The Art of Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpretation In The Arabic Language

A language interpreter is a mediator for people who face language barriers. It is responsible for converting a thought or an expression from a source language into an expression with a similar meaning in the target language. The interpreter's role is to transmit or channel each of the semantic elements (tone and register) and the intention and feelings that the sender of the source message directs to the recipients of the target language.

Interpretation services can be performed multiple ways, but the two main ones are consecutive and simultaneous interpretation. Let's examine these two methods.

Arabic Simultaneous Interpretation

Simultaneous interpretation was fermented with a series of military tribunals held by the allied forces of World War II between 1945 and 46. Later, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, United Nations officials introduced simultaneous interpretation as the most widely used method in most UN official meetings because it saved time and improved the quality of documents.

In simultaneous interpretation, participants use headphones, and the Arabic-English interpreter transmits the speaker's words in the target language as soon as he or she can formulate them from the source language, while the source language speaker continues to speak; An oral language interpreter, seated in a soundproof booth, speaks into a microphone while being able to clearly see and hear the source-language speaker through the booth glass and headphones. Simultaneous interpretation is transmitted to listeners of the target language through their headphones. Simultaneous interpretation is commonly used at conferences or congresses, and it is very intensive. 

Consecutive Interpretation

In consecutive interpreting, the interpreter begins speaking after the source-language speaker has finished speaking. The speech is divided into segments. The Arabic English interpreter is a source-language speaker, listening and taking notes as the speaker delivers the message. When the interpreter pauses or finishes speaking, the interpreter proceeds to transmit the part of the message or the whole message in the required language. Consecutive interpreted speeches, or segments of them, are usually short. Fifty years ago, the consecutive interpreter would broadcast 10 or 15-minute speeches; nowadays, this is usually 3-5 minutes and is considered too long. However, sometimes, depending on the situation or the issue at hand, and depending on the interpreter's ability to memorize the message, the interpreter may ask the speaker to pause by using a hand gesture, after each sentence or each point. Phrase-by-phrase interpretation requires less memorization and, therefore, less likely to omit parts of the message.

Consecutive interpreting is frequently used in medical interpreting, communication between patients and physicians, or business negotiations.

Simultaneous vs. Consecutive Interpretation

In deciding whether to opt for consecutive or simultaneous interpretation, interpreters and users of interpretation services must understand the impact of each of these modes. Consecutive interpreters have more control of the situation: they can clarify ambiguities, you have time to lookup unfamiliar words, request a repetition or rephrasing of the message, or determine the meaning of the most problematic terms. Consecutive interpreting is still taught in most conference interpreting schools. It is considered an intermediate step in learning the most appropriate techniques for simultaneous interpreting.

Simultaneous interpretation saves time. For example, in court, you save valuable time at trial. As soon as the attorney finishes asking a question, the witness response occurs. It is more accurate than relying on the interpreter's retention ability to recall long passages of often disjointed information, often the case in consecutive interpreting. This method makes the interpreter need to ask for the question to be repeated. Anyone wearing headphones will be able to hear the witness's response clearly, despite the acoustics, which is sometimes not very suitable in courtrooms. The fatigue of the Arabic English interpreter is reduced since the effort to accurately retain long passages is less. The result is a higher quality and more accurate performance.

Final Words

In conclusion, professional Arabic language interpreters generally agree that consecutive interpreting is more appropriate when greater precision is required. Still, nowadays, it is seen as an art, a luxury that must be parted with when the time comes first.

TAGS: ARABIC ENGLISH INTERPRETER, SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETER, CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETER, UN ARABIC INTERPRETER, CONFERENCE INTERPRETER, EXPERIENCED ARABIC INTERPRETER