When a conference brings together people who speak different languages, interpretation is often one of the least visible parts of the event.
And, in a way, that's the goal.
When it works well, attendees don't have to think about the language. They can concentrate on the presentation, the discussion, the decisions, and the people in front of them.
But achieving this requires much more than finding someone who speaks another language.
Simultaneous interpreting combines linguistic comprehension, professional experience, contextual knowledge, preparation, concentration, and technical coordination. At a major event, all of these elements must function at the same time.
This guide explains what an organization should consider before hiring simultaneous interpretation for a conference, congress, or event in Lima or any other city in Peru.
What is simultaneous interpretation?
Simultaneous interpreting is a type of oral interpreting in which the professional listens to the speaker and transmits the message in another language at virtually the same time.
The interpreter works with a delay of only a few seconds from the original speech. While listening to one sentence, they are already processing its meaning and formulating the next one in the target language.
Therefore, simultaneous interpretation does not consist of translating word for word.
The interpreter must understand the idea, identify the intention, recognize references and terminology, and convey the message clearly and naturally as the speech continues.
Although many people search for this service using the term “simultaneous translation”When we talk about real-time oral communication, the professional term is simultaneous interpretation.
The concept is important because interpretation does not simply consist of substituting words from one language for words from another.
It consists of making it possible for a message to reach people who do not share the same language.
When is simultaneous interpretation needed?
Simultaneous interpretation is often used when a group of people needs to follow a communication in real time without interrupting the pace of the event.
Some examples are:
- Conferences
- National and international conferences
- Medical and scientific conferences
- Corporate events
- Institutional meetings
- Government events
- Activities of NGOs and international organizations
- Seminars and workshops
- Trainings
- Presentations
- High-level meetings
- Diplomatic events
- In-person, virtual, and hybrid events
The appropriate approach depends on how the communication unfolds.
In a conference with hundreds of participants, for example, it may be important that everyone can hear the speaker and the interpretation at the same time.
In a small meeting, a sequential format may be more convenient.
Therefore, the first question should not only be “How much does an interpreter cost?”
It should be:
"Which format will allow people to understand each other better at this event?"
What you really need to evaluate before hiring interpreters
Choosing interpreters for a conference shouldn't start with looking for a rate.
First, we need to understand the event.
There are at least eight questions that help determine what is needed:
1. Which languages will be involved?
It is not enough to know that there will be “English and Spanish”.
It is necessary to determine who will speak each language and who needs to listen to the interpretation.
At international events, there may be several language combinations.
2. How long will the event last?
Duration directly influences team organization.
A one-hour presentation and an eight-hour lecture should not be approached in the same way.
3. What type of content will be presented?
A general conference does not require the same preparation as a medical congress, a legal meeting, or a technical presentation.
4. How many people will participate?
The number of attendees can determine the needs for sound, receivers, layout, and coordination.
5. Will it be in-person, virtual or hybrid?
The format modifies both the technical aspects and the way the performers work.
6. Will there be presentations, panels, or audience questions?
A program with different participation formats may require different planning than a series of individual exhibitions.
7. Will the interpreters receive the materials before the event?
Prior preparation can make a significant difference, especially when specialized terminology is involved.
8. Who will coordinate everything?
A conference is not truly organized simply because the interpreters have been hired.
Someone needs to coordinate schedules, materials, access, equipment, program changes, and communication with the team.
How many interpreters does a conference need?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions and there is no single answer.
It depends on the duration, intensity, languages, number of sessions and characteristics of the event.
Simultaneous interpreting requires a very high level of concentration. Listening, understanding, processing, and producing language simultaneously for extended periods demands a significant level of cognitive effort.
Therefore, long days usually require teams of interpreters who can alternate.
The goal is not simply to fill hours.
It's about maintaining the quality of communication throughout the entire event.
A common mistake is to think:
"The event lasts eight hours, so we need an interpreter for eight hours."
The correct question is:
"What equipment do we need to maintain a professional performance for those eight hours?"
The answer will depend on the specific program.
Why does the interpreter's experience matter?
Knowing two languages does not automatically make a person a conference interpreter.
Professional interpreting requires developing specific skills: active listening, processing speed, memory, anticipation skills, terminology management, voice control, and the ability to make decisions quickly.
Furthermore, the content can change radically from one event to another.
An interpreter might work with medical language in the morning, institutional terminology in the afternoon, and a technical presentation the next day.
Experience also helps to recognize situations that do not always appear in a job description:
- An exhibitor who speaks too fast.
- A presentation that changes at the last minute.
- An acronym that was not planned.
- A cultural reference.
- A term used differently by a particular organization.
- An impromptu question from the audience.
- An unexpected change in the program.
The interpretation happens in real time. There is no possibility of stopping a conference to research each phrase.
That's why preparation and experience are part of the job.
At Linko we work with professional interpreters with a minimum of 10 years of experience.
The interpretation begins before the conference
One of the things that the public normally doesn't see happens before the event begins.
Interpreters can study:
- Event program
- Presentations
- Speeches
- Technical documents
- Names of participants
- Specialized terminology
- Acronyms
- Information about the organization
- Materials related to the topic
This allows you to arrive at the event with a much clearer context.
Imagine a medical conference where a specialist presents the results of an investigation using dozens of terms that are not part of everyday language.
The performer should not reveal the theme when the presentation begins.
The better prepared you are, the greater your ability to focus on what is really happening: the specialist's message.
The quality of the performance begins before the first word.
Interpretation for medical, scientific and specialized conferences
Specialized events present a particular challenge.
The interpreter needs to understand not only the language, but also the context in which it is being used.
This is especially relevant in areas such as:
- Medicine
- Sciences
- Technology
- Right
- Finance
- International cooperation
- Development
- Government
- International relations
- Business
In these contexts, a word can have a specific meaning that does not necessarily correspond to its most obvious translation.
Therefore, when hiring interpreters for a specialized event, it is advisable to provide information about the content well in advance.
Preparation allows for building a shared context between the event and the interpretation team.
Simultaneous interpretation in Lima: where can it be done?
In Lima, interpretation can be integrated into different spaces intended for conferences, congresses, meetings and events.
These include convention centers, hotels, and event spaces such as the Lima Convention Center, The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center, JW Marriott Hotel Lima, Hilton Lima Miraflores, DoubleTree by Hilton Lima San Isidro, Delfines Hotel & Convention Center and Costa del Sol.
It can also be organized for virtual meetings and events using platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet.
Each space presents different conditions.
The layout of the room, the location of the interpreters, the audio system, the visibility of the presentations, and the way in which the participants receive the interpretation should all be considered as part of the same planning.
Therefore, hiring interpreters and resolving the technology issues shouldn't be two completely separate conversations.
What equipment does an event with simultaneous interpretation need?
In a face-to-face event, participants who need interpretation typically require a way to receive the interpreter's audio.
Depending on the format, elements such as the following may be involved:
- Interpretation booths
- Consoles
- Microphones
- Receivers
- Earphones
- Audio transmission systems
- Sound equipment
- Technical infrastructure of the premises
Not all events require exactly the same system.
A small meeting and an international conference can have completely different needs.
Therefore, before hiring equipment, it is important to know the number of participants, the layout of the space, the languages, the duration and the configuration of the event.
What if the event is virtual?
Simultaneous interpretation is not limited to face-to-face events.
It can also be organized for virtual or hybrid meetings and events, depending on the platform and technical setup.
Tools like Zoom and Google Meet allow you to organize international meetings without all participants having to be physically in the same place.
But a virtual event does not eliminate the need for planning.
Considerations:
- Internet connection
- Platform used
- Language settings
- Audio from the participants
- Materials from the performers
- Duration of sessions
- Technical coordination
- Participation of in-person and remote attendees, when the event is hybrid
Technology allows communication to occur at a distance.
The responsibility for ensuring that communication is understandable remains with humans.
How much does simultaneous interpreting cost in Lima?
There is no single rate for all events.
The price may depend on factors such as:
- Service duration
- Number of performers
- Languages
- Content specialization
- Event Venue
- Technical requirements
- Displacement
- Number of days
- In-person, virtual or hybrid modality
Therefore, comparing only one hourly rate can be misleading.
Two events with the same number of hours may require completely different equipment.
To request a proposal, the most helpful thing to do is to provide:
Date + location + time + languages + duration + type of event + approximate number of participants + program or content description.
With that information it is possible to evaluate what interpretation structure the event really needs.
Interpretation company or freelance interpreters?
Another common decision is to hire freelance interpreters directly or work with a specialized company.
Both models can work.
When an organization directly hires independent professionals, it must also assume a large part of the coordination: search, availability, selection, schedules, communication, materials, replacements and team organization.
Linko's model seeks to maintain the relationship with independent professionals without transferring all that coordination to the client.
We work with freelance interpreters and connect them with events and organizations according to the characteristics of each project.
In other words, hiring with Linko means accessing independent professionals with the necessary coordination structure so they can concentrate on what they do best: interpreting.
What languages does Linko cover?
Linko works with professionals from:
Spanish · English · Portuguese · Italian · French · German · Chinese · Russian
The necessary combination depends on each project.
Some events involve both Spanish and English. Others may involve multiple languages and require organizing different teams.
The important thing is to start from the real communication needs of the event and not from a generic list of languages.
Interpreting in Lima, Peru and other countries
Linko has been on the market since 2020.
We work in Lima and other cities in Peru, and also on projects that require international travel. We have participated in projects in Colombia, Ecuador, Spain and Chile.
This allows working with organizations that hold events in different locations without having to completely change their structure every time the city changes.
The event can be local.
The content can be international.
The need remains the same: for people to be able to understand each other.
How to choose interpreters for your next event
Before hiring, you can use this list:
Experience
Do the interpreters have sufficient professional experience?
Specialization
Are you familiar with the topic of the event?
Languages
Can they cover the necessary language combinations?
Preparation
Will they receive the materials before the event?
Equipment
Is the number of interpreters adequate for the duration and demands of the program?
Technology
Is the necessary system in place for attendees to hear the interpretation?
Coordination
Who will be responsible for the performers, materials, schedules, and needs during the event?
Mode
Is the solution specifically designed for an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event?
Context
Does the supplier truly understand what the organization is trying to communicate?
This last question may be the most important.
Because interpreting is not just about changing languages
In a conference, the message may contain a figure, a decision, an instruction, a political position, a scientific discovery, or an idea that someone needs to understand in order to act.
The performer is in the middle of that process.
He is not the main focus of the conference.
Nor should it be.
Their job is to allow the message to remain the protagonist.
That requires language skills, but also judgment.
Preparation required.
Experience required.
And it requires understanding that each event has a different context.
At Linko we understand interpretation from that perspective: not as an exchange of words between languages, but as a way of making understanding possible when people do not share the same language.
Because in the end, interpretation doesn't exist so that two languages can communicate.
It exists so that people can do it.
Linko — We connect with your message.