In our globalised world, some people think that an English interpreter is superfluous – because ‘everyone speaks English these days anyway’.
But that’s not the case. For many reasons, it makes sense to consider an English interpreter for your multilingual event:
- English is the lowest common denominator: inmany places, English is part of the curriculum from a very early age. So when budgets are tight or events are organised at short notice, an English interpretation may be best.
- Discussions are best held in the native language. Even though many people understand English well, it is difficult to express exactly what you want to say in a foreign language. That is partticularly true in heated or technical discussions. Many people therefore simply feel more comfortable giving free, unscripted speeches in their native language. For events such as international panel discussions, it therefore makes sense to offer German <> English interpreting so that each panellist can speak the language they feel most comfortable with.
- Not all English is the same: just because someone understands good ‘everyday English’ does not mean that they understand everything at a specialised, highly technical conference. Different industries often have their own language when it comes to specialist terminology or abbreviations. Interpreting into German is therefore a good way of ensuring that participants at international congresses or training courses can take away as much as possible.
The language combination English-German is therefore anything but superfluous; with a good interpreter for English, you not only ensure that all participants in the event understand everything in terms of language and content, but also that they feel comfortable while attending and actively participating.
Finding a qualified English interpreter
But how do you find a qualified interpreter for your event? Feel free to contact me and we will find a solution! Professional organisations such as VKD, of which I am a member, are also a good indicator of professional interpreters. Only people who adhere to high standards and a certain level of professional ethics are accepted into this association. Association membership is also a good indication that an interpreter is well connected – this means that even a multilingual event or a complex event is no problem for them, as they can draw on a strong network of colleagues who can handle even the most exotic interpreting assignments.