Complete guide to the main terms of simultaneous translation, equipment and modalities. Reference for event organizers in SP.
All the terms you need to know to hire and organize events with simultaneous interpretation.
Interpretation structure that meets the ISO 4043 standard — an international standard for formal events. 30dB acoustic isolation, space for 2 interpreters and full view of the stage.
Transmission frequency dedicated to a language pair. Each language has its own channel — participants select it on the receiver.
Interpretation mode in which the interpreter whispers the translation directly into the ear of 1–2 people. No equipment, no booth. For very small groups.
Control panel used by the interpreter in the booth. Allows selecting the channel being listened to, controlling volume and activating the microphone.
Audit process in M&A transactions. Simultaneous interpretation is essential in the financial, legal and operational sessions of due diligence with international teams.
Intermediate language used in the relay system. Usually English or French. The interpreter of language A interprets into the pivot, and the pivot interpreter interprets into language B.
Audio transmission system by infrared light. High security (does not pass through walls), but requires line of sight between transmitter and receiver.
Current wireless transmission system. 150m range, 32 channels, encrypted (AES-128), no line of sight required. lingo standard.
Pocket device used by participants to hear the interpretation. With headphones, 10–12h battery.
Indirect interpretation system for languages with no direct interpreter. E.g.: Arabic→English→Portuguese.
Protocol for switching between the pair's two interpreters every 20–30 minutes. Maintains concentration and interpretation quality.
Interpretation mode in which the interpreter converts speech in real time, with a 2–3 second delay. Standard for corporate events, congresses and M&A.
Equipment that receives audio from the booth and transmits it to the participants' receivers.
Synonym of chuchotage. Interpretation whispered into the participant's ear.
Whoever organizes a first event with simultaneous interpretation usually meets new vocabulary: channel, relay, rotation, transmitter, ISO booth. This glossary gathers the terms that appear in quotes, contracts and conversations with production, in plain language. It covers modalities, equipment, transmission technologies, event operation and contractual terms.
The term list above follows alphabetical order. The sections below group the same concepts by theme and add other frequently used terms. For the technical glossary of vocabulary by sector, with terms in several languages, see the technical glossary of simultaneous interpretation.
The details of each component and of what a rental includes are in simultaneous interpretation equipment rental in SP, and the most common questions on the topic, in the equipment FAQ.
A fuller explanation of these technologies, with a comparison, is in wireless equipment for simultaneous interpretation.
For the preparation step by step, see how to prepare your event and the congress interpretation checklist.
lingo was founded by Alex Barros, a simultaneous interpreter with 21 years of experience. To understand how the price is built, see how much simultaneous interpretation costs in SP.
Knowing the event format helps define the team and equipment. For events with several rooms, the guide to equipment rental for large events in SP covers planning by scale.
In the conference interpreting market, an interpreter's languages are usually classified in three groups. Language A is the mother tongue or equivalent, into which the interpreter works with full naturalness. Language B is an active language, which the interpreter masters well enough to interpret into. Language C is a passive language, which the interpreter understands but does not interpret into.
This classification helps explain why relay exists: when no interpreter has the source language as C and the target as A, the bridge is made through a pivot language. When hiring, state the source and output languages, and the team indicates whether the combination is direct or requires relay.
Did not find the term? The technical glossary covers sector vocabulary, and the lingo team explains any term in a quote before hiring.
In simultaneous, the interpreter translates in real time, from a booth, and the audience listens through receivers. In consecutive, the speaker pauses and the interpreter translates after each segment, which doubles session time.
It is the indirect interpretation used when there is no direct interpreter between two languages. One interpreter translates into the pivot language, usually English or French, and another translates from the pivot into the final language.
Simultaneous interpretation requires intense concentration. In sessions over 2 hours, the pair alternates every 20 to 30 minutes to maintain quality.
It is the frequency dedicated to a language. Each output language has its own channel, and the participant chooses on the receiver the channel of the language they want to hear.
Our team explains and recommends the best for your event.