Frequently Asked Questions

Will the interpreter be familiar with all the terminology related to the subject of our meeting?

Interpreters at Dragoman are given assignments according to their areas of expertise. Our conference interpreters work on different subjects every day to include economics, law, medicine, IT, energy, and art. Interpreters are experts in cross-cultural communication, but naturally cannot be expected to be experts in all areas. However, conference interpreting is a profession usually chosen by individuals who possess an investigative mind and an eagerness to continue learning new information. On the other hand, providing any existing documentation or glossary of terms relevant to a translation within a reasonable timeframe before a meeting or conference makes an interpreter’s preparation process easier and no doubt positively results in greater success during the translation.

Why are two interpreters assigned for meetings exceeding one hour?

There are two important reasons for assigning two interpreters for meetings exceeding one hour and three interpreters for meetings exceeding six hours: (a) Maintaining the quality of the translation; and (b) protecting the interpreter’s health.
A conference interpreter has to perform approximately 20 cognitive processes simultaneously while translating: Hear the speaker, listen, perceive a sentence, understand, analyze and translate, find accurate language equivalents, and then construct a sentence, etc. While doing this, the interpreter uses various parts of the brain at an optimum concentration level. This concentration level has a biological limit which is why interpreters work interchangeably for 20 to 30 minutes. Interpreters not abiding by this rule jeopardize their health in both the short and long term.
The level of concentration required for interpreting is comparable to the same concentration level necessary for bomber and fighter pilots, including F-1 pilots. This comparison has found a place in medical journals based on research in different areas with more commentary forthcoming.
Impossible to maintain, such levels of concentration over long periods of time cause an interpreter’s working capacity to deteriorate while levels of perception and accuracy fluctuate, consequently hindering the quality of the interpretation. In other words, limiting the working hours of interpreters is a way of protecting their health as well as maintaining the quality of the interpretations.

Will the conference interpreters also translate our written documents?

Conference interpreters translate written documents only as their time schedule allows, depending on their willingness to do so. Another characteristic which sets Dragoman apart is the distinction between written and oral translations. These two types of translations call for different types of competencies. Dragoman’s written translation team is made up of professional translators who are graduates of translation departments of reputable universities.
However, support may be required from conference interpreters who have transcribed and translated at certain functions or events.

Why are meetings always conducted in English? Is it difficult to organize meetings in different languages?

English is the most commonly used language at congresses, conferences, and international meetings. However, there is no requirement that all meetings be conducted in English. The tradition of using English at meetings often puts a strain on a speaker who lacks a grasp of the language and subsequently on the interpreters translating the message because of such speaker’s pronunciation, grammar, and terminology.
Dragoman Ltd. can provide interpreters for any language combination through their European Offices. Thus, you can host speakers and participants using their own languages, as well as using English. We recommend you make early reservations for cross-language or rare-language interpreting.