How to Increase the Reach of Your Business with Simultaneous Interpretation
As the ways in which we communicate, study and work are altered by the new global scenario, the demand for language services in general and simultaneous interpretation, in particular, has grown.
What are the reasons why simultaneous interpretation is key when it comes to breaking down language barriers?
A Rising Demand
According to the AMEX Global Business Travel’s 2023 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, 63% of respondents in the United States expect the number of event attendees to return to 2019 levels within two years. More and more companies are choosing to use simultaneous interpretation not only for in-person conferences, but also for virtual events and meetings.
According to the survey, that means the overall volume of simultaneous interpretation services in the United States alone will grow between 12% to 15% this year. It is not only ideal for conferences, but also provides effective and efficient communication in multiple scenarios. Today, the long-term success of international organizations depends, to a large extent, on language services. Namely, translation, interpretation and localization.
64% of language service providers reported an increase in demand for interpretation in the healthcare sector; while 59% reported increased demand in the life sciences, medical and pharmaceutical industries.
Source: CSA Research
Also, while consecutive interpretation depends on what interpreters remember by heart and their notes, simultaneous interpretation requires on the fly terminology decisions and subject matter expertise. When it comes to winning over customers, the latter approach gives companies the opportunity to reach a much wider audience at once. Basically, marketing their products and services globally without language barrier limitations.
Creating an international expansion plan is a daunting task and there are a few must haves. One of them is to communicate through messages that are clear, understandable and empathetic to diverse audiences. In that sense, investing in simultaneous interpretation has a direct impact on good interaction with customers and their loyalty.
Language Skills for Simultaneous Interpretation
The language skills of simultaneous interpreters fall into three distinct categories: the A language, which is the native language of an interpreter; B languages, which are others that a person can interpret both from and to; and finally C languages, which an interpreter understands well enough to translate from, but does not feel comfortable enough translating into.
Simultaneous interpreters never work alone and can only endure sessions of up to 30 minutes before needing to rest.
Source: Britannica
“Interpreters don’t translate words, they communicate messages. To be able to do so, they must have an excellent understanding of the languages they work with, as well as the cultures to which those languages belong”, states the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Experienced language professionals allow companies to minimize the problem of what language their potential customers speak. Importing, exporting, signing international agreements, providing conferences or webinars becomes easier through face-to-face interactions, telephone or video calls.
In the same way, the daily relationship with customers is resolved almost in real time from personalized services, such as multilingual chats, translation platforms and 24/7 access to interpreters.
Building bridges and betting on multiculturalism continues to be the great challenge for any company that seeks to break into international markets. The contribution of simultaneous interpreters and having a translation plan in place is a fundamental part to overcome this challenge.