Liaison Interpreting

What are liaison or bilateral interpreting services?

Liaison interpreting, also known as bilateral interpreting or accompanying interpreting, plays a crucial role in effective communication between speakers of two different languages. This service is crucial when smooth and precise communication between two parties of different languages is required.

Bilateral interpreting is defined as the process of transmitting a message bidirectionally, from the sender to the recipient, during a direct conversation. This differs from conference interpreting, where the interpreter works from a cabin to address a broader audience, whereas bilateral interpreting is done only for direct conversations between smaller groups. Liaison interpreters act as language mediators, ensuring smooth communication between parties.

How does liaison interpreting or accompanying interpreting work?

The main characteristic of accompanying interpreting is immediacy. Liaison interpreters must havefirst-class listening, comprehension and verbal skills in both languages in order to translate what is being said accurately in real time. The aim is to convey the desired message in a precise and faithful manner without pauses, while maintaining the intentions and tone of the original speaker.

Depending from the situation, liaison interpreters have different techniques at their disposal. In some cases, they may use simultaneous interpreting methods, translating in real time as the speaker talks. In other cases, they might opt for consecutive interpreting, taking notes on what is being said and then verbally translating the message. The technique will differ from the context and preferences of the participants.

When should liaison interpreting be used?

The necessity for a liaison interpreter can appear for different reasons. This may occur, for example, at international business meetings, academic conferences, job interviews, hospital visits, when seeking assistance in legal proceedings and when one of the parties doesn't speak the prevalent language. Liaison interpreters can facilitate communication between lawyers and their clients, as well as doctors and their patients, company representatives and foreign clients and much more.

They ensure that the parties understand one another, avoiding misunderstandings that could damage business relations, affect possible medical attention, and so on. Furthermore, liaison interpreters are responsible not only for linguistic translation, but also for conveying small cultural details and different contexts to guarantee respectful and effective communication.

To summarize, liaison interpreting, also known as bilateral interpreting, is an essential tool in contributing to smooth, accurate communication between speakers of different languages. Liaison interpreters play a crucial role in a variety of situations, facilitating mutual comprehension and successfully overcoming linguistic barriers. If you need to interact with speakers of another language, a professional liaison interpreter will allow you to communicate effectively with them and achieve your goals.