ATC
Association of Translation Companies.

BS EN 15038
Is the first European standard to set out the requirements for the provision of quality services by translation service providers (TSPs). It charts the best practice processes involved in providing a translation service through commissioning, translation, review, project management and quality control, to delivery.

DPSI
Diploma in Public Service Interpreting, a qualification for interpreters to demonstrate their professional level skills in public service interpreting.

DTP
Desktop Publishing, also referred to as typesetting.

Interpreting
Oral translatation or translation into a sign language of the words of a person speaking a different language.

Localisation
Relates to the act of modifying something to make it both usable and suitable to a target market.

Machine translation
Translation produced automatically by a machine rather than by a human translator.

Minimum Charge
Lowest possible cost for service, usually covering up to 250 words for translation, or three hours or interpreting.

Right-to-Left Languages
Languages whose writing systems read from right to left, rather than left to right like English. Examples include Arabic, Farsi and Urdu.

Source Language
The original language of the document.

Subtitling
Textual versions of the dialog in films and television programs.

Target Audience
The primary group of people that something is intended for.

Target Language
The language into which you wish to translate.

Transcription
Something written, especially copied from one medium to another, as a typewritten version of dictation.

Translation
The act or process of translating, especially from one language into another.

Translation Memory
A database that stores segments that have been previously translated, which can then be used for future translations to guarentee consistency.

Transliteration
The writing of a foreign word in the script of another language so that it phonetically matches the original language.

Typesetting
In the translation industry, this means placing translated text into the same style, layout and original document as the source text.

Word count
The number of words in a document.

Simultaneous Interpreting

• Most effective for large meetings and conferences.

• Requires specialised equipment: all contributions are relayed by microphone to the team of interpreters working from soundproof booths within the room – their interpretation is then transmitted back to the delegates through individual headsets.

• At least two interpreters per language in a booth who each interpret for thirty minutes. When not interpreting, the other interpreter will stay in the booth and prepare for the next speech and help the other interpreter if necessary.

• A high level of education, training and preparation is required on the part of interpreters in order to carry out the skill of simultaneous interpreting.

Consecutive Interpreting

• Most efficient at meetings and presentations with a small audience.

• The interpreter needs to have excellent concentration, memory and understanding.

• Samples of situations when consecutive interpreting is used are question and answer sessions, presentations, press conferences, speeches, court hearings, conference calls and interviews.

• The interpreter takes notes while a participant speaks, and an interpretation is then rendered after the speaker has finished, or at appropriate intervals during the speech.

• No specialist technical equipment is required.

Whispering Interpreting

• Whispering interpreting or ‘chuchotage’ is usually only used when one or two people do not understand the source language.

• This type of interpreting is useful for one-to-one or small meetings, walking visits, tours or during social events and dinners.

• The interpreter is seated next to the meeting participants and simultaneously renders the interpretation in a low voice.

• No technical equipment is required.

• This form of interpreting would not be recommended if more than two people require interpretation as it would create too much noise and distraction. It would only be recommended for short meetings as the technique of whispering and speaking continuously in a low voice strains the vocal chords.

• As this is a form of simultaneous interpreting, this mode would also require a team of two interpreters.

Liaison Interpreting / Community Interpreting

• This is also referred to as bilateral interpreting.

• This procedure is often used for informal situations, small business meetings, and it is also suitable for court interpreting.

• It involves interpreting on a more one-to-one basis whereby the interpreter will interpret, and ‘liaise’ between two languages to two or more people.

• This type of interpreting is often used for interpreting in the community, at the request of doctors, lawyers, hospitals, Gardaí, social services and schools.

• It can also be used over the phone for telephone interpreting.