Interpreters are at your service to allow listeners from all ways of life and backgrounds to use different languages but still be perfectly understood. This makes interpreters key for the communication process and requires close cooperation with the speakers. For speakers it certainly pays to stick to some basic rules since, after all, getting their message smoothly across is in their own very best interest:
- Always remember that you are working with interpreters, so please focus on CLEAR PRONUNCIATION and making COMPLETE SENTENCES.
- Both you and your listeners will definitely prefer free speech over a read-out presentation. Texts that are simply read off tend to consist of long and complicated sentences and will most probably be delivered at such a high speed that listeners will find it difficult to follow. If reading off paper cannot be avoided, we recommend sticking to a speed at which you will cover a page of 40 lines in about 3 minutes.
- Your foreign language skills are ubiquitously praised? Enjoy the glory, but - the conference set-up permitting - stick to your mother tongue for presentations all the same. This will not only be widely appreciated by the interpreters, but will also make your presentation much more interesting for your audience.
- If no interpreting services are scheduled to/from your mother tongue, but you do not feel completely at ease with the available arrangements, just ask the organisers to provide translation for your presentation. It will surely prove a mutual benefit.
- If you have a written version of your presentation/speech etc. we kindly ask you to forward it to the organisers for relaying to the interpreters in good time (at least one week ahead of the event), preferably in electronic version. This also includes background information such as brochures, folders, websites, etc.
- Make sure to provide an email address or telephone number where interpreters can contact you over urgent questions related to your presentation.
- If you plan to show videos, films etc. as part of your presentation, make sure to provide the interpreters with both the films as well as the written scripts. Please remember that a specific technical set-up will be required as the interpreters need to hear the sound in perfect quality so that they can deliver a good translation.
- Make sure to avoid all unintended noise during your presentation, i.e. do not stomp your feet, drum your fingers, toy around with pens, etc.). Gestures like these not only harm the general impression, but also greatly impair the sound quality.
- If several microphones are provided, please make sure yours is switched on each time you start talking and do not start any earlier.
- Before Q&A sessions please make sure to secure a headset so that you can respond directly to questions asked in a different language.
- Make sure to keep a good distance between you and the microphone. Getting too close will produce noise interferences which can also be the case if you position your headset and receiver very close to the microphone while both are turned on.
- If you plan to move around during your presentation, ask the organisers to provide a lapel or hand-held microphone as the interpreters will only be able to do their job properly if you speak into a microphone.
