Professional consecutive interpreting takes place with a time delay and can be used unilaterally (in one language direction) or bilaterally (in two language directions). In addition to many other skills, a trained consecutive interpreter must master a special note-taking technique.

Explanation of the term consecutive interpreting: Definition and meaning

Definition: Consecutive interpreting means that longer speeches are interpreted with a time delay. This requires the interpreter to be able to access the relevant content using a sophisticated note-taking technique. The term consecutive interpreting should not be confused with the term conversational interpreting (liaison interpreting). Although consecutive interpreting is also used here, the speeches are usually relatively short.

After the relevant speech, interpretation into the target language takes place with the aid of the notes. How many professional consecutive interpreters are needed depends on the length of the assignment, the difficulty of the interpreting and the type of event. As each section of speech is rendered in the target language with a time delay, the time required is roughly doubled compared to simultaneous interpreting. Nevertheless, professional consecutive interpreting is the first choice for a large number of events. This includes talks between heads of state or lectures of all kinds. In the pharmaceutical industry, professional consecutive interpreting is used primarily for foreign GMP inspections, but also for pharmaceutical training courses, seminars and other events with international participants.

Fields of application for professional consecutive interpreting - in general and in the pharmaceutical & GMP sector

There are two subtypes of consecutive interpreting, namely bilateral and unilateral consecutive interpreting. If the interpreter translates longer text passages of up to 10 minutes into only one language, this is referred to as unilateral consecutive interpreting. In the pharmaceutical industry, for example, this is the case with pharmaceutical lectures or presentations. In contrast, bilateral consecutive interpreting means that the interpreter switches back and forth between the two languages. This is usually the case when a representative of the pharmaceutical industry from Germany, Austria or Switzerland undergoes a GMP inspection by a foreign pharmaceutical or supervisory authority. For example, if a drug is to be authorised in Russia, Russian GMP inspectors carry out a GMP inspection at the site in question based on the GMP regulations applicable in the EAEU. During the GMP inspection, it is the task of trained and qualified translators and interpreters to facilitate dialogue between employees and GMP inspectors through consecutive interpreting in German and Russian.

Differences between consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting and translations

While the term “translation” is usually used to refer to the written transfer of a fixed text, the oral transfer of an unfixed source language text into a target language is referred to as interpreting. The most common methods here are simultaneous and consecutive interpreting. With simultaneous interpreting, the interpretation takes place almost in real time: The simultaneous interpreter listens to the speaker while simultaneously translating what is being said into the target language. Simultaneous interpreting is mainly used at international events with a large number of participants and several target languages, e.g. at anniversary events, award ceremonies or at GMP conferences and pharmaceutical congresses. Simultaneous interpreting often requires the use of conference technology with a soundproof booth, microphone and headphones.

Unlike simultaneous interpreting, a consecutive interpreter does not speak at the same time as the speaker, but only after the message in the source language has been completed. It is advantageous if the consecutive interpreter is seated close to the speaker so that they can hear them clearly. During the speech the interpreter takes notes. During a pause in speech or after the speaker has finished speaking, the consecutive interpreter begins to interpret part or all of what has been said. If it is a longer contribution, the speaker and interpreter speak alternately. Hereby the interpreter renders the speech in sections into the target language.

Why professional consecutive interpreting for the pharma industry & GMP should be provided by trained pharmaceutical interpreters

A high level of concentration and an excellent memory are among the basic requirements for professional consecutive interpreting. Thanks to the possibility of taking notes during the lecture, it is not necessary to keep everything in your head. The quality of the notes created is crucial here. After all, the consecutive interpreter must not only render words correctly, but also relations and conclusions. For this reason, a special note-taking technique with symbols and abbreviations was developed. Learning this note-taking technique is part of training to become a professional interpreter. Building on this, an experienced consecutive interpreter can modify his or her technique individually in the course of his or her professional career. It is important not to write down too little, but also not too much. The notes should only serve as a memory aid and are not a complete transcript of what was said.

The challenges for professional consecutive interpreters are manifold. Precise and unambiguous interpretation is of the utmost importance, especially in sensitive dialogue situations such as those that frequently occur during a GMP inspection . Finally, incorrect interpretation can, in the worst case, lead to a failure of the GMP inspection and thus to the refusal to issue the GMP certificate.

Proficient consecutive interpreters remain calm under pressure, have an excellent feel for the subtleties of communication, and possess outstanding capacity for concentration. The interpreter must not add anything to the meaning of what has been said, change it or even omit important parts. It is also essential for specialised pharmaceutical interpreters to be familiar with pharmaceutical and GMP terminology and, if possible, to have in-depth knowledge of pharmacy and related fields such as medicine and technology.

Do you need professional consecutive interpreting for your pharmaceutical conference? Are you facing a GMP inspection abroad and want to place the interpretation in trustworthy hands? Our highly trained and experienced pharmaceutical interpreters have successfully supervised numerous GMP inspections in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including ones by the Russian SID&GP and VGNKI. See for yourself with the independent customer testimonials in our letters of recommendation!

 

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