Need to know more?

Event planning for simultaneous interpretation can seem a daunting task, if you’ve never done it before. BIP happily takes care of the details, once you request a quote. Here are some of the questions that are frequently asked by new clients.

1. Why do I need more than one interpreter?

2. Why do I need three interpreters if only one person is listening?

3. Why should I pay a full day’s fee, to a team of two interpreters working only a half day?

4. How do I know what kind of equipment to order?

5. Why do you need our program/agenda and power point presentations in advance?

6. My presenter is planning to read his speech - why do you need it ahead of time?

7. What if our speakers are not writing their presentations ahead of time?

8. How many days ahead of time does BIP need my presentations?

9. Why must we pay the interpreters if our meeting is cancelled ahead of time?

10. How does BIP assist me in dealing with this obligation to pay the fees for a cancelled contract?

11. What happens if my meeting goes over the hours stipulated in the contract?

12. What if there are no interpreters available in my area?

13. What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?

1. Why do I need more than one interpreter?

Simultaneous interpretation is demanding, both physically and intellectually. As in the Olympic relay race, interpreters work in teams to spell each other.

• For a 9-5 day, or equivalent thereof, a team of 3 interpreters is required.
• For a job not exceeding 4 hours, a team of 2 will suffice.
• For a meeting of 1 hour or less, an interpreter can work alone.

2. Why do I need three interpreters if only one person is listening?

Whether one or fifty pairs of ears are listening, the workload is the same for the simultaneous interpretation team.

Back to Top

3. Why should I pay a full day’s fee, to a team of two interpreters working only a half day?

Professional interpreters are compensated on a per engagement basis and our fees are not fragmented to an hourly rate. When an interpreter reserves the time for your half day engagement, she in fact reserves the entire day for you and will not accept another assignment.

Back to Top

4. How do I know what kind of equipment to order?

BIP will guide you and put you in contact with professional, competitive and reliable equipment suppliers.

Back to Top

5. Why do you need our program/agenda and power point presentations in advance?

To deliver best results in simultaneous interpretation, our teams prepare ahead of time. They will review your material and build a custom lexicon, familiarize themselves with your industry jargon, and arrive prepared for the task at hand.

Back to Top

6. My presenter is planning to read his speech - why do you need it ahead of time?

A presenter’s style when reading from a written text is very different: it’s much faster, making the task of simultaneous interpretation more difficult. That is why interpreters need to familiarize themselves with the text ahead of time.

Back to Top

7. What if our speakers are not writing their presentations ahead of time?

Actually, a presentation that is not written ahead of time is easier to interpret because the speaker will naturally talk more slowly, as he formulates his thoughts into sentences. In this case, a presentation outline would be useful.

Back to Top

8. How many days ahead of time does BIP need my presentations?

As they become available. Usually the sooner the better, to permit adequate preparation.

Back to Top

9. Why must we pay the interpreters if our meeting is cancelled ahead of time?

This is standard practice within the interpretation profession. From the moment an interpreter is under contract to you, he turns down any other offer for the same day(s). If your meeting is shortened, cancelled or postponed, he incurs a loss of earnings.

Back to Top

10. How does BIP assist me in dealing with this obligation to pay the fees for a cancelled contract?

We make sure that any cancelled interpreters are put back onto the availability list so that if alternate work comes in, they are the first to be reassigned, thus eliminating your obligation to pay their fees.

Back to Top

11. What happens if my meeting goes over the hours stipulated in the contract?

As professionals, BIP interpreters will never leave you in the lurch. Depending on the circumstances and duration of the overtime, BIP may either call in a fresh team or invoice accordingly.

Back to Top

12. What if there are no interpreters available in my area?

This is not a problem. BIP works with a Canada-wide and international network of interpreters who are members of AIIC (the International Association of Conference Interpreters). BIP will locate the closest available, qualified interpreters. Their travel and accommodation will be at your expense.

Back to Top

13. What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?

A translator works with written text, whereas an interpreter specializes in live translation of the spoken word.

Back to Top

Contact us if you have any additional questions: we’re here to help.