Interpretation is under the many translation services offered and is vital during the communication process. This unlike translation that transfers meaning among written languages, Interpretation does the same but with spoken languages. Here an interpreter relays the message from the source speaker to the intended audience in a language they understand best and different from the one of the speaker.
Simultaneous interpreting; this type requires special equipment like head phones and microphones requires that the interpreter is placed in a sound proof room where he speaks in to devices that enable the audience targeted to understand. The audience is usually fitted with hearing aids that they alone and maybe other only get to hear the voice of the interpreter. Here the interpreter interprets the moment the speaker finishes a sentence. This is very useful for world summits and large conferences that involve people of the same goal and initiative but who speak and understand different languages. An example here is the UN summits and conferences where there are over 139 countries with different official or native languages.
Whispered interpretation: Is also on the market and is usually for very small unofficial events like tour guides to tourist destinations. Here an interpreter interprets to only one or two people as the main speaker does his thing, the interpreter does his thing at the same time as the main speaker making it prone to misinterpretations and miscommunication.
Consecutive interpreting: Is where the interpreter is close to the speaker and interprets every after a few words or sentences. This is very suitable for smaller gatherings or meetings like birthdays or small conferences. Sometimes this is because there are not so may languages involved here. In fact it is possible that the entire audience understand one of the two languages used. This kind of translation is very common at religious gatherings. The problem here is that the main speaker has to always wait and give time to the interpreter to get done with interpreting what the former said before thus consuming almost double the time.
Liaison interpretation: Involves interpreting directly as the conversation or dialogue goes on. It is meant to create and maintain a certain level of mutual understanding and is usually used for very small gatherings that involve a conversation like aspect. Problem here is that it is very easy for the interpreter to overshadow the main speaker. At the end of the day, an interpreter is a very important link in the communication process and should therefore be a professional one. This is to ensure accuracy when delivering the message to the audience in the form intended by the source of that very message.
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