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Interpreting during a symbolic ceremony
Alessandra and Carlo fulfilled their dream of getting married on a gorgeous farm in Puglia. They celebrated together with their families and friends from around the world, who were able to follow the ceremony thanks to simultaneous interpreting from Italian to English.
Background
Collaboration
The services I provided to Alessandra and Carlo began several months prior to the event, with several videocalls to pinpoint their requirements and the set-up at the venue.
A few days before the wedding, I contacted the officiant to have a look over the text for the ceremony and explore any nuances.
We settled on a discreet solution to transmit the audio for foreign guests, using a listening channel on an online videoconferencing platform which each guest could connect their own device to, listening to the English translation from their seats among the other guests, without earphones or other visible equipment.
Challenges
Alessandra and Carlo’s wedding posed several challenges.
Location and environmental conditions
The ceremony was held in the farm’s pine grove. This was a beautiful location but it was exposed to the wind, which risked carrying away the voices and making it difficult to hear.
Positioning
To avoid any disturbance to guests and maintain direct visibility of the altar, I positioned myself behind the seating, in a separate row. This choice was agreed with the couple for a more discreet approach without compromising interpreting quality.
Surprise speeches
Not all of the guests had sent their congratulations in advance. There were some unplanned speeches, which required a cool head and the ability to adapt on the fly.
Technical aspects
At the couple’s request, we opted for a discreet solution without visible equipment. Each foreign guest connected their own device to a channel on an online platform to receive the English translation, remaining comfortably seated amongst the other guests. However, this service relied on factors outside of my control, such as a stable Internet connection and the correct functioning of the platform.
Reduced Décalage
With simultaneous interpreting, there is always a slight delay between the original speech and the translated speech, referred to as décalage. To enable foreign guests to follow the ceremony together with their Italian counterparts, perceiving the same emotions and reacting in synch with the rest of the audience, I adapted my technique to keep the lag to an absolute minimum. This requires extreme concentration and the ability to constantly anticipate the direction of speech.
When Carlo’s mother was overcome with emotion and faltered, I mirrored her pauses and the emotion in her voice. When Alessandra’s best friend told some amusing anecdotes, I captured the wit, and those listening in English smiled with the Italian guests.
The outcome
Interpreting of the vows, childhood stories, voices faltering with joy and sincere smiles created an authentic and moving atmosphere. I was not on autopilot in another language, but offered a familiar voice capable of transmitting all of the day’s emotions to those who didn’t speak Italian.
What the couple had to say…
“Valentina played an essential role in uniting our two worlds: that of our Italian roots and that of our international friends from various countries. During the symbolic ceremony, Valentina provided simultaneous interpreting into English of the various declarations and speeches, and it was so fluent that everyone laughed and felt the emotion together. It wasn’t just a translation, but a running narration that allowed all of our guests to really feel involved in our special moment.”
Alessandra and Carlo, married in Puglia
