The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2018 - 26

REMOTE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING: THE UPSIDE AND DOWNSIDE continued
Also, in a digital world there are many companies that
want to be at the cutting edge. Recently, I worked at an RSI
conference where a Spanish online bank was launching a new
app for their clients. RSI was the best partner for the occasion,
as it helped emphasize the sponsor's image as a modern and
top-notch company. Many other companies may follow suit
and decide to hire RSI more often.

ACCEPTING INNOVATION WHILE TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN
GUIDING CHANGE
RSI is clearly a response to new market demands where people
seek quick, agile, and cost-effective solutions. However,
interpreting has to do with "human communication." Can
human communication be quick, agile, and cost-effective
all the time? If so, it might become an automated process,
just like many others, for the sake of cutting costs. If human
communication is subjected to economic considerations only,
then the raison d'être of our profession could really be at stake.
RSI is here to stay like so many other innovations flooding
our everyday lives. I don't think all innovations necessarily
improve our quality of life, but once they become real
they force us to make a decision: whether to adapt or not.
Interpreters won't have a choice and will have to get onboard

with RSI if they want to remain active in the market. Junior
interpreters will perhaps get used to it must faster or be born
RSI natives already. Those of us who have been interpreters for
many years, however, will have to rewire our brains to accept
this new way of working.
However, we don't need to just accept it without any
criticism. Our extensive experience in the field should serve
to improve the channels of RSI so that the essence of our job
remains unaltered and effective communication prevails. We
can make a positive contribution to raise client awareness
about the interpreter's mission at each assignment. Here are
some actions that we could take:
■■

Provide RSI vendors with our feedback regarding the
technical set-up.

■■

Clearly explain the differences between RSI and conventional
onsite interpreting so that end clients know what to expect.

■■

Prepare a checklist for the client to complete before the
event to gather information, including: subject matter,
target audience, goal of the conference or meeting, register
(formal/informal), what visual aids will be used, specific
terminology or ideas that need to be emphasized, and the
location of remote attendees.

■■

Draft a quick guide for speakers in an RSI setting. It should
be kept short and concise so clients can read it quickly
before their presentations.

■■

Ensure that interpreters receive the agenda and any PowerPoint
presentations in advance so they can rely on some supporting
documentation on their laptops or tablets. Having supporting
materials is a great asset in case the screens in the booth don't
display the speakers' presentations.

This technology is relatively new and still needs a lot of
enhancement. The good news is that we, as interpreters,
can be involved in the process of the development of this
technology. In the end, we can still pave the way for future
generations of interpreters to keep faithful to the spirit of our
profession-helping people communicate effectively regardless
of the channel used.
Silvana G. Chaves has 25 years of experience
working as an English<>Spanish (ATA-certified
English>Spanish), Italian>English, and Italian>
Spanish translator and interpreter in Latin America
and Europe. She is the owner of Estudio Chaves, a
translation agency with offices in Buenos Aires and
Madrid. Currently, she works as a conference interpreter based in
Madrid, providing services to leading companies in the private sector
and to European Commission bodies. She has a degree in legal translation
from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and a degree in conference
interpreting from the Universidad del Salvador (Argentina).
Contact: chaves@estudio-chaves.com.
26

The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2018

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