Consecutive interpreting is a type of interpretation that involves pauses while the interpreter waits for the speaker to finish, i. e. the speaker delivers a speech during which the interpreter takes notes and waits for the speaker to make a pause to start interpreting what is being said. Depending on the length of the interpretation, there is one interpreter who is next to the speaker, using the same microphone, if needed.
In most cases, consecutive interpreting does not require additional technical aids, e. g. headphones, interpreting booth, monitors, etc.
It is important to note that when organizing the event and more specifically its duration, it is necessary to take into account that consecutive interpreting requires pauses and is time consuming, i. e. the time for the consecutive interpreting needs to be added to the planned presentation time.
Consecutive interpreting is suitable for conferences with a small number of participants, presentations (e. g. presentation of a new product and/or service), training, wedding ceremonies and similar events.
Interpreters have several key "Soft Skills" without which successful interpreting borders on the impossible; these being active listening and comprehension skills, speech analysis and note-taking, as well as reproducing the target language speech as their own.
The main advantages of consecutive translation are:
- a better option from the price point of view;
- no additional technical means are needed;
- possibility for participants to be actively involved;
- possibility to listen in both languages.
The main disadvantages of consecutive interpreting are:
- time consuming;
- ineffective with more than one language pair;
- pauses for the interpreter to perform consecutive interpreting can be distracting for the speaker.