by Interpretation is the act of explaining, reframing, or otherwise showing your own understanding of something. A person who translates one language into another is called an interpreter because they are explaining what a person is saying to someone who doesn’t understand. Interpretation requires you to first understand the piece of music, text, language, or idea, and then give your explanation of it. A computer may produce masses of data, but it will require your interpretation of the data for people to understand it.
What is Involved in Business Interpreting?
Business interpreting, just like any other type of interpreting services, is a complex task. It requires expertise and experience. It requires knowledge of the subject matter and fluency in the required languages.
Business interpreting can use simultaneous interpreting or consecutive interpreting, especially if participation is large. Whisper interpreting on the other hand is another form of interpreting service that can be used for intimate business meetings where only a few people are attending.
Business interpreting is becoming more vital because the market in increasingly globalized and the success of international meetings depends on the complete understanding among participants.
Interpreting for business is used for business meetings, sourcing overseas suppliers, staff training, HR consultations, business visits in foreign countries and international trading in new markets.
Characteristics of Business Interpreting
These are the top characteristics of business interpreting a complex and demanding task that requires fluency not only in the native languages but also in business language and terminology, awareness of cultural differences and experience, expertise and professionalism to deliver the most accurate business interpreting service the client requires.
- The interpreter simplifies communication where there are international participants, despite the different languages spoken by the delegates. Professional business interpreters see to it that the word choices, the nuances of the languages and the terminology are fully delivered.
- Business interpreters ensure that participants are able to express themselves in their own language and understand the discussion or presentation in their native languages.
- Interpreters ensure that everything involving translation of the discourse, presentation, speech or conversation is properly handled so that the participants can focus on the meeting that is taking place.
- The business interpreter works in various contexts. They may handle business negotiations, training sessions or study visits.
- In large meetings and conferences, the most straightforward and effective interpreting solution is simultaneous interpreting. This is the most complex but flexible type of interpreting. Simultaneous interpreters are very fluent in the original and target languages. They should be subject matter experts since they have to draw on their knowledge and expertise about the specific business sector, with a deep understanding of the particular business/industry terminology. They do not have the luxury of looking at dictionaries or other references while interpreting. Their delivery of the translation of what has been said involves a very short gap from the time of the delivery and the translation. They interpret from a soundproof booth, using a headset to listen to the speaker and simultaneously translate as the speaker talks. Speakers of the particular language listen to the translation through their own headphones in real time.
- A business interpreter has the ability to improve business negotiations. But as a communication facilitator, the interpreter also carries a huge amount of responsibility. It is not only about their language fluency. A business interpreter must also be aware of the cultural nuances, as well as the subtleties of the language. These two factors are critical to business negotiations and communication among meeting participants.
- The interpreter must be a very good listener and speaker. The work is very demanding. They should be incredibly focused in order to convey what is being said by the speaker accurately. They also require business language fluency aside from being fluent in the language they are translating into, as they have to precisely and quickly translate the message into another language.
- The business interpreter should also understand cultural sensitivities. This involves not only the language. The interpreter should be able to interpret nonverbal cues, subtle body language and other verbal cues from the speaker, to ensure the accuracy of the interpretation. Understanding cultural differences is important in order to convey the intentions and message of the speaker accurately. For example, a Japanese businessman avoids expressing direct negatives, so during negotiations, he may say tabun, which means This is an indication that he is not willing to consider the proposal. An English-speaking businessman would think that there is still a chance since it’s a maybe instead of a direct no.
