Simultaneous interpreters as such are highly sociable. They detest solitude, mainly because we work in the field of communication and we like to be and to interact with other people. And most of all, we detest to be alone in the booth. Simultaneous interpretation requires a high level of concentration and cannot be performed for a period of more than 30 minutes. After that, we lose the so-called “output control” . In plain words: we might start saying nonsense without even noticing. Or we suddenly cannot remember basic vocab, like “train station” or “butter”. To avoid these glitches, simultaneous interpreters work in pairs in the booth, to alternate and to ensure a steadily high level of quality. That’s what the customer rightly expects from us and that’s what we deliver (working conditions allowing).
