This section presents additional findings offered by interpreters, PCOs, and
conference hall operators regarding issues peripherally related to booths.
1. Number of Conference Centers in Taipei
The general consensus among interpreters and professional corporate organizers
is that the venues chosen for this study (TICC, NTUH International Convention
Center, Grand Hotel, GIS, Howard International House Taipei, and NCL) are the most
frequented in Taipei. In addition to the venues observed for this study, Subjects A
through H also noted fixed booths for simultaneous interpretation in National Taiwan
Science Education Center, Foreign Service Institute, Taipei Public Library, Taipei
County Library, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taiwan Academy of Banking and
Finance, Liberty Square Convention Center, Civil Aeronautics Administration, Taipei
County Government, National Defense University, National Institute for Compilation
and Translation, and many university conference halls, such as National Taiwan
Normal University, NTNU Gongguan Branch, National Chengchi University’s Center
for Public & Business Administration Education, Fu Jen Catholic University’s Divine
Word Academic Highrise, National Taiwan University of Arts, and Chinese Culture
University.
2. Number of Conferences per Year and Number of Times SI Booths Were Used
In 2006, a total of 703 conferences were held at the Taipei International
Convention Center, 21 of which were international conferences. However, there was
no data as to how many used conference/simultaneous interpretation, or how often the
interpretation booths were used.
The number of conferences the Howard International House Taipei has hosted in
one year and the number of times which booths for simultaneous interpretation were
used could not be determined. However, according to Subject J’s estimate, only
approximately 30-40% of all international conferences at Howard International House
Taipei used simultaneous interpretation.
The National Central Library hosted 77 conferences in 2006, only 4 of which
used interpretation booths. As of June 2007, 23 conferences were held this year, 8 of
which used interpretation booths.
One PCO interviewed handles approximately 1,000 conferences per year, 600 to
700 of which use interpretation. Of these conferences, most use simultaneous and not
consecutive interpretation.
The other PCO interviewed organizes approximately 100 conferences a year.
However, he mentioned that the number of conferences may vary, since different
institutions have different definitions of “international conference.” According to the
definition by the Taiwan Convention & Exhibition Association as stated on the
Meetings Exhibitions Events Travel Taiwan website, an international conference must
have delegates from more than five countries, over 100 participants, and whose
foreign participants must account for at least 40% of total participants or have at least
80 foreign participants. The TICC defines “international conference” by three criteria
set by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA): (a) the
conference has to have at least 50 participants, (b) there must be at least three
participating countries, and (c) the conference has to be held on a rotating basis.
3. Who Interpreters Voice Their Comments or Complaints to
All interpreters interviewed responded that, when faced with poorly designed
booths, they did indeed give voice to their comments or complaints. Subject A
mentioned interpreters usually do not have any direct access to conference hall
operators, so she usually shares her thoughts with the agents, or PCOs, who will
hopefully convey the comments to the conference organizer. Subjects B, C, and E
directly tell the conference organizer, whose only recourse is to use a different venue
next time. Sometimes, the on-site staff or technician is contacted, as Subjects B, E,
and F mention, either directly by the interpreter or indirectly through the conference
organizer; however, rarely is anyone able to respond and make changes to the
environment of the fixed booth.
4.5 Summary
This study investigated the current conditions of select venues and their
conformance or nonconformance with ISO 2603 through field studies, the importance
of various factors and the degree to which needs were met in select booths as rated by
interpreters in the survey questionnaire, and the views of interpreters, professional
corporate organizers, and conference hall operators towards booths for simultaneous
interpretation through interviews.
Nine booths were studied at six convention centers, the selection of which was
chosen after initial interviews with PCOs and later verified by interpreters as being
the most frequented venues in Taipei. Booth factors from ten categories were
observed or measured and compared against the standards set out in ISO 2603. None
of the booths observed fully conformed to ISO 2603 standards. Common points of
nonconformance include the booth being placed too far or at too steep an angle from
the podium, lack of indication of assigned languages and channels near the doors,
insufficient booth size, poor visibility, insufficient window size and lack of side
windows, lack of independent temperature regulator within the booth, lack of dimmer
switches for lighting, insufficient working surface, and uncomfortable seating.
The findings from the survey questionnaire show that interpreters consider issues
of sound transmission quality, acoustic separation, certain aspects of visibility,
windows, lighting, working surface, seating, silence of doors, and booth size to be
quite important. In terms of the physical/environmental factors for specific booths,
respondents feel that some of the needs, such as visibility and window size, were not
fulfilled by certain booths.
Through interviews, this study found that booth size, visibility, windows, and
ventilation are of great importance to interpreters, and poor design with regard to the
factors can cause discomfort or distraction, and may adversely affect the quality of
interpretation. Acoustics, although not a focus of this study, is also a concern for
interpreters, and one of the primary considerations for PCO companies and
conference organizers in selecting venues. Interpreters also felt that certain
improvements, including dimmer switches for lights and comfortable chairs and
tables could be added easily, along with other amenities, such as window curtains,
power outlets and internet access, and drinking fountains.
The following chapter discusses these findings and their implications in further
detail.