Interpretation and Tour Group Systems 153141.1 Interpretation Systems
As the world gets smaller and smaller, communications
become increasingly important. Countries must talk to
countries, businesses to businesses, and people to people.
Only a few years ago, simultaneous interpretation
systems were only found in places such as the United
Nations and NATO. Today businesses are doing business
with partners around the world, religious organizations
have international meetings, schools are multilingual, and
video and audio conferencing is common place.
Designing and building a simultaneous interpretation
system is not just adding a set of earphones and another
microphone to a sound system. A simultaneous inter-
pretation system requires sound equipment and an
acoustically correct room for the interpreter. The output
from the various interpreters is transmitted to the
various listeners in their language. This can be done via
hardwire and earphones, AM or FM transmission,
induction loop, or with infrared transmission systems.
Simultaneous interpretation systems allow a presen-
tation by a talker to be heard and understood in or close
to real time by all people in the audience. To accom-
plish this, the voice of the talker is directed to inter-
preters in soundproof booths or areas. The interpreters
hear the original or floor language on headphones and
instantly or simultaneously interpret it into the language
they are assigned. The translated signal is then trans-
mitted back into the audience area through the inter-
preters, microphones and transmission medium to the
listeners through their control panel and headsets.
There are two basic types of simultaneous interpreta-
tion systems: bilingual and multilingual. Bilingual
systems are designed for places where two and only two
languages are used, such as in eastern Canada where
French and English are used. Bilingual systems are the
least expensive and the simplest to set up and use. These
systems usually use only one interpreter’s booth with
either one or two interpreters.
Multilingual systems are used in the United Nations,
large church conferences, boardrooms and schools, just
to name a few. These systems are much more compli-
cated and harder to install and use as they require indi-
vidual interpreter rooms and a means for the listener to
switch between languages.
41.1.1. Central Control Unit
The central control unit is the hub of the system. Most
systems are microprocessor controlled and/or operated
through an IBM compatible PC, Fig. 41-1. The floor
language enters the unit at line level and is routed to the
interpreters’ booths and a tape recorder if required. The
interpreted languages are returned to the central control
from the interpreters’ booths where they are prepared
for transmitting to the listeners. This could be on hard-
wire, induction loop, infrared, or any combination of the
three. Provision is also made for taping the interpreted
language. The unit incorporates various operating
modes and interlocks and a means for the interpreter
and the operator to communicate with each other.41.1.2. Interpreter’s BoothIn the multilingual system, each booth normally has two
or more interpreters that work as a team to interpret the
floor language into the designated language of the
booth. If many floor languages are allowed, each booth
could require as many as four interpreters. The ISO
standard for fixed interpreters’ booths in systems with
six to twelve languages recommends three interpreters
per booth for the first six booths and four interpreters
for the remaining booths, Fig. 41-2. Systems can have
from two to thirty two languages, however, twelve
seems to be the maximum normally used. Today most
systems are digital, which can reduce background noise,
distortion, and crosstalk. AGC assures equal listening
level on all input channels, and the systems can be
chained together with shielded FTP or STP Cat-5e
cables, Fig. 41-3.
Booth size is specified by international standards.
Permanent interpreters’ booths and equipment are spec-
ified under ISO 2603 (1983), which specifies the
minimum dimensions of 2.5 m wide × 2.3 m high ×
2.4 m deep (8.2 ft × 7.75 ft × 7.87 ft). In booths with
four interpreters, the width shall be 3.4 m (11 ft). An
80 cm (31.5 in) high window should extend the full
width of the booth with the bottom of the window flush
with the console. The room construction should atten-
uate the live sound so that if the nonreinforced sound
does not exceed 80 dB, the inside signal will not exceed
35 dB.
Portable interpreters’ booths are specified by ISO
4043 1981, and sound transmission using infrared is
specified by IEC 764. The MB 2932 interpreter booth
by Listen Technologies is intended for portable or fixed
installations. The booth consists of four window panels,
three blind panels, a door panel, a table, and two roof
panels. It includes two ventilation fans and exceeds ISO
4043 sound insulation standards, Fig. 41-4.
Simultaneous interpretation systems are not just a
simple input to an interpreter’s booth. The system must
enable the interpreter to hear the talker and to distribute