Simultaneous vs consecutive interpreting
As soon as an event has to work in more than one language, the question comes up: simultaneous or consecutive? Both modes are legitimate — but they work in completely different ways and have a major impact on the schedule, the equipment you need and the audience experience.
Simultaneous interpreting happens in real time. Interpreters sit in soundproof booths, listen to the speaker through headphones and render the message into the target language with a delay of one or two seconds. The audience listens to the translation through headsets as well. The programme stays compact, speakers can talk straight through, and discussions flow. It's the natural fit for conferences, AGMs, expert symposia and any format where time is tight and the audience is large.
Consecutive interpreting works the other way round. The interpreter takes notes while the speaker talks and then renders the message in the target language once the speaker pauses. This roughly doubles the running time — but it's ideal for negotiations, notarial appointments, small delegations, press statements or on-site tours in the plant, where a booth would be out of place.
Rule of thumb: the larger the audience and the more languages involved, the more likely simultaneous is right. For confidential four-eyes meetings, consecutive often works better — human, without technology, more direct.
Two other formats sit between them: whispered interpreting (chuchotage) for one or two listeners without any equipment, and tour-guide-system interpreting for small groups moving through a plant or exhibition. And on top of that, everything can be delivered remotely today — RSI is a fully-fledged version of simultaneous interpreting, not a downgrade.
When in doubt: describe the setting, and we'll recommend the mode. It's rarely a matter of taste — it's a matter of what fits.