Ever wondered how simultaneous interpreters really work? What happens in the booth while you're comfortably listening to the translation through your headphones?
Today, we're pulling back the curtain to share the key professional principles of simultaneous interpreting — the rules that stay hidden from listeners but directly shape the quality of our work.
1. Punctuality is everything. No such thing as "I almost made it" in the booth. If one interpreter is late, it tarnishes the whole team's reputation. The tech team has to explain, organizers get anxious, and trust erodes before the event even begins.
2. Silence trumps comfort. Phones on full silent mode only. No eating during your colleague's shift, no clicking pens, jangling jewelry, or extra movements. The booth is an acoustic fortress. Any noise gets picked up by the mic, disrupting not just the interpreter but the entire audience.
3. Never interfere with your colleague — the cardinal rule. Booth basics: don't interrupt your partner's flow. No unasked-for prompts, comments, or distracting gestures. Even assistance must be subtle and pre-agreed. A top booth runs like a single, seamless machine.
4. Shifts planned in advance. Who starts, shift lengths, handover protocol — everything's settled before the event kicks off. Count by live airtime or wall-clock time? Both work. But flexibility and respect for your partner are key, especially on brain-draining complex topics.
5. Make the handover invisible. The incoming interpreter dons headphones early, syncs to the rhythm, pace, and terminology. Signal with a glance or gesture — not a mic jolt. Listeners should never spot the switch.
6. Assume the mic is always live. The profession's golden rule. No emotions, chit-chat, jokes, or reactions in the booth. Real interpreter "bloopers" are all over online forums.
7. Leave emotions at the door. Nerves, frustration, fatigue — keep them outside. On air: pure calm, skill, and accuracy. Panic spreads like wildfire in simultaneous interpreting, crumbling translations and talks alike.
8. Teamwork over ego. No one-upmanship in the booth. Focus on the shared win: delivering clear, steady, intelligible translation to the audience. That's why elite simultaneous interpreters excel not just in languages, but as flawless team players.
That's the "invisible magic" of simultaneous interpreting. Done right, listeners never suspect the rules and split-second decisions powering it all behind the scenes.
Pitch International worked with Lingvista on a shoot to Saint Petersburg and Sochi for the weekly television show 'FIFA Football'...
» Read more Production Manager, Pitch International LLP Kate Robertson
