Information-computer technology in simultaneous interpretation

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Faculty of Philology and Interpretation

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Project work

Title: Information-computer technology in simultaneous interpretation

 

 

 

 

 

Done by: _________________________________________________

Checked by: _______________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan:

1. Brief introduction of simultaneous interpreters’ equipment

 

2. Code for the use of new technologies in conference interpretation

 

2.1 International standards for equipment of simultaneous interpreters – ISO Standard 2603:1998

 

3. Interpretation at videoconferences – what’s the big deal?

3.1 Interesting Facts

3.2 Equipment suppliers and technicians talk to interpreters

 

 

General overview

 

First of all, let’s remember the exact notion about ‘simultaneous interpretation’. So, Simultaneous   interpretation is the ability to listen to a message delivered in a language while interpreting those words into another language, all in real time. This demanding, highly-skilled craft is used for industry conferences, sales meetings, international seminars and training seminars, governmental meetings, legal settings and trade shows, among many other instances.

 

 

In every case, the use of simultaneous interpreters is pivotal to the success of the event, since among all the specific goals on the agenda, one of the prime objectives is to achieve an effective and accurate communication.

 

This modality of interpretation generally requires the use of equipment, thus enabling transmission to audiences, large or small. For the most part, skilled simultaneous interpreters work in pairs, in order to be able to maintain the concentration required to perform the task at hand.

 

In   simultaneous   interpretation, the interpreter wears a headset through which he or she hears the speaker through a central PA system. While the interpreter listens to the speaker, he or she speaks into a microphone connected to a transceiver and relays the interpreted information to the listeners who hear the interpreted message simultaneously through headsets.  Simultaneous interpreters must be very highly skilled and trained and they must be perfectly bilingual and able to interpret simultaneously and on-the-fly.

 

All abovementioned definitely means that interpreters are really depended to the technical equipment, what is considered to be information-computer technology during the performing of interpretation itself.

There are few photos of equipments, namely information technology:

A receiver, booth, headset, headphones, remote control, projector, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Code for the use of new technologies in conference interpretation

Interpreters must be involved from the start in the detailed planning of any meeting where new technologies are to be used.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

To be a true vehicle of multilingual communication, a conference interpreter has to carry out several complex tasks simultaneously.

 

He has to:

• listen to the speaker and observe the non-verbal signals of his message, as well as the reactions he arouses among and between the recipients of that message;
• analyse a live and ephemeral message comprehensively, i.e. both the explicit and implicit message;
• interpret the message in another language, taking due account of the formal and substantive characteristics of a different culture;
• establish eye-contact with his audience, using gestures where appropriate, to make sure that the message has been received.

 

It is therefore essential to have a direct view of the overall proceedings, of which the message to be interpreted forms a part.

 

New technologies open up horizons which conference interpreters generally welcome. The information society, for instance, broadens the choice of sources which interpreters can consult so as better to prepare their meetings. Technical or ergonomic improvements in interpreter's consoles or booths also constitute considerable progress.

 

Other recent developments, however, in particular in teleconferencing, give rise to mixed feelings. Cost-effectiveness and value added or subtracted, in terms of the quality of multilingual communication, have to be evaluated correctly, taking due account of the disadvantages (i.e. the combined effect of several phenomena: the message is stripped of its non-verbal content; the other participants' verbal and non-verbal reactions to the speaker and among themselves are not perceived; the screens glitter; there is no way of assessing how the interpreted message has been received; there is a sense of alienation; and there is no daylight).

 

As instruments of multilingual communication, new technologies should not lead to a reduction in the quality of interpreting or a worsening of interpreters' working conditions.

 

For all these reasons, the conference interpreters of:

• AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters),
• the BDÜ (Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer),
• the European Court of Justice,
• the WCO (World Customs Organization),
• the European Parliament,
• the JICS (Joint Interpreting and Conference Service), covering the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European Investment Bank and the specialized agencies of the European Union),
• have adopted the following C O D E

 

1. At any multilingual conference at which new technologies are part of a video/tele-conference using cabled or non-cabled networks, the Internet etc., interpreters must be consulted in advance about the feasibility of the project. They must also be involved from the start in the detailed planning of the meeting. In any event, and at the very least, the working conditions must comply with standards ISO 2603, ISO4043 and CEI 60914.

 

2. For interpreters, one of the fundamental rules in standard ISO 2603 is a direct view of the room. If they follow a debate on a screen, however good the picture and sound, they are deprived of the general non-verbal context which enables them to carry out their task. This is what justifies their critical attitude towards video-conferencing; there are also arguments relating to health and quality. For an exception to be made, the following conditions need to be fulfilled:

All the other principles of the aforementioned standards must be strictly observed, in particular as regards the quality of the sound (faithful transmission of the 125 - 12500 Hz waveband), which would rule out any video-conferencing based on the H320 standards which restrict the frequency to 7500Hz, whether by ISDN, LAN, the Internet, etc.

Except in cases where the equipment guarantees at least the full frequency range of 125 Hz to 12'500 Hz.

The interpreters must have high-definition picture, synchronized with the sound, of a quality which makes it possible to distinguish clearly the facial expressions and gestures of the speakers and participants.

In view of the specific constraints of video-conferencing (the loss of non-verbal information, eye fatigue caused by the screens, the absence of daylight, the extra concentration and stress, etc.), the interpreters should not have to work more than two hours a day.

 

Moreover, the temptation to divert certain technologies from their primary purpose e.g. by putting interpreters in front of monitors or screens to interpret at a distance a meeting attended by participants assembled in one place (i.e. tele-interpreting), is unacceptable.

 

3. In any version of a multimedia meeting, interpreters must have access to the same information as the delegates, which implies that when new conference rooms are built or modernized, interpreters' booths need to be properly connected..

 

Technical annex: applicable definitions and standards (references and brief description)

Technical annex

 

DEFINITIONS

Tele-conference: any form of communication between two or several participants in two or several different places and relying on the transmission of one or several audio signals between those places.

Video-conference: a tele-conference comprising one or several video signals which convey the images of some or all the participants.

Multilingual video-conference: a video-conference in two or several languages with interpretation (consecutive or simultaneous).

Tele-interpreting: interpretation of a multilingual video-conference by interpreters who have a direct view of neither the speaker nor their audience.

 

APPLICABLE STANDARDS:

References and brief description

 

1. ISO standards as regards simultaneous interpreting equipment

 

ISO / DIS 2603 (revision of standard ISO 2603) for permanent simultaneous interpretation booths and standard ISO / DIS 4043 (revision of ISO 4043) for mobile booths.

 

These standards describe all the practical conditions with which conference rooms (interpreting booths and equipment) have to comply. They stipulate in particular that the interpreter has to have a direct view of the room as well as of any screen used for projections. As regards the quality of the sound in the interpreters' headsets, it is explicitly stated that the waveband between 125 and 12500 Hz has to be accurately reproduced.

 

2. Standards aplicable to digitalization and compression of audio and video signals

 

Digitalisation is carried out by sampling an (analogue) audio or video signal. For a telephone conversation to be digitised, for instance, the audio signal is sampled 8000 times a second and each sample is encoded on 8 bits, which gives a rate of 64000 bits a second or 64 Kbps. The frequency is however limited to 3-4 Khz. By way of comparison, the audio signal from a CD player is usually is sampled 44100 times a second, equivalent to a frequency of 0 -20 Khz,; it is encoded on 16 bits, thus generating a bit rate of approximately 711 Kbps before compression.

 

Standard ITU-R 601 ("Studio-Quality TV") applies to digital transmission of TV pictures. The three components of the video signal: R (red), B (blue) and G (green) are first converted into a luminance signal Y = R + B +G and two signals for colour difference R-Y and B-Y. For each image or frame comprising 486 lines in the NTSC system and 576 in PAL / SECAM, 720 samples are taken for luminance, but only half that number (360) for colour differences, each sample being encoded on 8 bits. The resulting bit rate is approximately 165 Mbps (1 Mbp = 1000 Kbps) before compression.

 

Before being transmitted by digital connections, the audio and video signals have to be digitised and then compressed so as to reduce the high rate of data to be carried. This compression is achieved by means of a CODEC (encoder - decoder).

 

Digital systems are characterised by a difference in transmission time (including the time needed for encoding/decoding) depending on whether the signal is audio or video. The result is a fluctuating time-lag between the sound and picture, which has effects on the synchronisation.

 

3. ISO-MPEG standards

 

MPEG (Moving Picture Experts' Group) is the name given to a family of international standards used to codify audio-visual data in a compressed digitised format. The MPEG family is made up of standards MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, identified respectively as ISO / IEC-11172, ISO / IEC-13818 and ISO / IEC-14496.

 

Standard MPEG-2 (IS0-13818) is what is generally used for digital transmission of TV pictures. Transmission of such pictures according to standard ITU-R 601 would require 4 or even 25 to 34 Mbps for HDTV pictures (1920x1080 pixels and 60 frames / second).

 

Standards MPEG-Audio Layer 1, 2 or 3, in order of increasing complexity and performance, apply to the audio part.

 

4. Standards 320x of the International Telecommunications Union

 

A family of standards applicable to the video-conferences, as regards audio and video transmission by ordinary telephone line (H324), ISDN / ATM (H320-H321-H310) or local networks (H322).

 

H.320 is based on a video compression algorithm, H.261, with two types of resolution:

 

CIF (Common Interchange Format):

luminance: 352 samples per line, 288 lines per frame

colours: 176 samples per line, 144 lines per frame

 

QCIF (Quarter Common Interchange Format)

luminance: 176 samples per line, 144 lines per frame

colours: 88 samples per line, 72 lines per frame

 

Standards H.320 make it possible to obtain a maximum bit rate of 30 frames a second.

 

The H.320 family covers three audio standards applicable to codecs:

G.711, with a bit rate of 64 Kbps, offers an audio quality of 3-Khz, telephone level;

G.722, with a higher quality algorithm, reaches 7.5-kHz at a bit rate of 64 Kbps;

G.728 provides an audio quality, not far from telephone level (3.4 Khz), at only 16 Kbps.

 

H.310 and H.321 adapt the H.320 family to new transport protocols such as ATM and ISDN broadband. H.310, for example, uses the video compression algorithm ISO MPEG-2, which would provide a high definition picture.

 

ITU has drawn up the T.120 series of recommendations, defining the standards applying to H.32x video-conferences as regards document exchanges.

 

ISO Standard 2603:1998.

 

This is a reminder of the main points, plus a few tips drawn from interpreters' experience. References to relevant paragraphs in the standard are shown in parentheses after the item, and more details are available in our special section for planners, designers and builders of conference facilities

 

The important points:

 

- dimensions

 

- good visibility and full view of conference room, slides, rostrum, etc.

 

- ventilation/air conditioning/heating

 

- insulation/soundproofing

 

- lighting

 

- adequate work area

 

- location of booths

 

- communication with technicians and conference room

 

· Dimensions of SI booths (4.5)

 

The main factor governing booth size is air turnover; i.e., ensuring enough fresh air without draughts to keep the interpreters mentally alert and avoid drowsiness. This is more important than most people think.

 

· Visibility (4.6)

 

There should be large windows in front and on the sides for visibility into the other booths.

 

- No vertical support in the center of the front window.

 

- Windows should be made of non-reflecting glass, so the interpreters can see into the conference room, not their own faces.

 

· Ventilation/air-conditioning/heating (4.9)

 

- Each booth should have an individual unit or individual thermostat controls

 

- The fan should run silently.

 

- The interior of the booth should kept at a comfortable temperature--without creating draughts or hurricanes!

 

· Insulation/soundproofing (4.8)

 

There should be no interference from other booths or from the conference room.

 

· Lighting (5.2)

 

- Table lamps are essential so that interpreters can read texts or take notes when the room lights are off.

 

- Overhead lighting in the booth should not cast shadows. It should not be behind the interpreters and should be placed in the ceiling in such a way that it does not shine in their eyes.

 

· Adequate work area (5.4)

 

- A table that is too large can be as inconvenient as one that is too small.

 

· Location (4, 6)

 

- Booths should be located at the back of the conference room at a comfortable distance for interpreters to read slide projections and other visual aids.

 

- All booths should be placed in a separate area so that they do not open directly onto a public area. This will keep unwanted outside noise from going through the interpreters' microphones and into the listeners' headsets.

 

- Access to the booth area should not be through the conference room.

 

- An interpreters' room and toilets should be located nearby.

 

- There should be daylight in the booths, not just artificial lighting.

 

· Communication with technicians and conference room (4.2.2)

 

- There should be an efficient communication system between individual booths and the conference room, preferably directly to the rostrum.

 

- There should be direct communication from individual booths to the technicians' booth to facilitate dealing with problems as quickly as possible.

 

New technologies

To be a true vehicle of multilingual communication, a conference interpreter has to carry out several complex tasks simultaneously.

To be a true vehicle of multilingual communication, a conference interpreter has to carry out several complex tasks simultaneously.

S/he has to:

• listen to the speaker and observe the non-verbal signals of his message, as well as the reactions he arouses among and between the recipients of that message;
• analyse a live and ephemeral message comprehensively, i.e. both the explicit and implicit message;
• interpret the message in another language, taking due account of the formal and substantive characteristics of a different culture;
• establish eye-contact with his audience, using gestures where appropriate, to make sure that the message has been received.

 

It is therefore essential to have a direct view of the overall proceedings, of which the message to be interpreted forms a part.

 

New technologies open up horizons which conference interpreters generally welcome. The information society, for instance, broadens the choice of sources which interpreters can consult so as better to prepare their meetings. Technical or ergonomic improvements in interpreter's consoles or booths also constitute considerable progress.

 

Other recent developments, however, in particular in teleconferencing, give rise to mixed feelings. Cost-effectiveness and value added or subtracted, in terms of the quality of multilingual communication, have to be evaluated correctly, taking due account of the disadvantages (i.e. the combined effect of several phenomena: the message is stripped of its non-verbal content; the other participant's verbal and non-verbal reactions to the speaker and among themselves are not perceived; the screens glitter; there is no way of assessing how the interpreted message has been received; there is a sense of alienation; and there is no daylight).

As instruments of multilingual communication, new technologies should not lead to a reduction in the quality of interpreting or a worsening of interpreters' working conditions.

For all these reasons, the conference interpreters of: AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters), the BDÜ (Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer), the European Court of Justice, the WCO (World Customs Organisation), the European Parliament, the JICS (Joint Interpreting and Conference Service) covering the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European Investment Bank and the specialised agencies of the European Union), have adopted the following Code for the use of new technologies in conference interpretation.

Interpretation at videoconferences – what’s the big deal?

It is said that interpreters do not like to interpret videoconferences, and you may wonder why. Well, the main reason is, or was, that the sound and images transmitted through a videolink into the conference room were often poor and faulty, e.g. the sound fades or drops away completely for a few seconds, or the image is not synchronised with the sound. All this makes it even harder for interpreters to do an already difficult job.

Interpretation means transposing a speaker's message from one language into an equivalent message in another language, simultaneously. To do this difficult task, interpreters need to:

• hear the speakers and observe all non-verbal signs that are part of communication (speaker's gestures, facial expressions, reactions of listeners, signs from the chairperson, etc.)
• analyse the explicit and implicit contents of the message to be interpreted
• transpose the message into another language while fully respecting its formal and cultural criteria
• make sure, by direct observation of the meeting room, that the message has been received

 

Interpreters usually work in built-in or mobile booths placed in the room where the conference is held. They can thus not only hear the speaker's message clearly but also observe all the non-verbal signs that are part of the message. In a videoconference some of this is lost.

However, information and sound-image transmission technologies are evolving and improving constantly, leading to more frequent use of interpretation at multilingual videoconferences. The quality nowadays is good enough, in most cases, to make simultaneous interpretation feasible.

Terminology

There is often confusion regarding the terminology used when talking about videoconferences. In addition, as technologies evolve, manufacturers and suppliers bring out new equipment with new names and, on top of that, users sometimes have their own names for types of conferences or equipment they use. A few definitions are therefore useful:

‘Teleconferencing' or ‘remote interpreting' nowadays refers to meetings with interpretation at which interpreters are located in a place other than the meeting room. This means they do not have a direct view of the speakers, the rostrum or of what's going on in the room.

‘Videoconference' with interpretation is one specific kind of "remote interpreting". The term is most widely used for events (e.g. business meetings, associations' meetings, press conferences and product launches) at which one or more speakers (usually VIPs unable to come) address a meeting at which the interpreters are all in the same room as participants . The off-site speakers are projected on a screen in the meeting room (and sometimes also on monitors in or in front of the interpreters' booths) and their speech is transmitted directly to the headsets of participants and interpreters. The quality of sound and image is now so much improved that interpreters can do as good a job as if the speakers were in the room. But the technical setup needs to be such that there are no problems of sound-image synchronisation.

Image requirements

Interpreters must be able to see the same images as the other participants. Additional dedicated images of the off-site speaker made available to the interpreters on monitors in or in front of their booths facilitate their task.

Interpreters need to see a close-up of speakers.  Audience panning and shots of intervening participants are always necessary.  In general, interpreters must be able to clearly see:

• the speaker
• the chairperson and others at the rostrum
• the panel participants, if it is a roundtable debate
• the listeners and, particularly, any possible movement of people in the room
• anything that is projected on a screen for the audience

Screen location

In addition to the screen in the meeting room, it is helpful for interpreters to have clear-resolution colour monitors placed outside and in front of the booths, unless the latter are large enough to accommodate one or two screens on the interpreters' desk at a comfortable distance from the interpreters. Monitors should not obstruct the interpreter's view of the conference room. They are not a replacement of the direct view of speakers and the room that interpreters need. They can only be considered as aids to provide a better view.

Audio requirements

The ISO 2603 standard prescribes a clear reproduction of sound frequencies between 125 Hz and 12,500 Hz over the whole speaker-interpreter-listeners circuit, in order to ensure adequate hearing without loss of message. The synchronisation of sound and image is especially important with satellite links.

Technicians

All the technicians working for the meeting or event (sound engineers, cameramen, SI technicians, satellite link-up technicians) should be aware of the planned programme and the running of the conference; they should know what is expected of them to accommodate simultaneous interpretation.

There should be at least one technician whose only task is to control interpretation parameters, both at the transmission point and the receiving point (the meeting room where interpreters are working), to ensure that microphones are correctly used by speakers and the sound quality at the time of transmission is the best possible.

Cameramen must be made aware of the needs of interpreters, e.g. a good-looking angle on a speaker may not necessarily show the interpreters all his facial expressions. Focussing on a backdrop or a banner outside a building while the speaker is being interpreted is of no help to the interpreters.

Documents

When off-site speakers who are connected by a video-link to the conference room read out a text (as often is the case), it is extremely important to ensure that the interpreters have received the text in advance.

Headsets

In a videoconference with interpretation, it is important to remember that off-site speakers should also have headsets, so that they can listen to questions or comments from the floor that are made in a language which they do not speak and which is being provided by the interpreters. A seemingly cheaper alternative - wiring up the off-site room PA system to receive all input in the speakers' own language, whether from the floor or via the interpreters - is liable to cause feedback and even preclude simultaneous interpretation.

Workload

If interpretation of off-site interventions, including questions and answers, during a conference at which video transmissions are being interpreted, exceeds two hours per day, it is recommended that two separate teams of interpreters be hired to cover a day's work. The two teams will relay each other at intervals of 1.5 to 2 hours. This compensates for the extra stress and fatigue induced by interpretation of video transmissions.

Some interesting moments about SI

Equipment suppliers and technicians talk to interpreters

If interpreters often feel overlooked, how must our neighbors behind the sound desk feel? I’ve always wondered how these people who keep everything running see their work, so I started asking. At the top of their wish list: lighter booths and easy room access. Along the way I noticed they also appreciate considerate interpreters.

My original focus was on the gripes, faves and raves of expert floor technicians. Their voice is important and will be heard, but the AV companies that provide simultaneous interpreting (SI) equipment and hire them play a central role in the process. As I looked for technicians to talk to, I kept running into managers, who like to tell the world: “Think of us when negotiating a contract.”

 

Audiovisual (and not just SI) Companies

Cross-selling is high on the AV company wish list. As they see it, consultant interpreters could help them secure the whole AV contract instead of “just”  the interpreting: it helps ensure quality because all the equipment is compatible and the team better coordinated, it makes sense logistically, and of course it's better business.

Gerhard Koudelka of the Congress Rental Network[1] also points out that referrals work both ways. For instance, even if the AV company is the main contractor, documents and background information are best handled by the consultant interpreter directly. “It's much easier that way. If you feel there is a danger of being bypassed, then there's something wrong. It's a matter of trust.”

Moreover managers like consistency and think interpreters should always insist on the ISO standards they have fought so hard to define. “A team of SCIC interpreters once refused to work in some tiny booths stuck in a corner with no view of the room,” recalls Ms. Braccini. “We had to be called in at the last minute, with everybody waiting while the other company dismantled their installation and we put ours up. This shows that interpreters have the power, but they don't always use it.”

Staffing Concerns

Finding the right people to work the booths is an important part of the large AV company's job. Dwight Moe, also of Congress Rental Network, looks for “a sweet personality”. Technicians might be hefting and setting up equipment in the snow or rain (or the scorching Mediterranean sun), but they still must look and act presentable around organisers, participants and interpreters. These are rare birds indeed – those with the best people skills are often reluctant to do the heavy lifting, and some of those willing to do the manual work may not represent the company in the best light.

Ms. Braccini describes a three-tier system fully deployed for larger events – senior technicians in jacket and tie who speak English well, floor technicians in nice shirts who know how to act during the meeting, and runners in a company uniform.

Mr. Koudelka points out that SI technicians often lack career-track opportunities, and end up looking for them elsewhere.

Understanding Interpreters

The people I interviewed all demonstrated excellent awareness of our need for good sound, but one stood out. At a Future Events Experience presentation at the EIBTM trade fair last December, as a member of the audience I asked whether anyone had seen interpreting used in multiple-feed, online-cum-live events. (The answer: No.) Later I was approached by a gentleman who turned out to be Mr. Dwight Moe, who informed me that if I ever planned to use interpreters for an online event I should make sure I stated this clearly in the contract because they have intellectual property rights that have to be respected “especially if they are members of AIIC”. Kudos to Mr. Moe for raising the issue. This is how I met him and his partners at Congress Rental Network. In our interview he advised interpreters to apply a reasonable surcharge for recording and broadcasting rights.

Comic Interlude

Did you hear the one about the client who booked booths and sound equipment, but not interpreters? Guess what – it wasn't just once. “Clients often ask for 'translation machines' and assume it all comes in a package.”

On one occasion, a client who had neglected to book interpreters begged the floor technician to interpret the opening ceremony while he hunted for some. The technician “went into the booth and repeated the same kind of speech he had heard a thousand times” (along the lines of “thank you for coming, this is a great place, we're a wonderful organisation and this will be a great conference”) – nobody complained! (But the organiser was chastened.)

 

Michael Huss of Brähler shares a tale of shadowing – not some suspenseful John Le Carré scene, but the English booth turning a Japanese speaker's English rendition into something the other booths could use. He also points out that years ago, when he experienced this, not all equipment makes could readily provide for relay interpretation, so his equipment helped save the day.

Mr. Koudelka once happened to attend an event for which he had bid and lost. The languages were Arabic, Russian and Chinese. He saw a single booth in the beautifully done-up conference hall; two interpreters sat inside. Tuning in, he was stunned to hear both of them working at the same time from Arabic into Russian and Chinese. “Of course there was cross-talk, but nobody complained at the end of the day, because they had big fireworks and lots of big talk and fancy stuff, and some music and dancers.”

Detective Work

Ever had gremlins in the room? Mr. Albert Rivas, a freelance senior floor technician, wonders why things can suddenly go wrong after comprehensive testing showed everything was fine. It’s always a mystery and fortunately Mr. Rivas is a good detective – I’ve seen him at work.

Booth Manners From the Tech's Perspective

What are interpreters' worst habits? Surprisingly few technicians had anything to say about how we handle their precious equipment – just a shudder at the frequent proximity of water to electronics and a warning to make sure we don't inadvertently switch off the built-in mic when we plug our own headphones into the newer Bosch equipment. But work-proud Ms. Braccini wails, “Please, please don't play with your pens anywhere near the mic!” The sound company may get unfairly blamed for the noise – it's irksome when they're doing excellent work!

Speaking of blame, it's just not fair or appropriate to blame the technicians when we've missed a beat. Mr. Koudelka feels this is mostly a thing of the past. He attributes a greater sense of teamwork these days to stiffer competition in the interpreting market. “The interpreters who helped me start my business – I started out in 1992 – were used to people calling them and asking if they could take on a job. They were shocked when things changed, and I had to explain how I did my marketing. Now they've lost that old attitude and they see themselves as part of the team.”

Leaving our mess behind is very inconsiderate – papers, tissue, candy wrappers, tangerine peels and the like mean extra work for the floor technician who has spent all day monitoring our input and output, and then must dismantle everything before he can go home.

Impatience while technicians reset the system can make things worse. Manuel Vargas of Audivarg 21 remarks that if interpreters fiddle with the latest Bosch consoles while any of them are being programmed or reprogrammed, the whole process will have to be reinitiated. This happened to him once in a 9-booth meeting: one interpreter changed a channel and eighteen consoles had to be reprogrammed!

 

Some floor technicians are annoyed that we seem to assume they know everything about the venue, from the location of the toilets to where to get water. “Sometimes we've been on the site about as long as the interpreters!”  Others seem proud and happy to point interpreters in the right direction if asked nicely and at the right time.

Working at close quarters means that senses other than sight and hearing come into play. Cigarette smoke and gallons of Chanel No. 5 frequently permeated booths years ago, but Mr. Koudelka says this is no longer a problem.

Heavy Booths

What would you have guessed was the top grievance about SI equipment? Floor technicians and company managers all agree – ISO booths are too heavy! This means more staff, more time and more expense, especially when some venues have very small elevators or none at all!

Most managers, however, agree that ISO-standard booths are necessary for good soundproofing. Ms. Braccini says her company once went to the trouble of designing and manufacturing lighter booths and having them ISO-certified, but in the end they went back to the same vendor as everyone else – Audipack. ISO certification is always specified in her company's bids. Anyone aiming to design a new portable booth has to at least equal Audipack for sturdiness and appearance, but half the weight would be a killer. Unfortunately, the laws of physics make this very difficult.

Test Early

Testing is something all these technicians take seriously. For events important enough to require installation two or more days before the opening, the interpreters in charge should plan to inspect the facilities at least the day before to assure enough time for any necessary changes. Mr. Moe emphatically adds “It's in their own interest to do it even if it means arriving a day early at no extra pay.”

Mr. Vargas shares this view and reminds us that equipment testing should be over by the time participants are allowed into the room. Output testing should be done for every interpreter console, and the feed from each microphone should be tested – separately – from the booths.

Feedback Needn’t Be High-pitched

Sound problems occur and interpreters sometimes need to point it out, but technicians prefer feedback to be given in straightforward manner. Please don’t make a big fuss or complain behind their backs. Rapping on the booth window at a technician already intent on fixing the problem is annoying, so please look before you leap.

They do appreciate a word of thanks when everything has gone without a hitch, as is usually the case with excellent professionals using good equipment, or when they’ve adroitly salvaged a nightmarish situation.

Hotels and Venue Managers – Please Be Flexible

I wondered what technicians might need from venues in case consultant interpreters (or clients) could bear such requests in mind. Flexible access to rooms (and lifts!) was the unanimous answer – it would make life easier for both AV companies and technicians. It's understandable for the hotel to keep its options open, but the cost and complexity of installing the equipment rises when setup cannot begin before 8 in a room that's been free since 2 – fast set-up requires more people. Also it grates to know that there's a lift when you've been forced to carry a lot of heavy equipment up and down staircases and through endless hallways. Consultant interpreters do well to consider setup time when they're booking the SI equipment themselves.

 

Sources:

http://www.soget.com/en/translation/118/Interpreting

<http://aiic.net/page/3852/equipment-suppliers-and-technicians-talk-to-interpreters/lang/1>

http://www.intransol.com/interpreters.html