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Tips for getting the best from your interpreter
Please send me
your draft program as early as possible, in particular for those parts
of the conference where interpreters will be needed. This will enable
me to establish at an early stage the number of interpreters required
and the appropriate equipment (eg simultaneous booths) and interpreting
techniques.
Provide any material which might be useful for
preparation as early as possible: bear in mind I may be working for
another client in the days before your conference. Such material will
include relevant presentations, agendas, and correspondence and
anything else that will allow me and my team to become familiar with
the subject. It does not matter if any material is not in its final
form. This material will enable me to prepare the essential tool of a
“terminology list”; obviously if your firm already has one of these you
should let me know and send a copy as soon as possible.
Provide good
working conditions. Good interpreting requires a very high level of
concentration: thus interpreters must be given the opportunity to be
well prepared, and there must be good acoustics, a direct view of the
speaker, sufficient breaks, and no excessive working hours*.
Interpreters need to get enough sleep to maintain concentration:
depending on venue and travel time, accommodation may need to be
provided.
*A
standard shift for an interpreter is 8 hours, with breaks every 90
minutes and a maximum of 6 hours actual interpreting.
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Renate Pfeuffer
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