Interpretation

First things first: translation and interpretation are different things. Essentially, the difference is that translation is written and interpretation is spoken.

There are two modes of interpretation, and I work from French to English and from English to French in both. The two modes are:

  • Consecutive: the speaker talks for a brief length of time, then the interpreter interprets what was said. The speaker talks some more, then the interpreter interprets. So on and so forth.
  • Simultaneous: the speaker talks and the interpreter interprets at the same time. This typically requires the use of electronic equipment (microphones, headphones, transmitters, and receivers).

Experience

  • Conference interpreting: National Association of Realtors Conference, November 2017; CIVICUS civil society conference, December 2017; Conferences of the Malaga Global Coalition for Municipal Finance.
  • The Pan-African Youth Leadership Program, Meridian International: Three weeks of interpreting in both consecutive and simultaneous modes for francophone African youth on a US State Department-funded exchange program.
  • UN Capital Development Fund, Local Transformative Finance Practice: Simultaneous interpreting of weekly conference calls, a two-day board meeting in New York (2017), and numerous online events.
  • U.S. Department of State, freelance liaison interpreter: Numerous assignments, both online and in-person, for the International Visitors Leadership Program.
  • Business meetings: Mostly in consecutive mode. Assignments include interpreting for a petroleum products company and for a manufacturer of equipment for people with limited mobility.
  • Legal interpreting: Depositions, including for a business contract dispute, a personal injury case, and a medical patent dispute.
  • Community interpreting: Counseling sessions, school visits, and asylum interviews.

Rates

My standard rate for high-level interpretation assignments (e.g. conferences, business meetings, depositions) is $800 per day (8 hours). Additional fees may be negotiated (e.g. travel expenses, per diem). For remote interpretation assignments, my rate is $100 per hour with a two-hour minimum.

For community interpreting (e.g. for medical visits, social services, schools), rates may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

If you need French-English interpreting services, please contact me.