Parliamentary Interpretation

This service available to Parliament only

The Parliamentary Interpretation Service provides official languages interpretation for:

  • the debates in the Senate, the House of Commons, Cabinet and their committees;
  • press conferences;
  • the proceedings of parliamentary associations.

Interpreters regularly accompany Senators and MPs who belong to parliamentary committees when they travel in Canada and abroad.

The three types of interpretation

There are three types of interpretation:

  1. simultaneous interpretation, which is provided from a fixed or mobile interpretation booth equipped with a console, a microphone and earphones;
  2. consecutive interpretation, where the interpreter translates what has been said as soon as the speaker finishes speaking; and
  3. elbow interpretation, where the interpreter follows the proceedings in the same room and in a low voice translates what is being said into the client's ear.

Interpreters work in teams of two or three, depending on the length of the assignment, and spell each other every 20 minutes.

The most common form of interpretation is simultaneous interpretation from a booth, which because of the technology used limits ambient noise and interference and provides the highest quality of translation.

Information

Please contact the Parliamentary Services and Interpretation for more information about the services provided by Parliamentary Translation or to request our services.

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