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To be a true vehicle of multilingual communication, a conference
interpreter has to carry out several complex tasks simultaneously.
S/he has to:
- listen to the speaker and observe the non-verbal signals of
his message, as well as the reactions he arouses among and between
the recipients of that message;
- analyse a live and ephemeral message comprehensively, i.e. both
the explicit and implicit message;
- interpret the message in another language, taking due account
of the formal and substantive characteristics of a different culture;
- establish eye-contact with his audience, using gestures where
appropriate, to make sure that the message has been received.
It is therefore essential to have a direct view of the overall
proceedings, of which the message to be interpreted forms a part.
New technologies open up horizons which conference interpreters
generally welcome. The information society, for instance, broadens
the choice of sources which interpreters can consult so as better
to prepare their meetings. Technical or ergonomic improvements in
interpreter's consoles or booths also constitute considerable progress.
Other recent developments, however, in particular in teleconferencing,
give rise to mixed feelings. Cost-effectiveness and value added
or subtracted, in terms of the quality of multilingual communication,
have to be evaluated correctly, taking due account of the disadvantages
(i.e. the combined effect of several phenomena: the message is stripped
of its non-verbal content; the other participant's verbal and non-verbal
reactions to the speaker and among themselves are not perceived;
the screens glitter; there is no way of assessing how the interpreted
message has been received; there is a sense of alienation; and there
is no daylight).
As instruments of multilingual communication, new technologies
should not lead to a reduction in the quality of interpreting or
a worsening of interpreters' working conditions.
For all these reasons, the conference interpreters of: AIIC (International
Association of Conference Interpreters), the BDÜ (Bundesverband
der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer), the European Court of Justice,
the WCO (World Customs Organization), the European Parliament, the
JICS (Joint Interpreting and Conference Service) covering the European
Commission, the Council of Ministers, the Economic and Social Committee,
the Committee of the Regions, the European Investment Bank and the
specialised agencies of the European Union), have adopted the following
Code for the use of new
technologies in conference interpretation:
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Voluntary
Code:
Code
for the use of new technologies in conference interpreting
Technical
annex to the code for the use of new technologies in conference
interpreting
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Tips:
Basic dos and donts for Technicians
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