“Thoughts on interpreters’ challenges from the field”

Eleni Zisi, Conference Interpreter

CEO EL-Translations
International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 1
What consecutive looks like

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 2

What consecutive also looks
like

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 3

What simultaneous looks like

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 4

What simultaneous also looks like

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 5

What bidule looks like

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 6

What bidule also looks like

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 7

Changes on working mode/conditions
over the years

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 8

COVID19 era

- RSI
- Hybrid mode
- No consecutive

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 9

Covid19 era

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 10

 Main CI concerns
• more tasks for less
– equipment
– technical skills
– traditional working days & remuneration
– more workload (longer meetings with no
breaks)
– more cognitive load
International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 11
 What kind of technology makes
CIs happy?
- technology which is CI oriented and not
organizers oriented
- technology that alleviates cognitive load
and not the opposite
- technology that protects CI’s health
- technology that saves time

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 12

 Some crazy CAI ideas
- interpreters’ chat
- camera zoom on speaker’s mouth
- numbers and names on automatic subtitle
- automatic speaker slowdown
- booths with sound isolation AND ventilation
- share screen/notepad for boothmates
- bidule with smartphone app
- “filter-out” accents (!)
International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 13
 Thank you!

International Workshop on Interpreting Technologies, Malaga University, 11-13 May 2022 14