The "Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence", short aiic, was founded in Paris in 1953 as an international association of conference interpreters. Its strict admission criteria guarantee high standards of professional practice. Only interpreters with a university degree in interpreting or with equivalent qualifications are admitted as members. Today the association counts more than 2,400 members in 77 countries and is a recognized partner of many international organizations such as the European Union, NATO, Interpol, the World Ban, the United Nations.
 

According to the definition of the International Association of Conference Interpreters the interpreter's native language.
 

A portable simultaneous interpreting (SI) equipment, without a booth. Participants speak into microphones. The interpreter sits among the participants, listening with a headset, and speaks into another microphone. The participants can tune into the interpreter and listen to the speech in another language through their headsets.
The system usually covers only a small distance range and has a limited number of receiver-headsets. It is not as good as a full SI system with soundproof booths and creates some disturbance for the participants. It is also very taxing for the interpreter due to the absence of sound proofing and for this reason can only be used for a short meeting, but it is preferable to whispered interpretation.
 

According to the definition of the International Association of Conference Interpreters the interpreter's foreign language(s) from which he or she works into his or her native language(s) (also called "active language" for this reason).
 

Head interpreter of an interpreting team who coordinates teamwork at the venue and acts as an interface with clients at conferences.
 

According to the definition of the International Association of Conference Interpreters an additional foreign language of an interpreter from which the interpreter only works into his or her other languages (for this reason also called "passive language").
 

This interpreting technique is similar to consecutive interpreting. However, the interpreter does not take notes, but renders the speech on a sentence-by-sentece basis.
 

The rendition of the speaker's presentation occurs after the speaker, i.e. the interpreter works from the lecturn or microphone and starts translating after the speaker has finished delivering his or her speech. This type of interpreting is generelly suitable for short speeches, e.g. luncheon or dinner speeches. Please note that consecutive interpretation doubles the speaking time.
 

An interpreter who advises conference organisers or clients on what they may need in terms of language services and who organises teams of interpreters.
 

Time interval between the original speech and its interpretation (also called "ear-voice span").
 

The title "interpreter" and "conference interpreter" are just as little protected by law as the title "translator". The consequence is that many persons call themselves "interpreter" or "translator" although they have not attended the required study courses. Only trained interpreters have an internationally recognized university degree, which is a prerequisite for admission to many international organizations and for working as a translator.
 

Oral transposition of a text from one language into another, as opposed to translation which is the written. transposition. Interpretation is frequently called 'translation' in ordinary language, but is actually a different activity.
 

Sound-proof booth conforming to ISO 4043/1981 in which the interpreter listen to the speakers' presentaitons over headphones and speak their interpretation for the audience into a microphone. The floorspace needed for an interpreting booth (inclidung the mixing desk) amounts to about 2,00 x 3,50 metres.
 

When you visit business partners abroad or wish to show them your company you and your visitors are accompanied by an interpreter who - depending on the given requirements - will be whispering his simultaneous interpretation or work consecutively. Depending on the duration this kind of interpreting assignment may also require a team of two interpreters per language.
 

A day or days during a conference when there are no meetings requiring interpretation, i.e. the interpreters are off duty. Such days, when the interpreters are prevented from accepting another assignment, are usually remunerated at a lower fee than working days.
 

Special note-taking technique which is used for consecutive interpreting and relies heavily on symbols, which obviates the need to "write" and "read" words.
 

An oral interpretation produced at the same time (i.e. simultaneously) as a speaker speaks.
 

All graduate interpreters have had to attended speech training classes during their studies to hone their pronunciation, rhethorics and voice.
 

The written transposition of a text from one language into another, as opposed to interpretation which is oral. Interpretation is frequently called 'translation' in ordinary language, but is actually a different activity.
 

The five types of interpreting are classified as follows: liaison, whispered, consecutive, simultaneous and community interpreting.
 

Interpreting technique sometimes used for small groups when one or two participants do not understand or speak the language of the others.
The interpreter sits behind or between the participants in question and whispers an ongoing interpretation of the proceedings to them. If they in turn speak, the interpreter will give a consecutive interpretation of their statements aloud to the rest of the group. It is a form of interpretation that places particular stress on the interpreter, since he/she has to listen to speakers, often at a distance, speaking at varying levels of volume, all the while whispering to his participants. Since the interpeter has to be in direct proximity to the listener(s), the number of listeners is limited to a maximum of three.