Consecutive interpretation requires highly experienced conference interpreters.
Unlike the immediacy of simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting begins only when the speaker has finished verbalizing a fragment of their speech. The interpreter, who has taken notes, then begins interpreting that segment. When it's finished, they move on to the next segment.
We work with consecutive interpretation very often, from small meetings to interventions at the highest level. Such as speeches by authorities, or for example, in the European Commission's TAIEX missions throughout Spain, where we have been offering this service for years. Consecutive interpretation is the modality chosen for these missions that cover various sectors of the economy. Delegates from different countries visit official institutions and public bodies in the host country. These missions are organized in cooperation with the various Ministries of the host country. The interpreter will have to intervene both in meetings with the authorities and in the field visits that take place. This is why consecutive interpretation is the most suitable modality for this service.
It is also used in various meetings where fidelity to the interventions of the participants is of great importance. We often work on this type of service; recently, we were in Madrid at meetings of the European Railway Transport Agency, where we used this technique for five days so that the experts could understand each other. The interpreters from the different working groups took turns.
This type of interpretation does not require any specific sound equipment and can be used for large groups of people as well as for face-to-face or online meetings. It should be taken into account that the duration of a speech or intervention will be much longer, because the interpreter's intervention time must be included.
It is also widely used for speeches during a dinner or meal, or on other occasions when technical equipment is not available.
