Liaison interpretation

Less formal than consecutive interpretation, liaison interpretation consists of translating the words of a speaker immediately after his/her speech, or over the course of the speech. There’s no note-taking, just the interpretation of speech in near-real time, making it the perfect format  for events in which attendees are required to move around or must respond very quickly.

The ideal solution when you need to communicate quickly

During a factory tour, for instance, an interpreter who specializes in liaison interpretation will stand close to you or to your visitors. After each of your spoken passages, the interpreter will translate the information you just communicated in a matter of seconds. This keeps your meetings flexible and moving quickly.

Liaison interpretation is a special skill. It requires the interpreter to know how to translate a sentence in another language, in real time and without error. To do this, the interpreter needs a sharp ear and perfect knowledge of both the language and the field.

In this particular format, the interpreter must know where to stand to ensure quick interpretation, but also know when to stand back to make her presence as minimal as possible in order to ensure a smooth flow of dialogue. The interpreter can intervene when a question is asked, while remaining brief and explicit: a competence indispensable to this format of interpretation.