Remote interpreting (also called tele-interpreting) is the term used to describe a bi- or multilingual video-conference where interpreters are physically remote from the meeting room and thus do not have a direct view of speakers and delegates. Video-conference interpreting relates to a meeting scenario where participants are distributed across two or more sites with interpreters located at one of these sites. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) uses video or web cameras and telephone lines to provide sign language interpreting services for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, through an offsite interpreter, in order to communicate with hearing persons. It is similar to a Video-Relay-Service, where the hearing and signing parties are each located in different places. The term remote interpreting also covers telephone interpreting, where the interpreter is connected to the service provider via a standard phone line attached to a speaker phone and works in the consecutive mode. Video-conference technologies are used in a variety of interpreted settings: conference, court, public service, healthcare, and education, and involve both spoken and signed languages.

References

Grice, Herbert Paul

1975 “Logic and conversation.” In Syntax and semantics 3: Speech acts, Peter Cole & Jerry L. Morgan (eds), 225–242. New York: Academic Press.

Heh, Yung-Chung & Qian, Hu

1997 “Over-the-phone interpretation: A new way of communication between speech communities.” In Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference, Muriel Jerome-O’Keeffe, Muriel (ed.), 51–62. Alexandria, VA: American Translators Association.

Mikkelson, Holly

2003 “Telephone Interpreting: Boon or Bane?” In Speaking in Tongues: Language across Contexts and Users, Luis Perez Gonzalez (ed.), 251–269. Valencia: Universitat de Valencia.

Moser-Mercer, Barbara

2005a “Remote interpreting: Issues of multi-sensory integration in a multilingual task.” Meta 50 (2): 727–738.  TSB

Moser-Mercer, Barbara

2005b “Remote interpreting: The crucial role of presence.” Bulletin Suisse de linguistique appliquée 81: 73–97.  TSB

Moser-Mercer, Barbara

2010 “The search for neuro-physiological correlates of expertise in interpreting.” In Translation and cognition, Erik Angelone & Greg Shreve (eds), 263–287. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins  TSB.

Mouzourakis, Takis

2006 “Remote interpreting: A technical perspective on recent experiments.” Interpreting 8 (1): 45–66.

Phelan, Mary

2001 The interpreter’s resource. Clevedon, Buffalo, Toronto, Sydney: Multilingual Matters.  TSB

Sperling, Jessica

2011 Communicating more for less: Using translation and interpretation technology to serve limited English proficient individuals. Washington, D.C.: Migration Policy Institute.

Further reading

Braun, Sabine

2003 Kommunikation unter widrigen Umständen? – Fallstudie zu einsprachigen und gedolmetschten Videokonferenzen. Tübingen: Narr.  TSB

Hewitt, William E

1995 Court interpretation: Model guides for policy and practice in the state courts. Williamsburg, VA: National Center for State Courts.

Hornberger, John C., Gibson, Count D., Jr., Wood, William, Degueldre, Christian, Corso, Irene, Palla, Barbara, Bloch, Daniel A

1996 “Eliminating language barriers for non-English-speaking patients.” Medical Care 34 (8): 845–856.