Relay interpreting.

How does relay interpreting work?

Relay interpreting is a special form of interpreting in which two interpreters work together to facilitate communication between people with different mother tongues and/or cultural backgrounds. To explain the efficiency of relay interpreting as an effective solution to communication barriers, let’s look at how it works.

The fact remains that it is still simultaneous interpreting, but there is a slight delay because the interpretation takes a short detour via the so-called relay languages, and from there it is further interpreted into other languages. Relay interpreting is very common when certain language combinations of interpreters are not available, or when there are many languages at an event. Then one language becomes the relay language and from there the interpretation is continued into all other languages. For example, from German to English, the relay language, and from there to Spanish, Japanese, French, etc., otherwise you would need your own interpreter for each language combination.

In relay interpreting, the process of communication is supported by at least two interpreters – the relay interpreters and the final interpreter. The relay interpreters serves as an intermediary between the native language of the speaker and the language of the final interpreter. The final interpreter then translates the conveyed message into the desired target language. In general, before a session, event, or online meeting begins, it’s helpful to have a meeting with everyone involved to establish each person’s role on the team, as well as directions and procedures for the event. In any case, each interpreter must be informed of the context before beginning – including special terms or peculiarities of the speaker’s language and culture – so that he/she can effectively conduct all facets of the conversation.

It is the relay interpreter’s responsibility not only to pass on the speaker’s words directly to the final interpreter, but also to consider external factors such as emotions or gestures and to communicate political or socio-cultural particularities. Because of all these efforts, relay interpreting often delivers good results – especially in cases where there are difficulties in being able to react flexibly to new situations.

Why use relay interpreting?

There are other advantages to relay interpreting as a method of communication: first, each participant has enough time to share their ideas without fear of misunderstandings; second, it reduces interaction time; thirdly, it is more interactive for everyone involved than just having to discuss in group lecture form; Fourth, it does not require a long training period for each user and finally – if used professionally – it is flexibly adaptable, depending on the needs of the event location or group.

Relay interpreting, also known as couple interpreting, provides an effective solution to communication barriers. It is recommended for particularly demanding situational circumstances where two or more parties must attempt to convey information in a different language. For example, when visiting a doctor or going to court, it is very helpful to have a professional interpreter available to ensure correct communication. Another advantage of relay interpreting is that it takes into account the needs of everyone involved and does not interrupt or disrupt the flow of the conversation. Live interpreting does not require direct interaction between the audience and the interpreter during the interpreting process.

Advantages of relay interpreting with Qonda:

• Language barriers are overcome, communication is simplified for everyone
• The listener gets the interpretation in real time
• Everyone understands and speaks in their mother language
• Use your own well-known interpreters or book the Qonda interpreters
• Over 90% cost savings compared to face-to-face meetings
• It is sustainable and protects the environment
• You and your teams work more effectively and productively
• Audio transmission in less than 15ms