Interpretation allows participants with different mother tongues and non-compatible language skills to communicate smoothly where otherwise they would not be able to mutually understand each other. This makes interpreters an important element of the communication process and requires close cooperation with the speakers. Perfect communication, however, is only possible in the right setting for which speakers should be aware of some basic principles:

• Always remember that you are being interpreted, i.e. make sure to enunciate clearly and to complete your sentences and thoughts (don’t break off in the middle, leaping to the next idea – however important though it may be. This will only make your audience wonder about what has been left unsaid and they will consequently also miss out on the next bit).
• For both your audience as well as the interpreters it is much easier if you speak freely instead of reading your presentation off whatever paper you may have prepared. There generally is a great difference between the sentence and thought structure of written text and that of oral presentations. Reading text off paper also entices presenters to much greater speed so that even people listening in their native tongue find it difficult to follow. If reading cannot be avoided at all, please make sure that you pace your speed to about three minutes per page of forty lines.
• Even though your language skills might be ubiquitously praised it is far better to use your MOTHER TONGUE for presentations whenever possible. Not only will you make the interpreters’ lives much easier, but you will also make your presentation much more authentic and interesting for the audience.
• If no interpreting services are provided in your own language and if you are not entirely happy with the options on offer, don’t feel shy to request the organisers to provide you with interpreting facilities for your presentation – after all, at this specific conference you have only this one chance to make a lasting impression!
• Any written papers, presentations, or ppp-files you have should be timely emailed to our office (our recommendation: at least one week ahead of the conference) for distribution to the members of our team for preparation. Also remember to include brochures and other references (abstracts from previous conferences, subject-related websites….).
• Please remember to provide us with contact details so that any remaining issues regarding your presentation can be sorted beforehand.
• If you plan to include videos in your presentation make sure that we get the tapes or at least the scripts beforehand. It is also wise to inform the providers of the technical conference equipment of your plans as a separate cable must be installed to get the sound into the booths in translatable quality.
• While giving your presentation please avoid making any non-necessary noiseS (e.g. stamping your feet, drumming your fingers on the rostrum, toying around with pens, etc.). It not only leaves the audience with the impression that you are not entirely convinced of what you are saying, but also greatly impairs the acoustic quality of your presentation.
• If several microphones have been set up make sure that the one that is switched on is yours. In discussions please check this every time you take the floor and do not start any earlier. Otherwise both audience and interpreters will lose out on the initial part of your statement.
• If speaking from a rostrum and expecting questions from the floor, make sure to get yourself a headset in advance so that you will be able to understand questions asked in a different language.
• Be careful not to speak with your mouth overtly close to the microphone or to deposit your headset right next to it as this may lead to sound interferences.
• If you plan to move away from the table microphones at some stage during your presentation ask the organisers to equip you with a MOBILE MICROPHONE as otherwise neither the interpreters nor the audience will be able to hear what you are saying.