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Do I need an interpreter? |
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It's basically a judgement call. More Koreans speak English nowadays and are very proud of it. Many times, it's possible to conduct business without interpreters, and I believe there is no substitute for face-to-face direct communication. However, it's probably a good idea to confirm the discussions in writing afterwards, or have an interpreter standing by.
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How do I get the right interpreter? |
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a. Direct Hiring
The best way would be hiring someone whom you have seen work. Interpreters always have business cards ready. The next best way is to get referrals from other users, professional agencies or interpreters. As a matter of professional integrity, interpreters only give referrals to colleagues with comparable ability.
b. Indirect Hiring
There are many others who "provide interpretation services" as part of the package, such as hotels, conference centers and equipment rental companies. Only a few of these parties have a good pool of "qualified interpreters." "Qualified interpreters" are very selective and will only work with equally qualified agencies or conference organizers.
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When should I hire the interpreter(s)? |
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The sooner the better. Good interepreters often are unable to accept jobs because of prior commitments. Some large-scale conferences recruit interpreters years ahead of time. Smaller business meetings or seminars, should hire the interpreter(s) at least 3-4 weeks before the event.
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Can I Record the Interpretation? |
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Organizers may wish to record the interpretation for internal as well as commercial purposes. However, the Berne Convention of 1886, to which Korea is a signatory, provides protection for translation as "original works." Therefore, no one may publish nor exploit the orginal work without the preliminary consent of the author, i.e. the interpreter. Provided that the interpreter consents to the recording or broadcasting, an additional fee has to be negotiated.
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What is the copyright of interpreters/translators? |
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Translations are recognized as orginal works in the Berne Convention(1886).
The full name of the convention, to which Korea is a signatory(1996), is the "Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works."
The relevant clauses are as follows.
Article 2 : (1) The expression "literary and artistic works" shall include...books...and other writings; lectures, addresses, sermons and other works
of the same nature...
(3) Translations, adaptations, arrangements of music and other alterations
of a literary or artistic work shall be protected as original works
without prejudice to the copyright in the original work.
Article 9 : (1) Authors of literary and artistic works protected by this Convention shall have the exclusive right of authorizing the reproduction of
these works, in any manner or form.
(3) Any sound or visual recording shall be considered as a reproduction for the purposes of this Convention."
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Can we meet the interpreter(s) beforehand? |
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Many institutions, in particular public bodies, believe they need to meet the interpreters beforehand. Pre-meetings do take place, and a pre-meeting charge is paid. As all professionals, interpreters work by the hour. No fees are charged if the pre-meeting takes place by request of the interpreter.
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Is simultaneous interpretation possible without booths? |
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There are portable units that enable simultaneous interpretation without booths. However, this type of equipment was originally designed for factory tours and is unsuitable for long meetings or conferences. For cases where it is unavoidable, make sure that two interpreters alternate. Also, check with the interpreters beforehand.
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I couldn't understand the simultaneous interpretation�� |
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That probably means that the interpreter was simply "not qualified." There are also times when people say they couldn't understand because the interpreter spoke too fast. Usually it is not because the interpreter was simply fast, but because the interpreter was fast and also didn't know what he/she was talking about. Also, you should not try to listen to the original speech and interpretation at once, in case you speak both languages. Ergonomically, it is impossilbe to comprehend the two utterances simultaneously.
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How much does it cost to provide simultaneous interpretation? |
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The current going rate for A-class interpreters in Korea, as of 2003, is $800-900 per a 6-hour day. This has to be multiplied by 2 as you would require 2 interpreters. If you need to rent simultaneous equipment, the general cost will run around $600-700 for a meeting with about 50 participants, and $800-900 for 100 participants. A rough total would be $2,500 for a meeting with 300 participants. Of course, you need to get a detailed quote.
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Do all interpreters charge the same rate? |
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As with all professionals, there is a general going rate for the same level/class of interpreters. On the other hand, high price is no guarantee for quality, and some events do not necessarily require top-notch interpreters. However, for simultaneous interpretation, my advice is not to compromise quality. Many times, conference organizers realize too late that it was not worth saving that one hundred dollars.
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Do we need simultaneous or consecutive interpretation? |
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Refer to "Interpretation Modes" |
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Can one simultaneous interpreter do the job? |
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Simultaneous interpreters always work in teams of 2 or 3. This is to ensure accuracy and quality by collaborating as a team inside the booth and taking shifts to avoid mental fatigue.
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What about cancellations? |
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Professional interpreters will have cancellation clauses in their contracts. This is because once an interpreter makes a firm commitment on a certain day, he/she will turn down other offers. By the same token, professional interpreters will not cancel just because they get better offers. It is a good idea to clarify the cancellation fee schedule at the time when the assignment is confirmed or when a written contract is signed.
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How do I get the right translator? |
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The same as interpreters. Referrals from clients are the most reliable way of getting the right translator. Asking for a sample work or getting a short sample translated will reduce the risk and is recommended for large jobs. It is worth the extra cost if you think about the cost of correction or retranslation.
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Is there a way to verify the accuracy of the translation? |
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Yes. One way is to have a professional proofread the translation. The other way is to have a reverse-translation done back into the source language and checking it against the original text. Of course, both would have to be done by a person or company unrelated with the original translator. Usually, the reverse-translation will cost more than the initial translation, since it should be done by an authoratitive organization or translator.
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