Simultaneous interpreting is the method of interpreting used at major international events, scientific conferences, institutional summits, and on all occasions where communication must flow seamlessly between speakers and an audience of different languages. ITM has been providing simultaneous interpreting services to institutions, European agencies, research organizations, and international bodies for more than 20 years, employing professional, native-speaking interpreters who are members of professional associations (such as AITI and ANITI) and utilizing all the necessary technical equipment.
What Is Simultaneous Interpretation?
In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter translates the speaker’s remarks in real time, with a minimal delay of just a few seconds. They generally work from a soundproof booth, listening to the speaker through headphones and speaking into a microphone that transmits the signal to participants, who are equipped with receivers and earphones. This method allows for the management of large-scale multilingual events without extending the duration: while the speaker is talking, the entire audience follows along in their own language.
Simultaneous interpreting requires highly specialized skills: in addition to complete linguistic mastery, the interpreter must simultaneously manage listening, comprehension, reformulation, and spoken output, maintaining a level of concentration that is difficult for a single person to sustain for more than thirty consecutive minutes. For this reason, interpreters always work in pairs in the booth, alternating at regular intervals.
When to Use Simultaneous Interpreting
Simultaneous interpreting is the natural choice for:
- International conferences and conventions featuring speakers and audiences who speak different languages
- Scientific and medical conferences
- Institutional summits, intergovernmental meetings, and diplomatic events
- General assemblies of international organizations
- Multilingual press conferences
- Webinars and hybrid or fully online events
- Parliamentary hearings featuring reports from foreign countries
- High-attendance public events
Consecutive interpreting is different (the interpreter speaks after the speaker, taking turns), and is used for smaller events, business meetings, and interviews. Whispered interpreting (chuchotage, performed in a mobile booth or directly into the ear of one or two listeners) is yet another method, used in contexts where the technical equipment required for simultaneous interpreting is not available or not warranted.
What Is Needed for a Simultaneous Interpretation Service
A simultaneous interpretation service requires three integrated components:
The Interpreters
There must always be at least two interpreters for each language pair—professional, native-speaking interpreters who specialize in the event’s specific field (medicine, law, finance, politics, technical-scientific, etc.). Specialization in the relevant field is essential: someone managing a cardiology conference must be familiar with medical terminology; someone working at a summit on migration policy must have a command of the relevant EU governance vocabulary. Membership in professional associations (such as AITI and ANITI) is a further guarantee of quality and adherence to recognized professional and ethical standards.
Technical Equipment
Soundproof booths compliant with ISO 2603 (permanent booths) or ISO 4043 (mobile booths), interpreter consoles, microphones, a system for transmitting the audio signal to audience receivers, receivers and earphones for all participants, and technical booth staff present for the entire duration of the event.
Organizational Management
Coordination of the schedule, advance collection of materials to help interpreters prepare (program, abstracts, glossaries, presentation slides), management of any breaks and shift changes, and real-time technical support.
Simultaneous Interpretation Services for European Institutions and Agencies
ITM has extensive experience providing simultaneous interpretation services to national institutions, prefectures, ministries, and European Union agencies. We operate as a certified provider in compliance with Italian and European public procurement requirements. Our UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 and UNI EN ISO 17100:2017 certifications guarantee the quality levels required by public administration tenders.
We also provide simultaneous interpreting services for online, hybrid, and remote events (RSI — Remote Simultaneous Interpreting), using certified professional platforms that maintain the same quality standards as in-person events.
Request a Quotation
To arrange a simultaneous interpreting service, it is important to contact us as far in advance as possible, especially for less common language pairs or for events taking place during periods of high demand. Send us a brief description of the event, the required language pairs, the date, location, estimated duration, and number of participants: you will receive a comprehensive quote covering interpreting services and technical equipment.
