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I offer linguistic services of the highest quality in Romanian, German and English. In addition to translation and interpreting in different fields I also offer localization, transcreation, creative translation, subtitling, copywriting, chuchotage and remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI).
Not sure which is the right one for you? Below you can find a short guide detailing the different types of linguistic services.
Translation is the transposition of a text from one language (source language) into another (target language) while respecting both the meaning and the form of the source text. The text in the source language is generally written, but there are also exceptions. For instance, one can translate audio files as well. The literature defines this type of text as “fixed and permanent in form”.
A good translation means much more than finding the right word or using a pleasant style. Equally important for a quality translation is the cultural context.
There are three main categories of translation:
Literary translations are mainly concerned with literary texts, but they can also include, for instance, marketing or advertising texts.
Specialised translations deal with texts from different specialised fields, for example technical, medical, financial or economic.
Legalised or certified translations are used for official documents, contracts, identity papers or diplomas that have to be submitted to an institution in the country or abroad.
In addition to the three classic forms of translation, the last few years have seen the advent of other hybrid forms, better suited to the needs of multinational companies.
Thus, the translation and adaptation of software or an application to a foreign market is called localization. Localization is a very complex process blending classical translation with IT, market research and marketing in order to create a product best suited to the market needs while simultaneously preserving the culture and tone of voice of the company.
Unlike localisation, transcreation and creative translation are concepts very closely related to marketing, which involve rethinking source language content to a greater (transcreation) or lesser (creative translation) extent so that it works best in the target culture.
Interpreting, on the other hand, is the process of oral translation. When we hear the word interpreting, most people think of the interpreters sitting in a booth and translating simultaneously. However, this is only one of the many forms of interpreting, the so-called conference interpreting. You can find more details about the different types of interpreting modes below.
As in the case of translation, there are three main types, or modes, of interpreting:
In consecutive interpreting, the speaker holds his speech from beginning to end. After this, the interpreter renders the speech in the target language with the help of a special note-taking technique while retaining all the information, details included, and using an equivalent style. The notation technique involves the use of specially chosen symbols and strategies for selecting and organising information. By means of note-taking, an interpreter can interpret speeches up to 20 minutes in length. The main advantage of consecutive interpreting is that it does not require special equipment. The major disadvantage is that consecutive interpreting is time-consuming, as the utterances need to be interpreted one at a time. Another disadvantage is that it only works for two languages at a time, meaning it is not the right choice for audiences which need interpretation into more languages. For example, for a conference with interpretation into five languages, a 10-minute speech would take, interpreting included, an hour, which would not be feasible.
In simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter sits in a special soundproof booth and interprets the speaker’s message simultaneously. Simultaneous interpreting is an incredibly complex process that requires a great deal of concentration. That is why interpreters work in teams of two, sometimes even three, and switch every 20 to 30 minutes. By doing this, the interpreter avoids excessive fatigue and is thus able work all day at the highest quality standards. The advantage of simultaneous interpreting is speed. The audience doesn’t have to wait for the speaker to finish the speech in order to hear the interpretation, which makes the interaction more dynamic.
Chuchotage is a special form of simultaneous interpreting without a soundproof booth, generally practiced at smaller formal events, where the interpreter is sat next to or behind the target audience and interprets in a whisper or very low voice. That is why chuchotage is also known as whisper interpreting. The advantage of chuchotage over classical simultaneous interpreting is that it does not need any special equipment, which makes it cheaper. The major disadvantage is that it only works for a very small audience of up to three or four people. Also, whisper interpreting cannot be done by a team of interpreters, meaning it does not lend itself to longer conferences.
Recently, in addition to these three main forms, Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) has become increasingly popular. This interpreting mode can be done over the phone or on commercial videoconferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom, but there are also platforms especially designed with this purpose in mind. For the client, the advantage is obvious: the interpreter no longer has to be present at the venue. However, remote simultaneous interpreting has disadvantages as well: because it requires broadband internet or a perfect telephone connection, it is more prone to technical problems. High-quality audio equipment (headphones with dedicated microphone) is also needed for both interpreters and active clients. The International Asociation of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) has headset recommendations for both interpreters and speakers on its website. Click here for more details.