Telephone interpreting is basically consecutive interpreting made over the phone: the interpreter listens in on the conversation between two people who may be anywhere in the world, and translates their dialogue phrase by phrase.
We usually distinguish between two types of telephone interpreting: on-demand interpreting, and telephone interpreting proper. Although they’re essentially the same service, they differ in the way the service is delivered.
On-demand telephone interpreting is an interpreting service for quick and urgent questions which does not require advance booking. It’s typically used in brief telephone conversations, e.g. a consignment sent from Germany by a supplier who doesn’t understand Italian, or an order placed by a French client which needs clarification on certain points. These are just two possible scenarios where on-demand interpreting is used: there are all kinds of situations where it proves necessary. On-demand interpreting services can be requested for specific languages: English, French and German. To find out more about our on-demand telephone interpreting service, click here.
Telephone interpreting proper occurs over the phone, as its name suggests, but typically covers longer conversations and all language combinations. This service requires some advance preparation to make sure it’s suited to your requirements. It may involve research, a glossary (we usually ask the client if it has a glossary available) and the provision of the necessary equipment.
