‑upon requirements, the text can be detailed, contain highlighted explanations, or be written in summary paragraphs for similar content.

Subtitles improve the understanding of audio and video content for people who have difficulty following the spoken language, e.g. non‑native speakers and people who are hard of hearing.

Documented

If there is a need for multi‑channel video recording the language channels that come with the original video are selected in a context menu. However, often a multilingual audio recording is sufficient. Both are added‑value services by the interpreter team for which an extra copyright fee can be charged.

¹ Ludwig Wittgenstein: “In der Sprache berühren sich Erwartung und Erfüllung.” The sentence was first elaborated in the manuscript Philo­sophical Grammar (Original title: Philoso­phische Grammatik) [PhG No.92], later addressed in the book Philo­sophical Inves­ti­gations (Original title: Philo­sophische Unter­suchungen) [PI §445] in 1948, and published posthu­mously in 1953.   

² also referred: tour guide system.   

³ STTI stands for speech‑to‑text interpreting, which is performed by interpreters. In contrast, STT (speech‑to‑text) is generated by artificial intelligence process chains.