Common settings for consecutive interpreting

Article

Interpreting is a profession which requires the interpreter to possess important skills, as they must understand and internalise a message before reproducing it with the highest level of precision. At BBLTranslation, we provide interpreting services in all different forms, such as simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting, liaison interpreting and sign-language interpreting.
Today, we are focusing our attention on what is probably the most demanding form of interpreting for the interpreter: consecutive interpreting. We are referring to the process whereby the speaker begins by presenting the original message for around five to ten minutes. During this time, the interpreter must take notes about all the details of the message and at the same time commit to memory some of the concepts or issues relating to the content, whilst also taking into account the tone and intonation of each phrase.

After this, the interpreter reproduces the message in another language, with the ability to maintain a level of accuracy of 90% or more, given that this is a long speech.

Where is consecutive interpreting used?

When considering the different settings where this type of interpreting could take place, we can find various possibilities:

  • Conferences: this is one of the most common settings for consecutive interpreting. In this instance, the speaker gives a long speech, normally covering a topic in-depth, and which often contains technical terms or specific language depending on the subject matter. On these occasions, we need to bear in mind the subject of the conference to determine which professional could best carry out the consecutive interpretation. Without a doubt, an interpreter with greater knowledge of the conference topic will find it easier to internalise the message before later reproducing it.
  • Press conferences: another typical setting for consecutive interpreting is press conferences that take place in front of the media. In these cases, each part of the message to be interpreted is not usually as long as those in conferences, although this will all depend on the type of press conference. In general terms, the first speaker will present a press release that the interpreter will then deliver in another language either as a whole or in parts if the speaker has paused to allow for interpretation. Afterwards, it is usually time for questions from the media, and the interpreter must interpret both the questions and the responses, using briefer communications here than in a conference.
  • Seminars: in a very similar format to conferences, seminars are often equipped with a consecutive interpreting service for other languages. Seminars often have a more theoretical component that is similar to conferences, but also a practical component with more participation from the attendees. In this case, the consecutive interpreting job sometimes combines the most complex aspect of conferences, with long messages to reproduce, with the aspect of press conferences which relates to interpreting questions and interactions between the person delivering the seminar and the participants.

While these are the most common settings for consecutive interpreting services, there are also many other events which could demand this type of interpreter. At BBLTranslation, we take each specific request and client into account when choosing a professional that would suit their needs, also bearing in mind the subject matter and the audience. This is the only way to ensure that the original message is delivered with the highest level of precision that is always required by the client.

In order to provide this service, we have consecutive interpreting expertise in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities across Spain where clients require this type of service. In addition, we have a team of professionals who carry out consecutive interpreting in Milan and London, two large European cities which year after year host a huge number of international events.

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Important warning: we recommend that you carefully read the contents of this legal text prior to providing any personal data through the website of Bibielle Global Translations, SL, owner of and responsible for the correct application of the Privacy Policy.
In accordance with the regulations applicable to the protection of personal data, and the new provisions contained in the General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter GDPR), directly applicable from 25 May 2018, Bibielle Global Translations, SL informs you of the following:
i. Contact details of the Data Controller: Bibielle Global Translations, SL (hereinafter BBL), with Tax Identification No. B65336885, registered office at Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain, and contact e-mail legal@bbltranslation.eu.

ii. Purposes: Data collected through the contact e-mail address, or service quotation request form, will be incorporated into files owned by BBL with the purpose of handling, managing and responding to your request or contact. The data provided will not be used for purposes other than those for which it was collected.

iii. In addition, and on a voluntary basis, you may provide your consent (by ticking the corresponding box or registration) to us sending commercial communications, by any route and/or electronic means, and keeping you informed about the services which, being similar to the current ones, may interest you, and which BBL offers to its Clients and users under more advantageous conditions, and to carry out market or customer satisfaction surveys.

iv. Retention: The data will be retained for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was collected, in order to respond to the subject of your request or contact, and while there continues to be a mutual interest. It will be deleted when it is no longer necessary for such purposes, the commercial or contractual relationship ends, unless its retention is required by law.

If you provide your consent to the sending of commercial communications, personal data will be processed actively while you have the status of User, or until you withdraw your consent.

v. Data communication: In no event will your data be transferred or communicated to a third party, unless required by law; nor will it be transferred internationally, except with the unequivocal consent of the data subject, and prior information about the possible recipients, purpose and, where appropriate, country of destination.

vi. Duty of secrecy: BBL complies strictly with the duty of secrecy and confidentiality of personal data, and for this reason has implemented technical, organisational and security measures to prevent its unauthorised alteration, loss, processing and/or access, taking account of the state of the art, the nature of the stored data and the risks to which they are exposed, all of this as established by Spanish and European legislation on the Protection of Personal Data.

vii. Rights of the data subject:

a. To exercise the rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection, limitation of treatment, data portability and not being the subject of automated individual decisions, by writing to Bibielle Global Translations, SL, Calle Cartagena 241, Barcelona, 08025 Spain or at legal@bbltranslation.eu indicating the subject of your request, and attaching a [copy of your] national identity card or passport.
b. To complain to the Supervisory Authority: if a user considers that their data is not being used properly, and this matter is not addressed by BBL, they may submit a complaint to the relevant data protection authority, which in Spain is the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

viii. If you receive commercial communications by electronic means, in accordance with the Spanish Law of Information Society and Electronic Commerce Services (LSSICE), you may withdraw your consent, unsubscribe or modify your data using the same channel, through the e-mail address legal@bbltranslation.eu, which will be specified in each communication.