Newsletter
Newsletter December 2020
Unfortunately for us too: Corona was the topic of the year...
Interpreting is used at international events, which have almost always been held as face-to-face events. Like many other areas, the Interpreting division was therefore severely affected by the pandemic. However, there are now professional solutions for organising virtual and hybrid events safely even in times of coronavirus (e.g. remote interpreting).
Even during the first lockdown, there were events that had to be held (e.g. supervisory board meetings, annual general meetings or important business meetings). In the first few weeks, improvised solutions were occasionally used. The organisers and participants were understandably in great need of advice. However, there are now sophisticated technical solutions (e.g. hubs) and we have all learnt how to use video conferencing tools.
Remote interpreting, video interpreting or remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI)
The term distance interpreting is used to describe all types of interpreting in which one or more participants are not in the same room as the other participants. Remote interpreting is often used in video or telephone conferences, webinars or other forms of virtual or hybrid events.
A subtype of remote interpreting is remote interpreting, in which the interpreters are remote. In this case, the remote interpreter(s) are usually connected from a hub (see below) or, for shorter assignments (up to approx. 90 minutes), from home.
The type of remote interpreting most frequently requested by Simconsult is Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI), sometimes also referred to as video interpreting. Interpreting takes place simultaneously, i.e. parallel to the spoken word in real time, just like in a face-to-face event.
Consecutive interpreting is of course also technically possible. In consecutive interpreting, the interpreter always translates what has been said after the speaker has finished speaking. Consecutive interpreting is possible with one audio channel, while simultaneous interpreting requires at least two audio channels.
Interpreter- Hub
A hub is a permanent or temporary room with several interpreting booths. In these interpreting booths, the interpreters have the same working conditions as at a conference in a stationary booth or a mobile booth set up just for the event. This means that teamwork, which is particularly important for longer events, can be organised smoothly. The interpreters can take turns, communicate using hand signals and also exchange information between the language teams.
A hub usually has a particularly stable internet connection. The audio and video signals can be routed via public cloud servers. For reasons of confidentiality and security, some hubs have their own server infrastructure. Access for participants can be password-protected and the transmission encrypted.
Up and down
After a good start to the year, a wave of cancellations swept through our industry in March due to the coronavirus. In March, April and May, only events that absolutely had to be held (e.g. committee meetings, annual general meetings) or simply had to be converted to a virtual format (e.g. meetings) were interpreted. With the decline in new infections and the subsequent reopening, the interpreting business also recovered over the summer, albeit not at the same level as in previous years.
Unfortunately, this positive trend was interrupted by the so-called "second wave". We hope that there will be a renewed upturn in spring 2021, not least due to the start of vaccinations.
Even an anno horribilis like 2020 has positive aspects: We have learnt a lot this year in terms of new conference and interpretation technologies (video conferencing tools, hubs) and event formats. Hybrid or virtual events have their own characteristics. For example, a higher level of participant discipline is required and the programme is often more tightly packed than at face-to-face events. Learning new things and experiencing new forms of events is one of the positive aspects of the year. It was also particularly pleasing to experience the openness and willingness of all those involved (customers, interpreters and technicians) to try out new things and make successful events possible under difficult conditions.
AMPO International e.V.
In this economically challenging year, SIMCONSULT is once again donating to AMPO International e.V. (formerly Sahel e.V.) (instead of Christmas presents for customers), as in previous years. AMPO International e.V. is a recognised charitable organisation that has set itself the task of giving young people, children and adolescents in need in the West African state of Burkina Faso a perspective on life. Further information and the possibility to donate online can be found at www.ampo-intl.org.
We would like to thank you for your interesting enquiries and orders this year and wish you and your families a happy festive season and a peaceful, healthy and successful 2021.
Best regards from your SIMCONSULT team