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Definitions explaining the translation and interpreting work

Do you want to understand how freelance translator or interpreter works before you contact me and place an order with me?

Mother tongue - the language in which the translator or interpreter learned to speak as a child. For example, my mother tongue is Czech.

Active language or language of habitual use - the language that the translator and interpreter has mastered so well that they are able to work from and into it to a high standard.  My language of habitual use is English; I have been working with English on a daily basis since 1997.

Passive language - the language that the translator and interpreter has mastered so well that they are able to work from it but not into it. Slovak is my passive language. Having grown up in the former Czechoslovakia and being exposed to TV broadcasting in Slovak on a regular basis, I do understand spoken and written Slovak, and am able to interpret and translate from Slovak, but not into it.

Please note: There is and never has been such thing as Czechoslovakian language! There is the Czech language and the Slovak language.  Czechoslovakia was dissolved on 1st January 1993, but even during its existence the two languages were always separate, though they are very similar to one another.

Source language – language from which the document is translated.

Target language – language into which the document is translated.

Translation - transferring written text from one language into another in writing.  Good translation is not translating word for word, but analysing the meaning of the whole sentence and wording it in the target language in such a way that it flows easily and sounds natural to the native speakers of the target language.

Proofreading - comparing the translation in the target language with the original text in the source language, checking accuracy of the content, grammar, style or typographical errors and making any necessary corrections.

Interpreting – transferring the meaning of speech into another language using the spoken word.

Consecutive interpreting - is commonly used at face-to-face meetings and also telephone interpreting. The interpreter does not wait for the speaker to finish saying a long section of thoughts but interprets after every couple of sentences. During meetings around the table, court or telephone, the interpreter takes written notes.  It is not short-hand but writing in symbols, abbreviations or terms which help the interpreter to express most accurately the content, tone and style of the speech, and reproduce it with some time delay.

Simultaneous interpreting - The interpreter does not wait for the speaker to stop talking but speaks the whole time, and interprets nearly at the same time as the speaker is talking.  The interpreter needs to be able to actively listen to the speaker and speak at the same time.

Conference interpreting (In booths with the aid of special sound equipment)

Simultaneous interpreting is commonly used at international conferences, meetings and gatherings where the delegates speak different languages but are not able to communicate together without the interpreter.  At such meetings, where the participants have a discussion or questions and answers session, the interpreter enables the participants to make contributions in their own native languages.
If the event is, for example, a presentation or speech and the speaker has prepared it in advance, it is ideal if the interpreter can have a copy of this document beforehand so that they can become familiar with the content and any specialised terminology.  The success of the speaker is to a large extent dependent on the preparation and performance of the interpreter.
Because conference interpreting is very demanding, interpreters always work in pairs and switch after 30 minutes. Therefore two interpreters must always be booked for conference interpreting.

Whispered simultaneous interpreting - whispered directly to one or two people at face to face meetings.  Whispered interpreting is frequently used during court hearings to keep the non-English speakers informed about what the judge or other witnesses or legal representatives are saying.

Voice-over is a production technique where a voice is broadcasted live or pre-recorded and the voice accompanies a film, TV program, radio programme, presentation or even on-line training course or instructions. In other words a voice-over is an “off camera” commentary.

For a quick quotation, please send your documents as an email attachment to Milada@AbsoluteCzechTranslations.co.uk and I will respond speedily.
If you have any queries or require further information, please call:
+44 (0)1235 770 427 or +44 (0)778 9060 482