Differences between conference interpreters and community interpreters
If the interpreting profession is already quite unfamiliar in itself, when we delve into the differences within the profession, it can be even more confusing.
If we leave aside interpreting techniques, which could be another way of classifying interpreting (simultaneous, consecutive and liaison interpreting), we can talk about two main groups: conference interpreting and community interpreting. Let’s see what differences characterise each group.
Conference interpreting is interpreting normally carried out for professionals in a specific sector at congresses, conferences, commercial conventions, business meetings, meetings between politicians, etc. In this type of interpreting, simultaneous interpreting is usually used, although sometimes consecutive interpreting is used in certain cases. In the world of conference interpreting, it is common to speak of the private market (companies) and the institutional market (EU, UN or any other international organisation).
Community interpreting focuses on police stations, courts (I discuss this in more detail here: https://codigolingua.com/el-papel-de-los-interpretes-en-los-procesos-judiciales/), organizations processing asylum requests, hospitals and social services. Here interpreters rely more on consecutive or liaison interpreting to carry out their work.
Both groups have a common background in the languages and cultures of the countries where their working languages are spoken, in interpreting techniques and in the code of ethics, to mention a few examples. However, they also have their own peculiarities.
The context of conference interpreting tends to be more formal (conference halls, convention centres, auditoriums…), more prepared and with speakers and audiences who are experts in the subject to be dealt with. It requires impeccable prior preparation in order to master all the technical terminology and the most common simultaneous interpreting technique, which also involves technical equipment with a booth, receivers for the audience, specialised technicians…
Community interpreting, on the other hand, usually takes place in more informal contexts and between two people or a small number of participants, such as doctor-patient, police officer-detainee or interviewing official-asylum seeker. The interpreter does not usually have much prior information before interpreting and must resort to his or her previous background and training to provide a good interpretation, as well as having tools that may lie outside the field of interpreting itself but are essential, such as empathy, the ability to adapt to different situations, awareness of cultural differences in order to make adaptations that allow the target audience to understand the message correctly, etc. In this case, no technical equipment is usually necessary, as everyone communicates by voice.
As can be seen, the skills required for conference interpreting and community interpreting have commonalities as well as major differences. Whichever career is chosen, it is a very enriching and rewarding job for those of us who love this profession.