Simultaneous Translation (Interpretation)

It means translation in real time between speakers of two different languages, as this type of translation is important in international conferences, whether political or economic, and it has its own importance in covering world events.

Our translators at TRANSLATION ARENA have all the skills needed to achieve accurate interpretation, which are:

1. Language Skills

No one is ignorant that the translator needs a good linguistic outcome and a wide knowledge of the languages ​​to which he aims to translate, so that his translation has the characteristics of professional translation so that it is accurate and correct, as all specialists in the types of interpretation confirm the need for the translator to have depth in the linguistic ability to be able to translate correctly.

2. Analytical Skills

Specialists also confirm that analysis is the first strategy that the translator uses in legal translation (courts) and medical translation, as the analysis in these two types is an essential part of the translation process rather than an additional tactic, as analyzing words before translating them increases the translation efficiency and its ability to preserve the original meaning to the text.

3. Listening and Retrieval

There is no doubt that effective translation requires effective listening skills as well, as there is a common term among researchers called “Active Listening”, which is one of the listening skills that a professional translator must have represented in the ability to retrieve information and think quickly and effectively during the translation process. Some argue that memory and comprehension are two aspects that are inseparable, as both depend on the other, for example, having a good memory is very important for someone who translates in matters of judgment, and he must remember and include in the second language (Target Language) everything related to the linguistic elements, and he can’t also ignore meaningful information such as silence, or use vague words or have meanings, and he must include them in the source language.

4. Personal Skills

Personal skills, especially communication skills, are a prerequisite for the success of translators of all kinds of specializations, and although they are not limited to a specific type of translation, their importance appears in some types of translation from other types, for example, translators of medical and social issues are in direct contact with the stakeholders in contrast to conference translators who do most of their work in a far corner, addressing and talking to bureaucrats in an inexpressive voice. Despite this, some conferences have direct contacts between the translators and conference participants.

5. Exercise Morals

Indeed, the behavior of the translator has a great impact on his work in all types of translation, especially with regard to legal and medical issues, as some authors and writers describe the delicate situations that may appear in State conferences, which requires the translator to understand his role and practice good and correct judgments, on the other side, a medical translator should be aware of the importance of preserving patient privacy and take this into account when working with a translation.

6. Speaking Skills

This skill is one of the most important skills of interest to the translator, as its importance lies in its association with appearing in front of large crowds at public events such as public conferences, press conferences, and general assemblies, even if the place is quiet without noisy, the translator still needs such skills to convey his thoughts clearly. Speaking skills are described in a clear voice, choosing appropriate terms, vocabulary, and sentences

In short, everything that is done by the translator is extremely important to the success and effectiveness of the translation.

7. General Culture (Knowledge)

In order for the translator to be a professional, he must be fully aware and familiar with the cultural and civilizational differences, customs, and traditions, and this is evident in some subjects such as medical and social translation, as well as translation of law and courts, where the translator specialized in these types of translation must take the cultural dimension into consideration; likewise, the conference interpreter considers himself not only a linguist but a cultural mediator as well.

In short, the translator must bridge the gap between culture and the concepts that hinder the participants in their meetings, as interpretation has become a common and important activity, and it is now -these days- an integral part of human interaction and communication at all levels.

Types of Simultaneous Translation

Simultaneous translation is one of the most famous and accurate types of translation at the present time. It has great importance in overcoming communication obstacles between individuals of different languages. Many types of them include what constituted the presentation as a basic picture, and some focus more on the situation or the material about which the discussion is going. Following is a breakdown of this:

• Simultaneous Interpretation

In simultaneous interpretation, the process of translation into the second language (target language) takes place at the same time that the message or material is produced in the source language (the mother tongue “source language”, where the translator is isolated in a specific place, and speaks at the same time that the speaks does, therefore, he does not have the option to memorize or write what is said, as he works on translating speech piece by piece, introducing the section that he understood, then he tries to analyze and understand the next idea.

• Sequential Translation

In this case, the translator waits until the speaker completes his speech and then begins the translation. Hence, he has enough time to analyze the idea as a whole, allowing him to easily understand the meaning, but this does not mean that the translation process, in this case, is easy, as the presence of the translator next to the speaker in the same spatial space, and waiting for him until the speaker finishes his speech before starting to translate, this means that he talks to listeners face to face. Thus the translator turns into a speaker, which necessitates that he masters the aforementioned communication skills.

• Whisper Translation

It is also known as (Chuchotage), and its importance appears when simultaneous translation devices are not available, and one of the participants speaks, where the translator, in conjunction with the speaker, whispers into the ear of those in need of translation.

• Conference Translation

It gives participants in a multinational meeting the ability to communicate in an easy way, easing the language hurdle among them, and although most conferences are currently running with simultaneous translation, it is necessary that the translators be prepared to perform the sequential translation as well.

• Seminars Translation

It differs from the conferences’ translation that it takes place in small meetings; the difference between them is the size of the conference.

• Translation for a Companion

A type of interpretation that is provided especially to official employees, observers, investors, businessmen, and the like who make field visits, and this translation is characterized by automatic and diversity, as the translator sometimes finds himself in an official meeting, or perhaps on a visit to a factory, or at a party especially, the translation form used in this type most often is the sequential translation.

• Media Translation

This translation is performed at press conferences, public meetings, and interviews, as well as in films, videotapes, videoconferences, and radio and television programs.

• Phone Translation

It is also known as remote translation, and it is done via telephone communication, which is sometimes accompanied by a video as well, where the translator and the speaker are in the same place, and this translation is often used in the fields of medicine, social service, business administration, legal issues, and at the present time the telephone translation process takes place sequentially, but as communication technology develops, simultaneous translation will be most sought after.

• Community Translation

This type is also known as “cultural translation,” which means translation that enables people who do not speak the official language of a country fluently, to communicate and contact with employees of the public services sector, to facilitate access to legal, health, educational, governmental and social services. Some writers consider community translation as an umbrella that includes court translation and medical translation, while others (primarily legal translators) consider it a completely separate and stand-alone branch of translation. The form used in community translation is the simultaneous translation and not, as some claim, that sequential translation is the most appropriate.