What Is Simultaneous Interpretation
What is simultaneous interpretation: how it works, difference from consecutive, when to hire, equipment and how to choose an interpreter. Complete guide. 21 years of experience.
How it works: the 5 essential elements
The speaker never has to stop. The conversation flows at natural speed. That is why all major international events — from the UN to the G20 — use simultaneous interpretation.
Difference from translation, subtitling and consecutive
Oral, in real time. 2–4 second delay. Speaker doesn't stop. Requires a receiver.
Oral, with pauses. The speaker stops every 5 minutes. The interpreter renders it. No equipment.
Written, not oral. Documents, contracts, emails. Not in real time.
Text on screen instead of audio. Slower than natural speech — loses nuance.
Who is the professional simultaneous interpreter?
The simultaneous interpreter is a professional trained to process two languages in parallel — listening in one and speaking in another at the same time, without stopping. It is considered one of the most cognitively complex activities a human being can perform.
In Brazil, there is no mandatory regulated training — what sets a professional interpreter apart is documented experience in real contexts. Alex Barros has 21 years of recurring engagements with JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Macquarie and BlackRock — returning clients are the most serious quality criterion.
A common misconception: speaking two languages well is not enough. Simultaneous requires specific techniques of attention splitting, expanded working memory and sector-specific technical vocabulary. Most bilinguals cannot interpret simultaneously without extensive training and practice.
When to hire simultaneous interpretation
- Board meetings with representatives of international funds (PE, VC, sovereign)
- Results presentations for foreign investors
- M&A due diligence with international buyer or seller teams
- Conferences and congresses with speakers from multiple countries
- Trade fairs and corporate events with a multilingual audience
- Training sessions and workshops with foreign facilitators
- Regulatory meetings with international bodies (IDB, FDA, FCA, etc.)
- International contract negotiations (M&A, joint ventures, licensing)
Rule of thumb: if there is at least one participant who does not speak the language of the majority, and the event lasts more than 30 minutes, simultaneous interpretation is the right choice.
How do I choose a good simultaneous interpreter?+
Check for documented cases in real contexts — not just certificates. lingo has a documented portfolio with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Macquarie and BlackRock, and recurring monthly engagements with the same clients since 2019.
History and evolution of simultaneous interpretation
Simultaneous interpretation gained scale after World War II, at the Nuremberg trials, when audio equipment made it possible to translate in real time into several languages. Since then, it has become standard in international organizations, conferences and multilateral negotiations. In the corporate world, it gained strength with the internationalization of markets and, more recently, with videoconferencing platforms that incorporated language channels.
In Brazil, the term most used in the market is "tradução simultânea", although technically it is interpretation, because translation concerns written texts. The two names are used as synonyms in searches, and lingo uses both.
Techniques and skills of the simultaneous interpreter
The simultaneous interpreter listens, understands and reformulates the message almost at the same time. This demands concentration, working memory, deep command of both languages and knowledge of the subject. Because of the cognitive load, professional practice recommends rotating every 20 to 30 minutes at long events, working in pairs per language and a booth with good acoustic isolation.
Prior preparation is decisive. The more the interpreter knows about the topic, the acronyms and the names that will appear, the more accurate the delivery. That is why lingo asks for the presentation, the agenda and the glossary in advance.
Equipment and formats: in-person, remote and hybrid
In the in-person format, the interpreter works in a soundproof booth, hears the speaker through headphones and speaks into a microphone connected to a transmitter. The signal reaches the participants' individual receivers, who choose the language channel. In the remote format (RSI), the interpreter connects from anywhere to a platform such as Zoom, Teams, Meet or Webex, and participants choose the language in the application itself. In hybrid events, both formats run in parallel.
In every case, the quality of the input audio is decisive. A microphone close to the speaker's mouth and clean sound completely change the result.
AI interpretation and subtitling: where they fit
AI interpretation and real-time subtitling expand accessibility and cost options. AI delivers audio translation with a 2 to 6 second delay and works best on structured content and in pairs such as English–Portuguese; subtitling displays the text on screen and also meets accessibility needs. Both can coexist with the human interpreter at the same event, each in the most suitable role.
There are dedicated FAQ pages for each topic, with detailed answers on accuracy, costs and platforms.
Common questions from first-time buyers
Do I need equipment? In person, yes: receivers, transmitter and booth, which lingo provides. Remotely, the platform is enough. How many interpreters are needed? For short events, one; for long events, a pair with rotation. Can I use participants' phones? Yes, in some formats, but dedicated receivers are usually more stable. Is the interpretation confidential? Interpreters work under a confidentiality agreement when requested. Does subtitling replace it? No, it is a complementary service.
Each of these points has a deeper page on the site, and the team answers specific questions via WhatsApp.
How to tell whether the interpretation was good
Good interpretation is the kind the audience barely notices. Participants follow the content effortlessly, questions and answers flow and nobody has to ask for repetition. On the technical side, the audio arrives clean, with no dropouts or echo. For the organizer, good signs include few interruptions, positive feedback from participants and decisions made without misunderstandings. After the event, lingo is available to adjust the preparation for the next sessions.
Differences between the most commonly used terms
Translation refers to written texts; interpretation, to speech. Simultaneous is interpretation done in real time, while consecutive is done in pauses. Subtitling displays the text on screen. RSI is the acronym for remote simultaneous interpretation. Booth, receiver and transmitter are the equipment of the in-person format. Knowing these terms helps you request the right quote and compare supplier proposals.
Need simultaneous interpretation?
Quote in 60 seconds — or talk directly with Alex.
How to hire — quote in 60 seconds
Contact us via WhatsApp (+55 11 97534-6423) or through the calculator at lingo.com.br/orcamento. State the date, language pair, format (RSI or in-person UHF) and number of participants. lingo replies with a complete proposal in 60 seconds — confirmed interpreter, equipment (if in person), technical operator and logistics included, with no hidden items.
Alex Barros requests the event deck and agenda 48 hours in advance to prepare the technical glossary specific to the event — proprietary company terms, industry acronyms, product names and internal metrics that do not appear in dictionaries. For recurring engagements, the glossary accumulates session after session. After 12 months of monthly boards, the interpreter knows the company's internal vocabulary as well as any senior executive.
For RSI (Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex): setup 30 minutes before with the host, no physical equipment, no freight cost. For in-person (UHF): installation 60–90 minutes before, portable soundproof booth, on-site technical operator. For hybrid: both formats in parallel. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA (CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34) issues an electronic invoice for all events and accepts payment by TED, PIX or international transfer in BRL.
Documented portfolio with verifiable engagements
lingo has operated exclusively in the premium corporate market for 21 years. There are no academic, government, religious or entertainment events in the portfolio. That exclusive specialization produced a depth of vocabulary that generalist interpreters cannot replicate: 2,233 terms across 24 sectors and 16 language pairs, accumulated in real engagements — not in theoretical study.
Documented cases with named clients and verifiable contexts: XP Investimentos IPO on NASDAQ (US$14.9B, 2019), CMA CGM × Santos Brasil (R$6.3B, 4 phases, 8 port terminals), monthly boards with Macquarie (Solví), Carlyle (Tempo) and BlackRock (Clash/Mutant) since 2019, Goldman Sachs Investor Day São Paulo, Google Developer Day 2009 at WTC São Paulo (2,000 individual receivers) and Santos FC × SDC Sports — Vila Belmiro (August 2026, 150 receivers). No PE fund with fiduciary obligations to its LPs would rehire an interpreter who delivers below expectations. Recurring engagements are the only reliable credential in this profession.
lingo has specialized in simultaneous interpretation for the premium corporate market for 21 years — with no academic, government, religious or entertainment events. Documented portfolio: XP Investimentos IPO on NASDAQ (US$14.9B, 2019), CMA CGM × Santos Brasil (R$6.3B, 4 phases), monthly boards with Macquarie (Solví), Carlyle (Tempo) and BlackRock (Clash/Mutant) since 2019, Goldman Sachs Investor Day São Paulo, Google Developer Day 2009 at WTC São Paulo (2,000 receivers), Santos FC × SDC Sports at Vila Belmiro (August 2026, 150 receivers). Alex Barros interprets English–Portuguese directly. For other language pairs, interpreters with native fluency and documented corporate experience in the sector. Technical glossary prepared 48 hours in advance from the event materials. For RSI (Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex): setup 30 minutes before, no equipment. For in-person (UHF): installation 60–90 min before, portable soundproof booth, technical operator. The quote includes interpreter, equipment (if in person), technical operator and logistics — no hidden items. The quote amount is the final invoice amount. Quote in 60 seconds: WhatsApp +55 11 97534-6423 or lingo.com.br/orcamento. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · CNAE 74.90-1-01 (interpretation) and 77.39-0-99 (equipment rental) · Guarulhos, SP · Trade name: lingo.