This type of interpretation has several names: liaison interpretation, bilateral interpretation, or liaison, escort interpretation.
In liaison interpreting, an interpreter facilitates communication between two parties who speak different languages without the need for technical equipment.
It is used in various situations and is very common in business visits, trade fairs, as accompaniment in various procedures, notaries, registries, in hospitals, etc.
It could be considered a modality very similar to consecutive interpretation, but there are several differences, among them, the main one is that the interpreter does not usually take notes and usually works bidirectionally, for this reason it is also known as bilateral interpretation.
As it is an interpretation that does not require technical means, only the preparation and capacity of the interpreter are counted on, therefore, the choice of the interpreter must be done with the utmost care.
When choosing an interpreter for liaison, not only the knowledge of the languages, the experience in interpretation and the knowledge of the cultural differences between the parties are very important, but also the social skills. In an environment in which the roles are less defined, it is necessary to know how to adapt perfectly to the situation. It often requires great dynamism; it must be taken into account that with the interpretation the meetings are going to be extended, so the interpreter has to respond accordingly, he cannot be delighted to hear the sound of his own voice. You have to be very attentive and react quickly. You must have empathy and understand the existing relationships between the participants of the meeting, event, accompaniment, commercial mission, hospital environment, etc. Non-verbal communication also plays a very important role in this type of interpretation.
And above all, knowledge of the cultural differences between the participants. For example, knowing that in many Asian cultures there is no physical contact in a business environment (it is generally not a very good idea to directly offer your hand to Japanese delegates, although most will accept it without blinking, it is better to wait and see what type of greeting they prefer, whether Western or an inclination). You also have to know what the hierarchy is between the participants in the meeting when making presentations or giving the floor to the different participants and what that hierarchy implies depending on the origin of the participants.
Let us advise you and guide you through the labyrinth of international relations so that your meetings are a success.
