Welcome to the website of the Dolmetscher-Gruppe Frankfurt
We are a network of independent interpreters with many years of professional experience in a wide range of languages and specialist subjects.
As professional interpreters we offer both simultaneous and consecutive interpreting, put together multilingual teams of interpreters, and advise on the choice of conference technology. We also provide comprehensive specialist consultation, quality control and legal security.
Our members belong to a professional association.
If you have any questions please contact one of us directly or visit our internet Forum.
Click on the language to find the contact person. You can reach some one quickly to discuss your requirements. Our central location in Frankfurt am Main enables us to take on assignments at very short notice.
Politics
In political contexts it is essential to find the right tone. Carefully packaged messages, specific features of the countries involved, and statements that can have huge impacts all demand top-level interpreting. Professional interpreters apply cultural and linguistic competence to choose the correct wording for transferring delicate messages. In political settings, simultaneous interpreting and whispering are the most common forms of interpreting, but consecutive interpreting is also sometimes required.
Business
In view of the ever-increasing connectedness of the global economy, business partners may engage one or more interpreters so that they can communicate in their mother tongue. The negotiating parties can express their standpoint in various ways, sure that their arguments will be reproduced precisely. Conference interpreters understand the situation and the language used, facilitate mutual understanding and co-operation, and help the participants avoid misunderstandings. A well-prepared conference interpreter has covered the subject matter and the language used in business relations, accounting, purchasing, marketing, sales and logistics. Depending on the situation, liaison interpreting or whispering may be appropriate.
EWC, European Works Councils
The increasingly international nature of production and sales activities has resulted in many firms establishing operations in several EU countries. When the European works councils, European forums or their steering committees hold meetings all the participants should be able to present the concerns of the workers they represent and to understand all the information supplied by the corporate management. Simultaneous interpreters make an invaluable contribution by ensuring that the multilingual meetings run smoothly.
Media
Interviews with politicians and business people from other countries provide insights into foreign cultures, mentalities and behaviour, which fosters international understanding and opinion-forming. Conference interpreters are familiar with the cultures of other countries. This fact, together with their high level of linguistic competence, promotes excellent mutual understanding. The interpreters work simultaneously – more or less invisibly – in the background. Occasionally consecutive interpreting or liaison interpreting is also needed.
Industry
The keen trade within the EU often entails purchases and/or sales in other EU member states. An experienced interpreter assists the trading partners right from the first preliminary discussions and contract negotiations, all the way to quality controls and acceptance of the goods. When it comes to imports and exports the interpreter has prepared thoroughly using documents, handbooks, etc., and compiled a glossary relevant to the particular company. The topics may range from IT (information technology / computing) and the automotive sector, mechanical engineering, construction, aerospace and ultrasound equipment, all the way to chemistry and the production of pharmaceuticals. Professional interpreters may cover topics such as medical technology, fashion, mail order, food production and railways – and many others – using documents and their own research. The most common form of interpreting in this field is liaison interpreting.
Finance
Syndicated loans, stock market flotations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, road shows, takeovers and financing from investment banks are becoming increasingly international in our globally interconnected world. Experienced and well-prepared interpreters assist the business partners, put the “message” across, and enable the partners to understand one another correctly. Depending on the size of the event (conference, partners’ meeting, business planning in smaller groups, management meetings, supervisory board meetings, etc.), either simultaneous interpreting or liaison interpreting may be appropriate.
Tourism and event management
International travel events, hotel chains, co-operative projects and hoteliers’ alliances all require communication in several languages. With the support and experience of conference interpreters, all the participants can be sure they will understand everything and be correctly understood by the others. Simultaneous interpreting, liaison interpreting or whispering may be appropriate, depending on the size of the conference or event.
Education, vocational training, seminars and training courses
Establishing the equivalence of qualifications, cross-border company training, international courses and trade union seminars all demand international meetings with multilingual interpreting. Good simultaneous interpreters enable all the participants to follow what is going on at the same time and to add their own contributions, which are likewise understood by all the participants. The success of such training courses and seminars depends not only on the quality of the materials and presentations, but also on correct reproduction by professional interpreters.
Environmental protection
International cooperation on environmental protection issues and cross-border trade in environmentally friendly technologies or renewable energy require negotiations and discussions. Interpreters prepare the subject meticulously, compile glossaries, and then as simultaneous interpreters or liaison interpreters they assist the negotiating parties.
Law
When it comes to negotiating contracts or proceedings in court, where lawyers and other legal professionals are interpreted, every word and every shade of meaning is important. Any oversight can have serious consequences. Excellent linguistic skills, experience and careful preparation on the part of the interpreter help the players to understand one another. During contract negotiations or court proceedings, interpreters generally work as liaison interpreters, although whispering and consecutive interpreting may be appropriate for a small number of listeners, and simultaneous interpreting is also sometimes used.
Types of interpreting
There are four main types of interpreting:
Simultaneous interpreting
The interpreters sit in a sound-proofed booth and render what the speaker says immediately in the target language. This means that the speaker and the interpreter speak at the same time (i.e. simultaneously). Simultaneous interpreters should be engaged for larger events, conferences with two or more languages, and meetings where too much time would be lost with consecutive interpreting. As simultaneous interpreting requires a great deal of concentration, the interpreters have to swap over every 20 to 30 minutes. The organisers therefore have to engage a sufficient number of interpreters.
Video Conferencing / Web Conferences / Teleconferences
If a face-to-face meeting is not possible or not desired, as conference interpreters we’ll be happy to advise you on RSI (remote simultaneous interpreting).
Specially programmed internet platforms are available for RSI. Some interpretation equipment firms also offer solutions called “hubs”. In this case the interpreters and technicians are present on-site, while the conference participants take part in the meeting on their computers.
We’ll be happy to advise you.
Consecutive interpreting
In consecutive interpreting, the interpreter renders the text in the target language after the speaker has spoken. This means that the target language follows the original in sections while the speaker takes a break. Consecutive interpreting is suitable for relatively short speeches (e.g. after-dinner speeches) and for negotiations where the interpreter is required to be present with those negotiating. Consecutive interpreting requires about twice as much time as simultaneous interpreting.
Whispering (“Chuchotage”)
Whispering / chuchotage means that the interpreter speaks at the same time as the speaker, but without any technical aids. Whispering / chuchotage is appropriate for work in small groups, e.g. during site visits, but it cannot replace simultaneous interpreting because the speaker and the interpreters talk at the same time in the same room, which is always slightly disruptive. As whispering / chuchotage requires the same level of concentration as simultaneous interpreting (or even more), longer events will also need two interpreters for each target language.
Liaison interpreting
Liaison interpreting is used for face-to-face situations. Short passages are spoken in the original language and then rendered in the target language.
