Simultaneous Interpreting - Quality
Free guide to ISO 20108:2017 - quality and accuracy requirements for simultaneous interpreting in conference settings and booth standards.
- Simultaneous Interpreting
- Conference Settings
- Quality Requirements
- Accuracy Standards
- Technical Equipment
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About ISO 20108:2017 - Simultaneous Interpreting - Quality
ISO 20108:2017 specifies quality and accuracy requirements for simultaneous interpreting in conference settings. Simultaneous interpreting is the most technically demanding form of interpreting - the interpreter renders the speaker's message in real time, typically working from a soundproof booth with specialized audio equipment, while the speaker continues without pausing.
The standard covers the quality requirements for the interpreting output itself (accuracy, completeness, and appropriate register), the working conditions required for simultaneous interpreters (booth standards, technical equipment, team size, and working hours), and the preparation requirements for interpreting assignments (pre-event documentation, glossary preparation, and technical briefings).
ISO 20108 specifies that simultaneous interpreters must work in pairs or teams, with interpreters alternating at regular intervals (typically every 20-30 minutes) to maintain concentration and output quality. The standard sets requirements for booth dimensions, acoustic isolation, audio and visual equipment, and the provision of documents and reference materials to interpreters before and during assignments.
Quality requirements for simultaneous interpreting output include faithful rendition of the source message (accuracy), completeness (no significant omissions), appropriate target language register and style, correct terminology, and fluency of delivery. The standard recognizes that simultaneous interpreting inherently involves some degree of compression and reformulation, and that quality assessment must take into account the real-time constraints of the mode.
ISO 20108 is used by conference organizers, international organizations, government bodies, and interpreting service providers to specify quality requirements for conference interpreting services. It is used alongside ISO 18841 (general interpreting principles), ISO 2603 (permanent booths for simultaneous interpreting), and ISO 4043 (mobile booths for simultaneous interpreting).
Source: ReadSafety.com - Free ISO Educational Resource by USQC · readsafety.com/iso/20108