These terms might be new to you, but it’s important to understand the difference so you can get the most out of your meetings or conferences. While they both get to the same outcome; letting you understand what’s being said, they do so in different ways.

What’s the key difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpretation?

With consecutive interpreting, the speaker and interpreter take turns. The speaker says a few words, stops, then the interpreter gives you the translation, before the speaker starts again. And so on.

With simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter translates for you constantly while the speaker is talking, essentially translating over the top of the speaker.

It’s as simple as that. Think of it as one after the other, or both at the same time, and you’ll now recognise instances where you’ve seen both consecutive and simultaneous interpretation in action.

For example, you may have seen delegates at the United Nations listening to a speaker through an ear piece, where an interpreter is giving them a simultaneous translation in their own language. And you’ve likely also seen those set-piece meetings of two foreign leaders, sitting next to each other with an aid either side, who’ll be giving them consecutive interpretation.

Which form of interpretation is best for you?

With that all clear, you must drill down a little more on typical applications for consecutive and simultaneous interpretation before deciding which is right for you. There are three key factors to take into consideration: occasion, practicality and cost.

You might assume simultaneous interpretation is the way to go every time – it’s surely quicker and effectively real time, and will make things smoother, right? Well, that may be so in some cases, but consider this:

Equipment.
How will you cope with two people speaking at the same time in the same room? Does the interpreter whisper in your ear? This is fine if you’re the only person needing to hear the translation. But if there’s a group of you, this wouldn’t work. Instead, your interpreter would need to be in a sound-proof booth where he can hear the foreign speaker, who’d need to speak into a radio microphone, and then translate for you and colleagues wirelessly through to your headphones or ear pieces.

Cost.
All that equipment is expensive, but there’s also the higher interpretation costs. Because simultaneous interpreting takes so much concentration, the translator should only do it for 20 or 30 minutes at a time before having to take a break. So, you’d need to hire two people because they’d need to rotate.

Practicality.
If you’ve got the money and the equipment to have simultaneous interpretation for you and your colleagues, then great. But it’s rarely practical. It’s fine if you’re staging a conference, with one speaker addressing the audience, or if you have a long, one-way presentation. But if you’re hosting a business meeting, imagine the chaos of simultaneous interpretation – you’ll be having a two-way conversation with your foreign business visitor or host, which then must become a four-way conversation because both would have simultaneous interpreters working at the same time!

Now it becomes clear that in the great majority of cases, you’ll want a simple, traditional consecutive interpreter.

Here’s a summary of where each technique would work best.

Consecutive interpreter:

– One-to-one meetings
– Interviews
– Small business meetings
– Press conference

Simultaneous interpreter:

– Conferences
– Presentations conveying a lot of information

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Translation

This is a fairly straightforward process which involves taking content in one language and converting it directly into a different language. This process is ideal for information such as ingredients listings, health and safety, packaging, or other simple data.
However, translation won’t adapt information to suit the setting. For example, if you have a particular message you wish to convey to a variety of audiences then translation will only convert the actual words, and does not account for alternatives in cultures, lifestyles, and so on.
So, simply translating from say English to Arabic would fail to consider the huge regional differences in the MENA states. If you add to that the varied dialects, cultures and local differences you can see how translation alone can often fail to fit the needs of commercials and advertising.

Localization

Localization takes many more factors into account than simply language. It is far more complex than translation due to its consideration of cultures, idioms, dialects, social conventions, and so on. This means that the overall message is targeted at a specific audience and ensures they will understand its relevance to them on a personal level.
Localization should be used when you require a precise message – on your website, marketing ads and social media, or when dealing with slogans and logos.

As you can now see the two offer very different outcomes and if you use voiceovers you may wish to consider localization instead of translation.
Localization is the best option when you have a commercial script, and will convey far more, with a greater ability, than translation. You will have an emotional, responsive, appropriate and accurate advert that can win customers.

There are many factors to consider when using localization to ensure you get the best from the service. The points below will help you choose the right voiceover actor so that you get the best from your localized advert.
Language Nuance – does the region you are targeting have regional dialects? For example, Arabic accents and dialects vary according to region so be sure you know which specific area you are pursuing. Find a voiceover actor that fits with your requirements.
Multilingual audiences – if your audience is multilingual which language will resonate with them most? Is there an official language? Is there a formal or informal language? You will often find that after completing some thorough research that there is one language which is more commonly used.
There is also the possibility of a middle ground language, for example, speaking English but with a regional accent.
Demographic factors – may have an impact on the preferred language of your target audience. For instance, younger audiences may find local slang more accessible than formal speech.

Going global isn’t just about translation. You need to appeal to more than just your audience’s hearing by engaging with them on all levels. Voiceovers that have been localized with a specific target audience are far more likely to be successful than those which have only been translated due to the connections made through language, culture, dialects and social values.
Creating the right advertisement can be tricky, but whether you choose to translate or localize depends upon your requirements and your budget. Finding the right actor to suit your voiceover needs is far easier once you have all the information about your target audience; your market research is essential, and localization would ensure this research is properly utilised.

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1. Be prepared
If you are planning to attend a networking event it is worth doing a little research before the day. Conferences, seminars and trade shows all provide lists of speakers, stands and guests so you can check out who might be good to meet in advance, make a list of those you wish to meet then use social media sites to check out individuals – read their bios, look at their specialities, and discover areas of interest. Use your lists wisely; if possible email people in advance asking to connect on the day, and plan some considerate questions for when you are face to face.

2. On the day
Getting to your chosen networking event early will allow you time to assess your surroundings, introduce yourself and make an impression before the day gets too busy. It is common that people pair up early, or leave before the end of the event so don’t miss any opportunities by being late. Make use of your research by talking to people about the information you discovered, discuss their interests and pay attention to their comments.

3. At the event
Your research before the event, and your early arrival on the day, will allow you to make effective use of your time, so mingle from the outset. Your goal is to develop a relationship with the people you meet so don’t rush around trying to talk to everyone, instead spend time making each interaction count, be friendly, polite and attentive, and use your prior research where possible. Ask open questions and listen to the responses – don’t be side-tracked by another person on your list who happens to pass by within hailing distance.
It can be awkward approaching a large group of people so instead focus on individuals, or small groups. Don’t interrupt people when they are actively engaged in conversation, be patient, talk to those on the outskirts of the group first, or wait for a lull in conversation.
Don’t assume that just because someone isn’t with a large group, a well-known firm, or you don’t have them on your list, they aren’t worth talking to. They may not be in a position to work with you now but you never know where they might be in five years from now.

4. After the event
Remember the purpose of networking is to develop relationships with colleagues and potential clients. A relationship can’t develop and grow if you don’t actively cultivate it after the initial seed planting introduction. Keep the business cards you collected throughout the day; store the details in your phone, or contacts book, and connect on social media with the people you met. If possible send an email thanking them for their time, saying how nice it was to meet them, and so on.

Follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook, comment on their blogs, and check out their firm’s social media postings as this will continue interactions and enlarge your network.

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