Video vs. Telephone Interpreting: Which Is Right for You?
Remote interpreting has transformed how organisations access interpreting services. Both video and telephone interpreting offer straightforward on-demand access to professional interpreters. Yet each format has its own particular strengths.
Telephone interpreting: speed and simplicity
Telephone interpreting connects you to a professional interpreter via a standard call. It is the fastest way to access interpreting services. Most providers connect you within a few minutes. We do it in seconds! A landline or mobile connection is all you need.
Video interpreting: visual context
Video interpreting offers a visual component that helps reach the goal of a conversation faster and without misunderstandings, while also building trust. Facial expressions, gestures and body language make video interpreting the ideal choice for, for example, psychiatric assessments, child protection interviews and demanding medical consultations.
Comparing cost and practicality
Telephone interpreting is cost-effective, fast and easy to set up. Video interpreting requires a device with a camera and a stable internet connection. Many organisations use both — overall affordable — formats and choose the appropriate one depending on the situation.
Whether video or telephone, the interpreter must be excellent.
Of course the technical equipment has to work. But the quality of an interpreted conversation depends above all on the interpreter's skill: accuracy, completeness, experience in the relevant subject matter, neutrality and cultural competence. For regulated industries, look for INTERPRET-certified interpreters.
Two options, two advantages
When things need to move fast or when it is about clarifying something quickly, telephone interpreting is unbeatable. When a visual encounter is necessary or valued, video interpreting is clearly the method of choice. It is also ideal for an exchange that includes emotional content and provides accessibility, as it allows for sign language.
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