Advice for conference organisers and speakers
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For organisers:
Begin by making sure that one person is responsible for the interpreting
as this will eliminate some sources of confusion:
Before the
conference
- Order and check the technical equipment, the
interpreters will know what equipment is most suitable.
- Background
material: Annual reports, minutes of previous meetings, press releases. Material
of this kind will help the interpreters to prepare.
- Speeches: If the
texts are available, they should be sent to the interpreters in advance.
During the conference
- Material: All the
interpreters should get copies of all the material that is distributed to the
participants.
You can read more about this on AIIC Geneva's web site.
For speakers in particular:
This conference will be
interpreted by professional interpreters to enable participants with different
languages will understand each other. The interpreters are there to help you to
communicate what you have to say to your audience.You can help them by following
a few simple tips:
· The interpreters are not interpreting what you say
word for word. They interpret the content so it is useful for them to know about
your subject and the terminology you use.
· If you have written your
text out - or have written notes - even if you do not intend to adhere to them
exactly, let the organiser have copies that can be given to the interpreters.
· You can deviate from the text or notes whenever you want to - the
interpreters will interpret what you say, not what you intended to say.
·
If your subject is very technical, provide what terminology you can. The
interpreters will also find it useful if you can give them the abbreviations
and special terms used in your field.
· Background documentation on your
subject can also be useful, as can documents in other langauges.
· You
can also ask the organiser to arrange an information meeting with the
interpreters.
· If you intend to use overheads or a PowerPoint
presentation, make sure that the interpreters get copies of the diagrams and
illustrations. Interpreters are often a long way away from the speaker and find
it difficult to see what is on the screen.
· It is easy when reading a
ready-prepared speech to increase the tempo and then it is difficult both for
your audience and for the interpreters to keep up. Try to include short pauses
now and again.
· When you use a microphone remember not to have it too
close to your mouth. If you need a headset so that you can listen to
interpretation to your own language, remember that it can cause feedback if you
place it too close to the microphone.
· If you want to move around when
you are speaking, to change the overhead pictures for instance, make sure that
you have a wireless microphone so that your voice is audible all the time. The
interpreters are sitting in booths and and cannot hear what you say if you do
not use a microphone, however loud you shout.
Thank you for your help.