Interpreting formats
We select the format according to the number of participants, duration, meeting setup and whether attendees need to follow speakers in real time.
Simultaneous interpreting
For conferences, seminars and events where the audience needs to follow speakers without pauses.
Consecutive and liaison interpreting
For meetings, professional visits, negotiations, training and conversations with smaller groups.
Simultaneous interpreting for conferences and larger events
Simultaneous interpreting is commonly used when speakers need to continue without pausing after each section. It is well suited to conferences, conventions, panel discussions, presentations and multilingual events with a larger audience.
The practical setup depends on the venue, number of rooms, working languages, timetable and expected audience for each language. Where possible, technical requirements such as booths, receivers, headsets and related equipment can also be assessed and coordinated.
Consecutive interpreting for business meetings
Consecutive interpreting is often a practical choice for business meetings, interviews, press briefings, training sessions and smaller presentations. The speaker pauses at suitable intervals so the interpreter can render the message into the other language.
It usually requires less technical infrastructure than simultaneous interpreting, but the meeting schedule needs to allow for the additional time created by the interpreted turns.
Liaison interpreting for visits and negotiations
Liaison interpreting is useful when communication moves back and forth between a small number of people. Typical assignments include negotiations, supplier meetings, factory visits, product demonstrations, inspections and visits by international delegations.
For technical or industrial visits, advance information about the site, machinery, products, safety rules and planned route helps the interpreter prepare relevant terminology before the assignment.
Interpreting in Madrid and Barcelona
Madrid and Barcelona host a wide range of international meetings, conferences, corporate events and business visits. The right setup can differ considerably between a boardroom meeting, a trade event, a multi-room congress and a factory visit.
For assignments in Barcelona and elsewhere in Catalonia, Catalan may also be one of the working languages where the language combination and interpreter availability allow it. Spanish remains available as a working language for assignments throughout Spain.
English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean interpreters
English interpreting is frequently required for conferences, international meetings, training and hybrid events. Chinese interpreting is common in negotiations, manufacturing, supplier meetings, factory visits and business delegations, with Mandarin most frequently requested and Cantonese available subject to the assignment.
Japanese and Korean assignments often involve engineering, automotive projects, machinery, electronics, batteries, installation work and technical training. In these fields, preparation materials can make a significant difference to terminology handling during the meeting.
Remote and hybrid interpreting
Some meetings can be interpreted by videoconference, while hybrid events combine on-site and remote participants. The platform, audio routing, language channels, number of speakers and expected interaction should be reviewed before confirming the format.
For complex hybrid events, a technical check may be advisable so that interpreters can hear speakers clearly and participants can access the correct language channel.
What to send before the assignment
A programme, speaker list, presentation deck, terminology list, product names, manuals and background information can all help the interpreter prepare. This is particularly useful for technical, legal, medical, industrial or company-specific terminology.
For conferences, it is also important to identify parallel sessions and the working language in each room. For site visits, please indicate any movement between locations, access restrictions and required protective equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between simultaneous and consecutive interpreting?
In simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter speaks almost at the same time as the original speaker. In consecutive interpreting, the speaker pauses at intervals so the interpreter can reproduce each section. Simultaneous interpreting is common at conferences, while consecutive interpreting often works well for meetings and smaller groups.
Can you arrange interpreters outside Madrid and Barcelona?
Assignments can be considered in other parts of Spain depending on the language combination, dates, location, specialist field and interpreter availability. Please include the exact venue or city when requesting a quote so travel and scheduling can be assessed correctly.
Can Catalan be used as a working language in Barcelona?
Yes, where the required language combination and interpreter availability allow it. For events in Barcelona and Catalonia, the brief should specify whether participants need interpreting into Catalan, Spanish or both, as this affects the interpreter team and channel setup.
Can you coordinate interpreting equipment for a conference?
Technical requirements can be reviewed and, where possible, booths, receivers, headsets and other equipment can be coordinated. The final setup depends on the venue, rooms, number of languages, audience size and event format.
What documents should we send to the interpreters in advance?
Useful material includes agendas, presentations, speaker notes, manuals, terminology lists, product names and company-specific documents. The more specialist the meeting, the more valuable advance preparation becomes, particularly for technical and industrial assignments.
Can an interpreter attend a factory or site visit?
Yes, liaison or consecutive interpreting can be suitable for factory visits, technical inspections and on-site training. The brief should include the schedule, locations, expected topics and any safety or protective-equipment requirements.
Can you arrange interpreting with Spain’s co-official languages, such as Catalan, Basque and Galician, as well as Spanish?
Yes. We work with a network of interpreters across all Spanish provinces and can check availability for interpreting and translation between Spain’s co-official languages and major international languages, depending on the language pair, location, subject area and dates. Ask us about your specific combination with no obligation.
Request a quote for interpreting in Spain
Send us the location, date, timetable, working languages, type of event and approximate number of participants. If you are unsure whether simultaneous or consecutive interpreting is more suitable, we can review the meeting format before preparing the quote.