An interpretor converts spoken statements from one or several language into another. it demands an extremely high knowledge - the competence in both languages must be as good as the competence of a native speaker - and very high concentration skills, as interpreting concerns the spoken word and relays on memory.
There are several forms of interpreting, as you may have seen them in television reportages :
- Simultaneous interpreting, which is used at multi-language international conferences and meetings. the interpretors listen to speeches through headphones and immediately interpret it in the target language into a microphine feeding headphones of people speaking this language.
- consecutive interpreting, which is used in smaller meetings. the interpretor waits until the speaker has finished a sentence or a smaller text and with the help of notes and memory repeats what has been said in another language.
Most interpretors work in political affairs or business matters and therefore it is extremely important that they convert with great sensibility everything what has been said. Interpretors also work for local authorities, police services, immmigration authorities, hospitals, courts, etc... and enable officials to talk with non-English speakers.
