page_title: Language interpretation
section_title: Consecutive
hierarchical_section_title: Language interpretation / Modes / Consecutive
caption_attribution_description: English: Stéphane Brizé (second from the right) in Buenos Aires in 2019, at the San Martín Theater, talking about 'The Measure of a Man' (La Loi du marché, 2015) and 'At War' (En Guerre, 2018). Next to him (second from the left), Argentine filmmaker Rodrigo Moreno. The event was organized with the support of UniFrance, Institut français d'Argentine and Alliance Française de Buenos Aires. Photograph by Federico Gatto, 2019.
context_page_description: Interpreting is a translational activity in which one produces a first and final translation on the basis of a one-time exposure to an expression in a source language.
  The most common two modes of interpreting are simultaneous interpreting, which is done at the time of the exposure to the source language, and consecutive interpreting, which is done at breaks to this exposure.
  Interpreting is an ancient human activity which predates the invention of writing. However, the origins of the profession of interpreting date back to less than a century ago.
context_section_description: In consecutive interpreting (CI), the interpreter starts to interpret after the speaker pauses. Therefore, the time needed is much longer (possibly double the time needed). Traditionally, the interpreter will sit or stand near the speaker.
  Consecutive interpretation can be conducted in a pattern of short or long segments according to the interpreter's preference. In short CI, the interpreter relies mostly on memory whereas, in long CI, most interpreters will rely on note-taking. The notes must be clear and legible in order to not waste time on reading them. Consecutive interpreting of whole thoughts, rather than in small pieces, is desirable so that the interpreter has the whole meaning before rendering it in the target language. This affords a truer, more accurate, and more accessible interpretation than where short CI or simultaneous interpretation is used.
  An attempt at consensus about lengths of segments may be reached prior to commencement, depending upon complexity of the subject matter and purpose of the interpretation, though speakers generally face difficulty adjusting to unnatural speech patterns.
  On occasion, document sight translation is required of the interpreter during consecutive interpretation work. Sight translation combines interpretation and translation; the interpreter must render the source-language document to the target-language as if it were written in the target language. Sight translation occurs usually, but not exclusively, in judicial and medical work.
  Consecutive interpretation may be the chosen mode when bilingual listeners are present who wish to hear both the original and interpreted speech or where, as in a court setting, a record must be kept of both.
  When no interpreter is available to interpret directly from source to target, an intermediate interpreter will be inserted in a relay mode, e.g. a Greek source language could be interpreted into English and then from English to another language. This is also commonly known as double-interpretation. Triple-interpretation may even be needed, particularly where rare languages or dialects are involved. Such interpretation can only be effectively conducted using consecutive interpretation.
caption: Stéphane Brizé (second from the right) speaking in French in Buenos Aires in 2019. Next to him, the interpreter (first from the right) waiting to translate into Spanish.
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