Modes of Interpretation: Viable for the Real World

There are a number of modes in which interpreting can take place. The common ones are sight translation, consecutive interpreting, and simultaneous interpreting.

There is a common practice in interpreter education to start with translation (maybe not even including sight translation)to slow the process down and allow each portion to have its own time and space for processing.

Then move to consecutive interpreting to speed things up but still not having to engage too much split-attention energy. And then finally to the pinnacle of interpreting – simultaneous.

In the signed language interpreting profession, there is a sense that the “real” and default interpreting mode is simultaneous. There are a number of reasons for this – one of them being the efficiency because the modality of the source and target language don’t interfere like in spoken language interpreting.

However, I think that translation, sight translation, consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting are all viable tools we want in our toolbox for matching consumer needs. These are skills and practices needing to be honed by all practitioners.

How often do you employ different modes of interpretation? How does it strike you to have those tools at your disposal?

(originally published in Amanda’s Museletter, Volume 1, Issue 2, Feb 2023)