FAQ

Yes. Berlin is one of Germany’s leading locations for international conferences, government meetings and multilingual events. We regularly provide professional conference interpreters for congresses, conferences, delegation visits and a wide range of international events.

As Germany’s capital, Berlin is home to federal ministries, embassies, research institutions, international organisations, associations and global companies. This diversity is reflected in the interpreting assignments we support — from political discussions and scientific conferences to corporate events and international delegation visits.

One of the things we enjoy most about working in Berlin is that no two days are ever quite the same. One day may begin with a conference in the heart of the city and end with a factory visit on the other side of town—or an evening reception at an embassy.

In many cases, you’ll receive an initial response or a tailored quotation within a very short time.

To prepare an accurate quotation, we usually need only a few details, such as the event date, location, required languages and the type of event. We then check the availability of the most suitable interpreting team and prepare a clear, transparent proposal.

Even for last-minute enquiries, we’ll check availability promptly and let you know what’s possible as quickly as we can.

Some of our longest-standing client relationships began with nothing more than a short email — and have continued through many successful events ever since.

The cost depends on several factors.

The fee for a professional conference interpreter is influenced by:

• Language combination
• Interpreting mode (simultaneous or consecutive)
• Subject area (for example medicine, pharmaceuticals, law or engineering)
• Duration of the event
• Location, including any travel or accommodation requirements

For simultaneous interpreting, fees are generally based on a daily rate. Reduced rates may be available for shorter assignments.

Professional conference interpreting is a highly specialised service. Experience, linguistic precision and meticulous preparation often make the difference between simply translating words and enabling genuine communication.

Choosing solely on price can sometimes prove expensive in the long run. Misunderstandings rarely appear on the invoice — but they often become apparent later.

The best interpreting is usually the kind nobody remembers afterwards, because everything simply worked.

berlin-communication works primarily with German, English, French and Italian and, through our trusted network, provides professional conference interpreters and specialist translators for many additional language combinations.

These include, among others:

• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Turkish
• Arabic
• Ukrainian
• Russian
• Mandarin Chinese
• Polish
• Korean

Additional language combinations are available on request.

We also arrange direct language combinations (relay-free interpreting) where German is not involved, for example:

• Spanish ↔ English
• Mandarin Chinese ↔ English
• French ↔ Italian

Thanks to our extensive network of experienced conference interpreters, we can support multilingual events involving a wide variety of language combinations.

Some events require just two languages. Others feel as though half the United Nations has turned up. Fortunately, we’re well prepared for both.

That depends on the duration, format and interpreting mode of your event.

For simultaneous interpreting, professional conference interpreters normally work in teams of two interpreters per language. The reason is simple: maintaining the highest level of concentration over an extended period requires regular changes.

While one interpreter is working, the other provides active support by following presentations, noting terminology, figures and names, and helping to maintain the highest possible level of accuracy before taking over the next interpreting segment.

For shorter meetings or consecutive interpreting, a single interpreter is often sufficient.

Simultaneous interpreting is frequently compared with other high-performance professions. While most people focus on one thought at a time, simultaneous interpreters are listening, analysing, translating and speaking almost simultaneously — often with only a matter of seconds between hearing a sentence and delivering it in another language.

We’ll be happy to advise you on the most appropriate team for your event from both a professional and practical perspective. Two interpreters are not a luxury. They’re what makes consistently high-quality simultaneous interpreting possible from the opening remarks to the closing applause.

Absolutely.

On request, we provide not only professional conference interpreters but also the complete conference interpreting and event technology required for your event.

This includes:

• interpreting booths
• delegate units
• microphones
• receivers
• headsets
• technology for hybrid events
• on-site technical support

You benefit from a fully coordinated solution, with interpreting services and conference technology tailored specifically to your event.

International events begin long before the first speaker takes the stage — and usually end only after the last headset has been packed away. In between lies a surprising amount of planning and coordination.

Together with our long-standing technical partners, we ensure that every linguistic and technical aspect works seamlessly together, allowing you to focus entirely on your event and your guests.

berlin-communication provides experienced conference interpreters and specialist interpreters across a broad range of subject areas, including:

• Politics & International Relations
• Law & Justice
• Business & Finance
• Industry & Engineering
• Science & Research
• Medicine & Healthcare
• Culture & Education
• Government, Ministries & Public Institutions
• International Corporate Communication

Our assignments include interpreting for clinical trials and healthcare, legal proceedings, business and financial events, technical conferences, scientific congresses, delegation visits and many other specialist meetings.

Over the course of their careers, many conference interpreters naturally develop specialist expertise in particular fields. After all, there’s quite a difference between speaking a language and simultaneously interpreting a discussion on heart valve replacement or international financial reporting standards.

And, truth be told, most professional interpreters eventually develop their favourite subjects. Some genuinely enjoy discussions on accounting standards and risk management. Others are fascinated by hydrogen electrolysers—or even the international trade in breeding shrimp.

That’s exactly why we carefully match every interpreter to the subject matter. No one has to love every topic. But it certainly helps to enjoy the one you’re interpreting.

Medicine, pharmaceuticals and clinical research have been among berlin-communication’s core areas of expertise for many years.

We support international medical congresses, clinical trials, Investigator Meetings, Advisory Boards, expert panels, medical education events, healthcare market research projects and international meetings across the healthcare sector.

Our experience spans numerous medical specialties, including:

• Oncology & Haematology
• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Immunology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Dermatology
• Ophthalmology
• Urology
• Paediatrics
• Rare Diseases
• Medical Technology & Diagnostics

We also regularly support international projects for pharmaceutical companies, CROs, research institutions, hospitals, medical technology manufacturers and scientific associations.

In medicine and clinical research, language skills alone are not enough. Specialist terminology, scientific context, regulatory requirements and precise communication all play a crucial role.

After all, there can be entire medical libraries between a general conversation and a discussion about study protocols, biomarkers, clinical endpoints or novel therapeutic approaches.

That is why we work exclusively with interpreters who have relevant subject-matter experience and prepare carefully for each individual project.

In short: If a conference suddenly turns to CAR-T cell therapies, real-world evidence or a novel mechanism of action, it helps if the interpreters are not hearing those terms for the first time.

The earlier you enquire, the greater the choice.

For international conferences, specialist congresses, clinical trials, scientific events and multilingual corporate meetings, we recommend booking professional conference interpreters as early as possible.

Experienced interpreters are often booked weeks or even months in advance, particularly for simultaneous interpreting assignments involving several working languages, rare language combinations or highly specialised fields such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, law, engineering or finance.

Early planning offers several advantages. It allows you to secure the most suitable interpreting team, provides sufficient time for subject-matter preparation and gives everyone involved the opportunity to coordinate the interpreting technology and organisational details properly.

The more complex the event, the more important it becomes to select the right team. Language combination, specialist expertise, experience and team composition must all work together.

Yes. In addition to conventional language combinations involving German, berlin-communication also arranges direct and relay interpreting between other languages.

For example:

• Spanish ↔ English
• Mandarin Chinese ↔ English
• French ↔ Italian
• Portuguese ↔ English

Relay interpreting is commonly used at international conferences, EU projects, scientific events and within globally operating companies. It is particularly useful when an intermediary language—often English—is required because direct interpreting between two languages is unavailable or impractical.

Professional relay interpreting is not a linguistic version of broken telephone. In the children’s game, the message tends to change slightly every time it is passed on. In professional relay interpreting, communication is routed through a clearly defined intermediary language, supported by experienced conference interpreters, well-coordinated teams and rigorous linguistic precision.

Relay interpreting may involve an additional language, but it doesn’t involve guesswork.

Yes—often at surprisingly short notice.

Events in Berlin are sometimes organised at remarkable speed. It is not unusual for us to receive an enquiry on Friday evening for an assignment on Monday morning. Occasionally, only a day—or even a few hours—remain.

It is still worth asking. Thanks to our network of experienced conference interpreters, we can often find a suitable solution for simultaneous or consecutive interpreting at short notice.

A short lead time does not mean compromising on quality. Professional conference interpreters are accustomed to familiarising themselves quickly with new subject areas. Well-prepared materials are essential, however—such as the agenda, presentations and relevant background information. The more we receive in advance, the more focused our preparation can be.

Our advice is simple: get in touch, even if you suspect it may already be too late. We can never guarantee availability, but we will check every enquiry promptly and tell you honestly what is possible.

And what do we mean by “short notice”? Occasionally, the phone really does ring because someone has realised—five minutes before the event begins—that an interpreter is still missing. It happens less often than you might think, but rather more often than you might expect.

Yes. Professional online and remote interpreting via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex and other platforms is now a standard part of many international events.

Whether for international meetings, hybrid events, webinars or online conferences, professional conference interpreters can support discussions, presentations and meetings remotely with the same care and reliability. Modern platforms offer excellent options for both simultaneous and consecutive interpreting online.

Depending on the event format, we work either through the interpreting function built into the chosen platform or via a professional remote interpreting solution. We will be happy to advise you on the option best suited to your event.

Of course, if an excavator happens to discover the venue’s only fibre-optic cable just before the keynote begins… that’s usually a challenge for everyone, not just the interpreters.

Yes. berlin-communication provides professional conference interpreters for events in Berlin, throughout Germany and internationally.

Our team and our established network of conference, simultaneous and specialist interpreters regularly support congresses, conferences, delegation visits, corporate events, scientific meetings and assignments for government ministries, professional associations, research institutions and international organisations.

We organise interpreting assignments throughout Germany flexibly and reliably, including at short notice or for less common language combinations.

Whether your event is in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt—or on a construction site somewhere between the motorway exit and an industrial estate—we support international communication wherever meetings, negotiations and multilingual events take place.

The cost of professional simultaneous interpreting in Berlin depends on several factors, including the language combination, subject area, duration of the event, number of interpreters required and the necessary interpreting technology.

For international conferences, congresses, scientific meetings, political events, clinical trials and corporate events, simultaneous interpreters generally work in teams. Professional simultaneous interpreting therefore usually requires two interpreters per language.

Depending on the event format, you may also require interpreting booths, portable interpretation systems, receivers, headsets or additional conference technology.

For this reason, we do not offer one-size-fits-all packages. Every project is calculated individually.

For an initial quotation, we usually need only a few details:

• Event date
• Venue
• Working languages
• Number of participants
• Event format

There is no need to worry if the final programme has not yet been completed. Individual agenda items often continue to change until shortly before the event. The main details are usually sufficient for us to prepare a transparent and tailored quotation quickly.

Don’t worry if the programme is still evolving. In our experience, even the coffee break sometimes has a more exciting travel itinerary than the speakers.

Whether an interpreting booth is required depends on the type of event, the number of participants, the working languages, the venue and the interpreting mode.

For international conferences using simultaneous interpreting, soundproof interpreting booths are generally the preferred solution. They allow interpreters to work without distraction while ensuring that participants hear both the original speaker and the interpretation with excellent audio quality.

For smaller groups, factory visits, delegation programmes or venues with limited space, portable interpretation systems often provide a practical and cost-effective alternative.

We’ll be happy to advise you on the most suitable solution for your event. The best interpreting setup is usually the one your guests hardly notice.

Simultaneous interpreters work in soundproof booths so they can remain fully focused over extended periods—and so that the audience doesn’t hear the original speech and the interpretation at the same time.

The booths reduce background noise while preventing the interpretation from being heard in the conference room itself. Participants simply select their preferred language through their headset.

At international conferences and multilingual events, interpreting booths are an essential part of professional conference technology and play an important role in maintaining both excellent interpreting and excellent sound quality.

An interpreting booth isn’t a place to hide. It’s a workplace—and the quieter it is inside, the clearer your message will be outside.

Conference interpreters wear professional headsets so they can:

• hear the original speaker clearly
• monitor their own voice
• remain fully focused, even in demanding acoustic environments

Only then can they adjust their pace, volume and delivery naturally to the speaker.

For interpreters, a good headset is rather like a fine musical instrument. Nobody notices it while everything works perfectly—but everyone notices when it doesn’t. That’s why many conference interpreters prefer using their own trusted headset whenever possible.

Yes.

berlin-communication provides modern portable interpretation systems for international meetings, guided tours and multilingual events.

They are particularly well suited to:

• small groups
• construction site visits
• museum tours
• factory visits
• spontaneous meetings
• venues with limited space

Unlike fixed interpreting booths, portable systems are flexible, quick to set up and easy to transport. Participants simply listen through lightweight receivers with headsets or earpieces.

A typical system includes:

• microphones
• receivers
• headsets or earpieces
• a charging and transport case

And sometimes that small transport case looks remarkably ordinary—until a few minutes later an entire international delegation is effortlessly following every word.

Last-minute changes are simply part of event management.

Whether the schedule shifts, additional participants join, another language is required or the technical setup needs to be adjusted, we’ll work with you to find the most appropriate solution as quickly as possible.

Thanks to our experience and our close cooperation with both our interpreters and technical partners, many changes can be accommodated even at short notice.

Good event management isn’t about preventing change. It’s about making sure change never becomes a problem.

The more information professional conference interpreters receive in advance, the better they can prepare. Particularly in simultaneous interpreting, careful preparation is an essential part of the job.

The following information is especially helpful:

• Event agenda or programme
• Presentations, slides or manuscripts
• List of speakers
• Specialist terminology and abbreviations
• Background information about your company or project
• Previous conference materials
• Participant lists (where appropriate)
• Working languages and event format

Many simultaneous interpreters begin preparing days or even weeks before an international conference, specialist congress, clinical trial, Investigator Meeting, Advisory Board or corporate event. The more specialised the subject matter, the more extensive the preparation.

Depending on the assignment, conference interpreters compile their own glossaries, research terminology and familiarise themselves thoroughly with the subject matter. After all, there is quite a difference between speaking a language and simultaneously interpreting an international specialist conference.

The better we understand your subject in advance, the more natural and fluent the interpreting will be on the day. And if some documents are only available at short notice, we’ll simply make the best possible use of the time we have.

And if you’re wondering whether every presentation is really worth sending—the answer is yes.

Interpreters don’t need to know everything in advance. But they’re always grateful not to discover the name of a new medicine, the Latin name of a tropical mosquito or a highly specialised valve for the very first time while they’re already interpreting it.

That’s why successful interpreting begins long before the first speaker takes the floor.

Yes.

On request, berlin-communication can arrange not only professional conference interpreters and conference technology, but also a range of additional services for conferences, congresses, meetings and international events.

These include, for example:

• Hostesses and reception staff
• Participant management
• Conference and event technology
• Projection screens, projectors, displays and presentation equipment
• Microphone and audio systems
• Portable interpretation systems, tour guide systems and interpreting booths
• Hybrid and virtual event solutions

Working together with trusted technical and event partners, we support the planning and delivery of a wide variety of event formats.

Most organisers find it far more enjoyable to focus on their guests and the content of the event once the projectors, microphones, headsets—and the question of who’s welcoming everyone at reception—have already been taken care of.

Although the terms translation and interpreting are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, they describe two distinct professions.

Translators work with written texts, transferring documents such as contracts, websites, scientific publications and patient information from one language into another.

Interpreters, by contrast, work with the spoken word. They transfer spoken communication either simultaneously or consecutively at international conferences, negotiations, congresses, clinical trials, government meetings and corporate events.

Both professions require outstanding language skills, subject-matter expertise and cultural awareness. The fundamental difference is simple: translators work with written language, interpreters with spoken communication.

Or, to put it another way: translators work with texts. Interpreters work with people.

In simultaneous interpreting, the interpretation is delivered almost at the same time as the speaker is talking.

Simultaneous interpreters listen to the original speech through professional headsets and render it into the target language with only a few seconds’ delay.

This form of interpreting is commonly used for:

• International conferences and congresses
• Political events
• Business meetings
• Medical congresses
• Livestreams
• Hybrid events
• International corporate events
• NGO conferences
• Media events
• Large multilingual conferences

Participants usually listen to the interpretation through wireless receivers and headsets.

Simultaneous interpreting is widely regarded as one of the most demanding forms of interpreting because listening, understanding, analysing and speaking all take place almost simultaneously.

Or, to put it another way: while the speaker is still building the sentence, the interpreter already needs to know where it’s going. And every now and then, there’s the quiet hope that the 14-digit statistic won’t be read out at world-record speed.

In consecutive interpreting, the speaker talks first. The interpreter then delivers the message in the target language once the speaker has finished a section of speech.

Depending on the situation, this may be after just a few sentences or after a longer presentation. Professional conference interpreters often use a specialised note-taking technique that enables them to reproduce even complex information, figures and arguments accurately.

Consecutive interpreting is particularly suitable for:

• Business meetings
• Negotiations
• Press conferences
• Delegation visits
• Factory tours
• Official receptions
• Smaller specialist events

One of its major advantages is that it usually requires little or no interpreting equipment.

Or, to put it another way: in consecutive interpreting, only one person speaks at a time — first the speaker, then the interpreter.

Escort interpreting involves accompanying individuals or groups and facilitating communication wherever conversations take place.

Typical assignments include:

• Business trips
• Business meetings
• Factory visits
• Construction site visits
• Trade fairs
• Meetings with public authorities
• Delegation visits
• Cultural events

The interpreter accompanies the participants throughout meetings, visits and discussions, interpreting naturally in both directions whenever required.

Escort interpreting is particularly flexible because conversations often develop spontaneously while people are moving between locations.

And sometimes the real challenge isn’t just interpreting — it’s accompanying an international delegation around a factory site while keeping track of safety boots, the schedule and the next meeting room.

Relay interpreting is used whenever not all language combinations can be interpreted directly at an international event.

Instead, one language serves as an intermediary language.

For example:

A speaker presents in Korean.

The speech is first interpreted into English.

From English, other interpreters then relay the message into German, French, Spanish or other languages.

This process is known as relay interpreting.

At multilingual international conferences, relay interpreting is a standard and well-established practice.

Or, to put it another way: international communication sometimes works rather like a railway network. Information travels through several stations — ideally arriving on time and without any linguistic luggage getting lost along the way.

Professional interpreters support a wide variety of events and communication settings, from international congresses to factory visits.

Typical assignments include:

• International conferences
• Congresses
• Political events
• Business meetings
• Scientific conferences
• Press conferences
• Court and arbitration proceedings
• Medical consultations
• Delegation visits
• Trade fairs
• Construction site visits
• Cultural events
• Online meetings
• Hybrid events
• International workshops

Every event has different requirements.

Some require large-scale conference technology with multiple interpreting booths.

Others work perfectly with portable interpretation systems—or with no technology at all.

And sometimes international communication happens quite spontaneously somewhere between a construction site tour, a coffee break and a surprisingly complicated PowerPoint presentation.

Professional translators regularly work with a wide range of written documents, including:

• Contracts
• Websites
• Brochures
• Medical documents
• Patient information
• Scientific publications
• Presentations
• Annual reports
• Technical documentation
• Press releases
• Subtitles
• Business correspondence
• Communication materials

Many translators specialise in particular subject areas.

After all, a medical publication, a legal contract and an international marketing campaign each present very different linguistic challenges.

Sometimes the real challenge is not translating individual words, but conveying tone, style, impact and cultural nuance so naturally that the translation reads as though it had been written in the target language from the very beginning.

Or, to put it another way: dictionaries contain words. Excellent translations create meaning.

One of the questions conference interpreters hear most often is:

“You must be incredibly intelligent.”

The honest answer?

Successful interpreting requires far more than outstanding language skills. It calls for exceptional concentration, analytical thinking, broad general knowledge, linguistic sensitivity, rapid comprehension and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

But perhaps the most important skill is something else entirely.

With experience, conference interpreters become remarkably good at recognising patterns, identifying connections and processing information at extraordinary speed.

Over time, the brain develops its own professional shortcuts.

Rather than processing every individual word in isolation, experienced interpreters often grasp complete ideas almost instantly.

And after many years in the profession, something rather curious begins to happen.

You suddenly remember interpreting a discussion on Italian fishing quotas eight years ago… yet have absolutely no idea why you walked into the kitchen five minutes earlier.

Because simultaneous interpreting requires an extraordinary level of concentration and mental stamina. After around 20 to 30 minutes, concentration begins to decline measurably, which is why professional conference interpreters regularly alternate throughout an assignment.

During simultaneous interpreting, several highly demanding processes take place at the same time:

• Listening
• Understanding
• Analysing
• Interpreting
• Speaking
• Solving unexpected linguistic challenges in real time

But the second interpreter is far more than simply “the next person on duty”.

While one interpreter is working, the colleague actively provides support by monitoring figures, names, specialist terminology, abbreviations and last-minute changes. They also keep an eye on presentation slides that occasionally appear to have emerged from a highly classified engineering laboratory.

Notes containing figures, terminology or references are passed discreetly across the booth, missing information is added where necessary, and the occasional detail is quickly looked up—all without interrupting the flow of the presentation.

Every now and then, the second interpreter also performs one of the most important tasks of all: returning with two coffees just in time for the next changeover.

From the audience, simultaneous interpreting often looks calm and effortless.

In reality, it is above all a perfectly coordinated team effort carried out under intense concentration.

Or, to put it another way: it is rather like holding an intellectually demanding conversation, playing chess and running a sprint—all at the same time, while trying not to make a single mistake.

Yes—and that is precisely what makes simultaneous interpreting so remarkable.

To many people, it seems almost like a paradox.

While conference interpreters are speaking, they are also listening attentively to the speaker. Their brains are simultaneously listening, understanding, analysing, interpreting and speaking—all with a delay of only a few seconds.

While one sentence is still being delivered, the next is already being analysed, and the previous one is being rendered into another language.

What sounds like carefully controlled chaos to most people is simply part of the job for a professional conference interpreter.

From the outside, it often looks calm and effortless.

Inside, however, the brain is working at full capacity. Every few seconds, countless decisions have to be made—without dictionaries, search engines or a helpful lifeline from the audience.

Perhaps that is the greatest compliment a simultaneous interpreter can receive: when nobody notices just how demanding the job really was.

Not everything. But they do need the ability to familiarise themselves with new and often highly specialised subjects in a remarkably short space of time.

Professional interpreting is not about translating every single word literally. It is about understanding the speaker’s meaning, intention and context—and conveying all three accurately and naturally in another language.

With experience, conference interpreters become exceptionally skilled at recognising patterns and maintaining the thread of a discussion, even when a speaker changes direction halfway through a sentence, leaves a thought unfinished or suddenly reformulates an idea.

That does not mean interpreters can read minds.

If a speaker expresses a complex idea in such a convoluted way that even the audience struggles to follow it, the interpreters are facing exactly the same challenge.

What distinguishes experienced conference interpreters is their ability to grasp complex ideas, specialist concepts and subtle nuances within seconds—and convey them accurately, completely and in a way that sounds entirely natural in the target language, even when a speaker takes an unexpected turn halfway through a sentence.

Professional simultaneous interpreters are trained to cope with very fast speakers. Experience, thorough preparation and well-established interpreting techniques enable them to maintain accuracy even when the pace increases significantly.

Like any professional skill, however, there are limits. If a speaker talks exceptionally quickly, rarely pauses or reads lengthy texts at high speed, the assignment becomes considerably more demanding—even for the most experienced interpreters.

The goal remains the same: to communicate the speaker’s message as accurately, clearly and completely as possible, even when important decisions have to be made within fractions of a second.

That is why we always recommend providing presentations or speaking notes in advance whenever possible. The better the preparation, the more confidently interpreters can focus on delivering an accurate and natural interpretation.

Very fast speaking is usually not only demanding for interpreters—it is often just as challenging for the audience listening to the original speech.

The best speakers are not the fastest. They are the clearest.

And every now and then, even the most experienced conference interpreter quietly hopes for one small thing: …that the speaker might pause to take a breath.

Often surprisingly well. That said, even the most experienced conference interpreters can occasionally be challenged by a combination of factors such as:

• a very fast speaking pace
• difficult room acoustics
• poor microphone quality
• highly specialised terminology
• strong regional dialects
• heavily accented international English

With experience, however, interpreters develop a remarkable ability. The brain learns to fill in missing pieces almost instantly by drawing on context, language patterns and professional experience.

Even if an individual word is unclear, the meaning of the sentence can often still be understood with a high degree of confidence.

From the outside, that can seem almost a little mysterious.

Unfortunately, yes.

Very often, interpreters notice a less-than-perfect wording the very moment they say it.

A typical thought might be:

“I could have phrased that better.”

The good news is that professional interpreters are usually their own toughest critics.

While they are still reflecting on one expression, the speaker has already moved on to the next sentence—and in most cases, the audience has not noticed anything at all.

Experienced conference interpreters constantly adapt to unexpected situations, remain linguistically flexible and continue interpreting with confidence, even when a particularly demanding passage arises.

Fortunately, most of the small “disasters” interpreters experience never leave the interpreting booth. They exist only in the interpreter’s own mind.

Because conference interpreters have to keep track of an astonishing amount of information at the same time.

During a conference, an interpreting booth quickly fills up with:

• specialist terminology
• names
• figures
• abbreviations
• last-minute corrections
• quick sketches
• arrows
• reminder notes
• and the occasional memory aid that probably only the two interpreters themselves can understand.

Over the years, many interpreters develop their own personal system of colours, symbols, abbreviations and visual cues.

From the outside, it can look a little like the evidence wall in a detective series.

For interpreters, however, those notes are an essential working tool, helping them retrieve names, figures and technical terminology within seconds—even under considerable time pressure.

And somewhere between the water bottles, the headsets and the countless pieces of paper is usually the one note containing exactly the term you’re looking for…

Yes—and they usually have surprisingly similar qualities.

Interpreters particularly appreciate speakers who have:

• a clear structure
• complete, well-formed sentences
• a well-paced delivery
• the occasional pause for breath

They also value speakers who talk naturally, express their ideas clearly and don’t challenge their audience with fourteen subordinate clauses all at once.

Rather less popular are PowerPoint slides containing 200 words in 8-point font, or manuscripts read aloud at breakneck speed.

And many interpreters still remember certain speakers years later—for all the right reasons… or for entirely the opposite ones.

Because speaking for hours at a time is high-performance sport for the voice.

That is why you’ll almost always find bottles of still water in an interpreting booth.

Sparkling water and simultaneous interpreting are not an ideal combination—after all, the audience is only supposed to hear the interpretation.

Coffee, incidentally, is another permanent fixture in many interpreting booths.

Some even joke that conference interpreting is little more than the highly skilled conversion of caffeine into multilingual communication.

Yes. For many years, berlin-communication has supported companies, government ministries, public authorities, international organisations, research institutions and professional associations with multilingual events and international projects.

We regularly support international conferences, specialist events, delegation visits, corporate meetings, scientific conferences, as well as political and business discussions.

Regardless of the sector or event format, our priorities remain the same: outstanding linguistic quality, meticulous preparation, complete confidentiality and personal service.

Whether we are supporting a board meeting, a government ministry or an international medical congress, the objective is always the same: to ensure that the right message reaches the right people.

The better conference interpreters understand a client’s way of working, preferred terminology and specialist requirements, the more effectively they can prepare for future assignments.

Long-term collaboration builds trust, simplifies communication and makes preparation for new projects more efficient.

This is particularly valuable for recurring international conferences, clinical trials, Advisory Boards and corporate events, where familiarity with established terminology, working methods and expectations allows everyone to work more smoothly.

And, if we’re honest, it’s simply more enjoyable when you don’t have to start from scratch every time.

Sometimes, it takes just a few moments to realise: “It’s good to be working together again.”

Professional conference interpreting is about far more than simply converting words from one language into another.

It is about conveying meaning, specialist terminology, context, tone and communicative intent in a way that remains clear, accurate and effective across languages.

At international conferences, negotiations, scientific meetings, clinical trials, political discussions and board meetings, linguistic misunderstandings can have significant professional, organisational and commercial consequences.

Professional conference interpreters do more than enable communication. They allow everyone involved to focus on the discussion itself—rather than on language barriers.

There is, after all, a world of difference between speaking a foreign language and simultaneously interpreting an international conference.

A creative translation on a restaurant menu may raise a smile.

A contract, a clinical trial or an international negotiation is rather less forgiving.

Yes.

Confidentiality is one of the fundamental principles of professional conference interpreting.

Many of our assignments involve sensitive business information, board meetings, contract negotiations, scientific research, clinical trials, medical research, government projects and political discussions. In all of these settings, discretion and confidentiality are not simply expected—they are integral to the profession.

Whenever required, we are, of course, happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Some conversations are best left inside the interpreting booth. Not because we’ve forgotten them—but because confidentiality is part of our professional ethos.

berlin-communication supports companies, government ministries, public authorities, research institutions and international organisations across a wide range of sectors and specialist fields, including:

• Politics & Public Institutions
• Business & Finance
• Engineering & Industry
• Science & Research
• Medicine & Healthcare
• Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Trials & Clinical Research
• Media & Communications
• Culture & International Cooperation

The requirements vary considerably from one assignment to another. Our work ranges from international conferences, specialist congresses and government projects to Advisory Boards, Investigator Meetings, board meetings, highly specialised workshops, clinical trials and scientific conferences.

That is why we carefully select an interpreting team whose specialist knowledge and professional experience are the best possible match for each individual assignment.

Or, to put it another way: one day you may be interpreting a discussion on cancer immunotherapies, the next on satellite technology or quantum computing. It doesn’t take long to realise that no two assignments are ever quite the same—and that’s exactly what makes this profession so fascinating.

In Clinical Trials, Investigator Meetings, Advisory Boards, medical congresses and Healthcare Market Research projects, excellent language skills alone are not enough. What really matters is a solid understanding of medical science, confident command of specialist terminology and a thorough knowledge of the clinical research environment.

Medical conference interpreters facilitate communication between pharmaceutical companies, Contract Research Organisations (CROs), investigational sites, principal investigators, researchers and international expert panels.

What should you look for?

• Proven expertise in medicine, pharmaceuticals and clinical research
• Confident command of medical and scientific terminology
• Thorough project-specific preparation
• Absolute confidentiality
• Extensive experience of international medical meetings and scientific discussions

Advisory Boards, Investigator Meetings and Clinical Trials frequently involve highly specialised medical and scientific discussions. Interpreters therefore need much more than excellent language skills. They must be able to understand complex concepts quickly, prepare thoroughly using the study documentation and communicate specialist content accurately, naturally and with complete confidence.

That is why, for every medical or pharmaceutical project, we carefully select interpreters whose professional background, specialist expertise and experience are the best possible match for the assignment.

Or, to put it another way: when the discussion suddenly turns to PK/PD, SAEs, SUSARs, ePROs, DMC recommendations or estimands, your interpreters should already know those terms—not be looking them up online.

Yes.

berlin-communication supports multilingual events in Berlin, throughout Germany and around the world.

Thanks to our international network of experienced conference interpreters, we provide interpreting services for conferences, corporate projects, delegation visits and specialist multilingual events across a wide range of language combinations—both on site and remotely.

Whether your event takes place in Berlin, Brussels, Barcelona or Boston, we carefully select the interpreting team that best matches your linguistic and specialist requirements.

Good communication knows no borders. Fortunately, neither do our interpreters.

Yes.

In Germany, the professional title “interpreter” is generally not legally protected.

This means that the title alone says very little about a person’s education, professional experience or specialist expertise.

That is why, particularly for international conferences, negotiations, medical meetings and political discussions, it is worth looking closely at an interpreter’s qualifications, specialist knowledge and professional experience.

The conference interpreters working with berlin-communication have completed university-level training in interpreting and translation and have many years of experience supporting international events in business, politics, medicine, science and engineering.

Or, to put it another way: speaking two languages is not the same as being a professional conference interpreter—just as owning a piano does not make someone a concert pianist.

Unfortunately not.

Although, in some meetings, it would certainly be rather useful.

Interpreters do not work with thoughts. They work with language, context, specialist knowledge, experience—and a great deal of concentration.

When a speaker begins a sentence, changes direction halfway through, reformulates it twice and still expects everyone to follow, what interpreters do can occasionally seem almost like magic.

We can’t read minds. But we’re rather good at reading between the lines.

Many interpreters and translators say they do.

People who work with several languages every day occasionally find themselves dreaming in more than one language, with conversations switching effortlessly from one to another.

Some even describe dreams in which different languages blend together naturally—or in which they suddenly find themselves speaking a language fluently that they would never claim to master while awake.

Apparently, the brain sometimes continues working through the day’s linguistic challenges long after the conference has finished.

Or, to put it another way: conferences may finish on time—but the brain doesn’t always get the memo.

Absolutely.

For example:

• a microphone suddenly stops working
• a presentation appears in an entirely different language
• a speaker talks at twice the speed everyone was expecting
• the conference starts before the technical setup has quite been finished

The good news is that experienced conference interpreters and technical partners are well prepared for situations like these. With experience, close teamwork and a healthy dose of improvisation, most challenges can be resolved remarkably quickly.

Or, to put it another way: what looks like a minor emergency to everyone else often falls into the category of “quite an interesting Tuesday” for an experienced conference interpreter.

Quite a few.

Otherwise, simultaneous interpreting would probably be a remarkably short-lived profession.

While speaking one sentence, simultaneous interpreters are already listening to the next, understanding its meaning and formulating it in the target language—all at the same time.

Listening, understanding, analysing, reformulating and speaking happen almost simultaneously, in real time.

That is precisely what makes simultaneous interpreting one of the most demanding forms of interpreting.

Or, to put it another way: there is usually very little time to stop and think—until the applause begins.

Usually a combination of:

• a poor-quality microphone
• a strong accent
• a very fast speaker
• background noise
• and a PowerPoint slide full of unexplained abbreviations.

Fortunately, all of them at once is relatively rare.

Or, to put it another way: in an interpreting booth, that’s sometimes known simply as “a slightly more athletic working day.”

We speak the language of our clients—including when it comes to inclusive language.

Whether you prefer inclusive wording, more traditional language or a neutral style of communication, we follow your preferences. After all, professional interpreting is not about how we would phrase something. It is about conveying your message accurately, authentically and in a way that is appropriate for your audience.

Our clients include government ministries, start-ups, pharmaceutical companies, universities, international organisations and family-owned businesses. Each has its own communication style and linguistic conventions, and professional interpreters adapt accordingly.

Or, to put it another way: good interpreters do not have a linguistic agenda of their own. Our role is to represent yours—accurately, professionally and appropriately for every situation. Because language builds bridges, and part of our job is choosing the linguistic register that best suits each client, audience and occasion.

The technically correct term is conference interpreter or, more specifically, simultaneous interpreter when interpreting takes place in real time.

Unlike translators, who work with written texts, interpreters work with the spoken word.

Over the years, however, we’ve heard all sorts of creative alternatives: live translator, simultaneous translator, the voice in the headset—and occasionally simply the interpreter.

Don’t worry.

We answer to all of them.

Or, to put it another way: we’re fairly relaxed about what people call us – it’s the interpreting that we prefer to keep precise.

Choosing just one would be almost impossible.

Over the years, we have interpreted at shipyards, power stations, laboratories, government ministries, production facilities, research institutes and hospitals—as well as the occasional venue where the technical equipment was already being installed before anyone had quite decided where the audience would actually be sitting.

Some assignments feel almost as much like a logistical puzzle as an interpreting assignment.

Over time, you come to realise that a conference interpreter’s workplace can be remarkably varied. And every now and then, the interpreting booth ends up in exactly the place where you would least expect to find it.

It is a question we are being asked more and more frequently.

The short answer is: we don’t believe so.

Artificial intelligence is developing at an extraordinary pace. Today, it can already translate conversations, generate subtitles and support straightforward multilingual communication remarkably well.

Professional conference interpreting, however, involves far more than converting words from one language into another. International conferences, political discussions, scientific meetings, Clinical Trials, Advisory Boards and complex negotiations require specialist knowledge, cultural awareness, sound judgement and the ability to respond appropriately to unexpected developments within seconds.

That is why we see artificial intelligence not as a competitor, but as a valuable tool. Many conference interpreters already use AI-assisted technologies for terminology research, preparation and first drafts of written translations.

The future is unlikely to be a choice between people or technology.

It is far more likely to be about combining the strengths of both.

And until an AI can recognise irony, interpret an unexpected question, adapt instantly to a speaker who abandons the script halfway through—and still know when not to translate something literally—professional conference interpreters will continue to play an essential role at many international events.