Professional Practice Conditions

ATIO subscribes to the following principles, as adopted by the Canadian Association of Conference Interpreters (CACI), the Canadian chapter of the International Association of Conference Interpreters(AIIC)

Professional Practice Conditions for Conference Interpreters in Canada

Conference interpreters are recruited by the day. Given the physical and mental fatigue they sustain due to their high level of concentration, they work in teams. The number of interpreters in a team and the makeup of the team are to be determined according to the hours of work, the working languages, the mode of interpretation and the type of conference.

Thus, teams of interpreters shall include at least:

For simultaneous or whispered Interpretation

i.	for meetings with two working languages, working both ways in a single booth: o maximum 40 minutes 1 interpreter o maximum 3.5 to 4 hours 2 interpreters o maximum 6 hours 3 interpreters o maximum 8 hours 4 interpreters
ii.	for meetings with three working languages: at least six interpreters
iii.	for meetings with four or more working languages: at least two interpreters per booth, and three interpreters in booths with a heavy workload or where interpreters are working both ways

The use of relay should be avoided. As well, one team member should not be exclusively responsible for interpretation from any given language.

The number of interpretation booths is equal to the number of languages into which interpreters work, except in the case of conferences with two working languages, which only require one booth.

For consecutive Interpretation and a normal six-hour day

i.	in a two-language meeting into those two languages: at least two interpreters
ii.	in a three-language meeting into those three languages: at least three interpreters

Published by kind permission of ACIC
http://canada.aiic.net

Professional Standards in Canada

TEAMS OF INTERPRETERS

Given the physical and mental fatigue that are caused by sustained concentration, certain constraints will necessarily apply to the composition of teams in order to guarantee that the work done will be of an optimum quality.

The minimum number of interpreters required to make up a team is a function of these constraints as well as the mode of interpretation, the number of languages used, the language classifications of the interpreters making up the team, the nature of the conference, its duration and the workload.

The number of interpreters indicated below shall be increased if:

•	the language combinations are such that the minimum number of interpreters shown on the table is insufficient to cover them;
•	the working hours are long;
•	the conference involves the presentation of a large number of written statements or is of a technical or scientific nature requiring extensive preparation.

1.Consecutive Interpretation

TEAM STRENGTH TABLE – CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETATION

Number of Languages Used	Minimum Number of Interpreters
From 2 languages into these 2 languages	2
From 3 languages into these 3 languages	3

Note: In exceptional cases and on condition that quality and health-related principles are safeguarded, a single interpreter may be hired instead of two, or two interpreters instead of three, for meetings of short duration.

2. Whispered Interpretation

For a conference involving the interpretation of one or two languages into one other language and where there are no more than two listeners, whether or not consecutive interpretation is provided in the other direction, at least two interpreters shall be required. In general, the staffing is the same as for simultaneous interpretation (see 3. Staffing Table).

3. Simultaneous Interpretation

As a general rule, a team is composed of at least two interpreters per language and per booth. This is to ensure adequate coverage of all language combinations and to guarantee the necessary quality. In the case of conferences with two working languages, the team is composed of three interpreters.
Teams of interpreters must be put together in such a way as to avoid the systematic use of relay. However, when there is no alternative to the use of relay for a given language, the team shall comprise at least two interpreters able to provide a relay from that language. In addition, if the relay is provided from a two-way booth, at least three interpreters shall work in that booth.
An interpreter shall not, as a general rule, work alone in a simultaneous interpretation booth, without the availability of a colleague to relieve her or him should the need arise, except, on an exceptional basis, for meetings lasting under 40 minutes.
The number of interpretation booths is the same as the number of target languages, except for the case of two-language conferences where a single booth may suffice.

TEAM STRENGTH TABLE - SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION IN BOOTHS

Number of languages used in the conference room	Number of booths	Number of interpreters
From 2 languages into these 2 languages maximum 40 minutes maximum 3 ½ to 4 hours maximum 6 hours maximum 8 hours	1 1 1	2 3 4
From 3 languages into these 3 languages	3	6
From 4 languages into these 4 languages	4	8
From 5 languages into these 5 languages	5	from 10 to 15

INTERPRETER'S WORKING DAY

Given the constraints related to quality and health, the normal duration of an interpreter's working day shall not exceed two sessions of between two-and-a-half and three hours each.

Published by kind permission of ACIC
http://canada.aiic.net