In the multifaceted world of language interpreting in South Africa, consecutive interpreting (CI) is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after forms of multilingual interpreting.It is used to facilitate cross-cultural communication in a variety of settings, including formal business meetings, workshops, weddings, legal proceedings and live interviews.It plays a crucial role in bridging language barriers in a variety of contexts in major cities such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.
At its core, consecutive interpreting in South Africa is a process by which a trained interpreter conveys spoken words or messages from one language into another, typically after the speaker has completed a segment of his or her speech. This is in contrast to simultaneous interpreting, where the interpreter translates in real time as the speaker speaks. This approach allows for a more deliberate and accurate translation of the speaker’s words and intentions.
In this blog post, titled Consecutive Interpreting in South Africa: Ensuring Seamless Communication in Your Meetings, you will read about the importance of consecutive interpretation and how it remains indispensable in different settings in South Africa.
The importance of consecutive interpreting in South Africa
In a multicultural environment, effective communication is paramount for building and maintaining strong relationships, and consecutive interpreting plays a vital role in this regard. This mode of interpreting facilitates seamless communication across linguistic and cultural boundaries, which is particularly crucial in multicultural settings, international diplomacy and business interactions. Consecutive interpreters possess the expertise to capture the nuances, subtleties, and cultural context embedded in the speaker’s message, ensuring that the meaning and intent are accurately conveyed.
When To Use Consecutive Interpreting in South Africa?
Simultaneous interpreting is ideal for large seminars and conferences, such as international meetings of the United Nations type. Consecutive interpreting is more effective for one-to-one meetings and smaller gatherings. The interpreter listens while the speaker delivers the message and waits until the speaker pauses. The interpreter then delivers the message in the target language, using his or her memory and notes to ensure that the message is correct.
Consecutive interpreting can be used in a variety of settings and industries where informal and formal discussions take place.
You can use consecutive interpreting for:
- Human resources meetings for multilingual staff
- Press and personal interviews
- Business meetings
- Weddings
- Conferences among teachers and parents
- Meetings between attorneys and clients
- Court depositions
- Medical interviews and consultations
- Press briefings and conferences
- Tours and travels
In contrast to the more formal setting typical of large seminars and conferences, consecutive interpretation facilitates a more natural and fluid exchange of ideas, resembling regular conversation. Each participant has an opportunity to contribute to the discussion, pausing only briefly to allow the interpreter to translate the conversation into other languages. However, consecutive interpretation does come at the disadvantage of requiring more time to complete the meeting, as each speaker must wait for the interpretation.
Face-to-face Interpreting (F2F)
Face-to-face interpreting is often the preferred choice for both service users and clients. Having the interpreter physically present means that there’s no chance of a poor internet connection. This means that all parties involved will be more relaxed and confident of a successful outcome.
Another advantage is having no audio issues – a person’s voice is never going to sound clearer than if you’re in the same room as them. Being able to go out and meet people during work is also beneficial to general wellbeing; endless video and phone sessions at home works extremely well for some people but doesn’t work for everyone.
From an interpreter’s point of view, possible disadvantages are having to travel and not being able to do the assignments from the comfort of their own home. It increases the likelihood of travel issues and late arrivals and for many agencies travel time isn’t well-paid, if at all. What’s more, if you had two back-to-back appointments in a location, if the first one ends early (or late) this can have a knock on impact on the following assignment as well as your time. If these appointments were on the telephone or over a video call you would be able to relax in your own home rather than, for example, be stuck in a hospital waiting room.
Online Consecutive Interpreting in South Africa
Since March 2020, many meetings that were previously held in person have now moved online via video link.
Typically, the interpreter will be sent a link to join a session by the client. In cases where the service user is also present with the client (e.g. a client’s meeting), they will receive a link as well. This necessitates proficiency in various video conferencing software, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, from all three parties. While this should be a given for the service provider and the interpreter, the service user might never have used video conferencing software before, may not be particularly computer literate, or may not even own a device with a webcam. Delays, changes to the method to a simple phone call, or the assignment being cancelled altogether may be the result. Interpreters should be aware of these potential outcomes and be prepared to adapt their approach accordingly.
Once a video call has been successfully connected, the assignment can proceed in the same way as a face-to-face assignment would, although there are clear differences and potential issues to consider. Potential issues include poor audio quality, so it is advisable to use a good pair of headphones and a good microphone. Many meeting organisers also arrange dry runs (test meetings) 30 minutes before the start of the actual meeting. The video session may also expire, necessitating reconnection, so please be patient. While it is not strictly necessary, it does make everyone’s life easier if you break the ice with a bit of (professional) small talk before or during the interpreting sessions.
Online consecutive interpreting in South Africa offers numerous advantages, including the ability to work remotely from a comfortable home environment. However, some online meetings may require travel to a client’s location. This flexibility allows you to set up a workspace with all necessary equipment close by, eliminating the need to leave your home. This also streamlines work processes, allowing you to multitask and attend to other tasks or administrative duties while waiting for a service user to arrive for a video call. In-person sessions often require more flexibility and cannot always accommodate these work practices
Need a Reliable consecutive interpreter for your meeting in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape town or Durban? Contact Frenchside!
Frenchside is one of the industry’s leading providers of consecutive interpreting in South Africa. We work in and around Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. We have over 10 years of experience in the conference interpreting industry. This extensive knowledge enables us to provide highly efficient and experienced interpreters for major international conferences, business meetings, seminars and trade missions throughout the country. Our consecutive interpreters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us today for a Free Quote
Email: info@frenchside.co.za
Cell: 081 347 6060
FAQs consecutive interpreting in South Africa
- What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpreting?
Consecutive interpreting involves waiting for the speaker to finish a thought before translating, while simultaneous interpreting is done in real time while the speaker is speaking.
- What is the average cost of hiring a consecutive interpreter in South Africa?
The typical cost of hiring an interpreter in South Africa varies depending on the language combination, specialisation, location and duration of the assignment. Interpreters typically charge by the hour, half day or full day. Hourly rates usually range from R 1000.00 to R 2000.00 or more, with additional charges for specialised or urgent assignments. Rates for remote interpreting may differ from those for face-to-face services.
- In consecutive interpreting, how is the interpreter’s role adapted for different types of events, such as diplomatic meetings versus medical consultations?
Interpreters adapt their role by adapting their vocabulary, tone and formality to the context of the event, ensuring that their interpretation is appropriate to the setting.
- What tools and technology is used in interpreting?
In our technological era, interpreters are equipped with a range of sophisticated tools to facilitate communication across languages. These include advanced translation applications and discreet devices that allow them to communicate in private. These tools greatly enhance the effectiveness of interpretation.
- How Many Languages Can an Interpreter Speak?
Some interpreters are true polyglots and can speak multiple languages fluently. However, most interpreters specialise in a particular pair of languages, such as French and English, and are able to master the nuances and subtleties of those specific linguistic landscapes.
