An Overview of Interpreting-Related ISO Standards

This article has been prepared with the help of João Garcia, Head of Development at Interprefy and member of ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 37/SC 5 working on the international standard to regulate Simultaneous Interpreting Delivery Platforms ISO/DIS 24019.

This overview will be updated regularly.

SO/PAS 24019:2020 Simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms — Requirements and recommendations

Project leaders: Marguerite Lely (convenor), Klaus Ziegler

The use of simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms is a new field of activities for interpreters. Parameters and conditions for using these services in settings where the interpreters are, or are not, in the same room as participants and speakers are still under development. Meanwhile, developers, providers and users need information about basic requirements and recommendations relating to these platforms.

This document specifies requirements and recommendations for using simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms in settings where the interpreters are, or are not, in the same room as participants and speakers at a communicative event.

This document has been developed as a Publicly Available Specification, prior to the development of an International Standard on simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms. It is likely that the content of this document will form the basis of an ISO standard in due course.

Publication date: 2020-01
Next: under development ISO/DIS 24019
ISO/PAS 24019:2020

ISO 20109:2016 Simultaneous interpreting — Equipment — Requirements

Project leaders: Marguerite Lely (convenor), Klaus Ziegler

This document specifies the components of typical interpreting equipment, which together with either permanent (ISO 2603) or mobile (ISO 4043) booths, form the interpreter’s working environment.

In conjunction with either ISO 2603 or ISO 4043, ISO 20108 and this document provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths.

Publication date: 2016-12
Status: Systematic review (required every 5 years) started 15th April 2021.
ISO 20109:2016

 

ISO 2603:2016 Simultaneous interpreting — Permanent booths — Requirements

Project leaders: Marguerite Lely (convenor), Klaus Ziegler

This document provides requirements and recommendations for building and renovating permanent booths for simultaneous interpreting in new and existing buildings. This document also ensures the usability and accessibility of booths for all interpreters, including those with special needs.

It is applicable to all types of permanent booths, using built-in or portable equipment.

In conjunction with either this document or ISO 4043, ISO 20108 and ISO 20109 provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths.

Publication date: 2016-12
Status: Systematic review (required every 5 years) planned to start 15th October 2021.
ISO 2603:2016

 

ISO 4043:2016 Simultaneous interpreting — Mobile booths — Requirements

Project leaders: Marguerite Lely (convenor), Klaus Ziegler

This document provides requirements and recommendations for the manufacturing of mobile simultaneous interpreting booths. The main features of mobile booths that distinguish them from permanent simultaneous interpreting booths are that they can be dismantled, moved and set up in a conference room not equipped with permanent booths. This document also ensures the usability and accessibility of booths for all interpreters, including those with special needs.

In conjunction with either ISO 2603 or this document, ISO 20108 and ISO 20109 provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths.

Publication date: 2016-12
Status: Systematic review (required every 5 years) planned to start 15th October 2021.
ISO 4043:2016

 

ISO 20108:2017 Simultaneous interpreting — Quality and transmission of sound and image input — Requirements

Project leaders: Marguerite Lely (convenor), Klaus Ziegler

This document sets out requirements for the quality and transmission of sound and image input to interpreters and specifies the characteristics of the audio and video signals. The components of typical interpreting systems are specified in ISO 20109. Together with either permanent (see ISO 2603) or mobile (see ISO 4043) booths, these interpreting systems form the interpreters’ working environment. In addition to setting out the requirements for on-site interpreting, where participants (speakers and members of the audience) and interpreters are at the same location, this document specifies requirements for different varieties of distance interpreting situations in which the interpreters are not at the same location as one or more of the conference participants.

This document also addresses the work of manufacturers and providers of simultaneous interpreting equipment and technical staff.

In conjunction with either ISO 2603 or ISO 4043, this document and ISO 20109 provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths, the conference room and the distant site(s).

Publication date: 2017-10
ISO 20108:2017

 

ISO 20228:2019: Interpreting services — Legal interpreting — Requirements

This document establishes the basic principles and practices of legal interpreting services, and specifies the competences of legal interpreters. It also describes the various legal settings and provides recommendations for the corresponding interpreting modes.

It is applicable to all parties involved in facilitating communication between users of legal services using a spoken or signed language.

Publication date: 2019-04
ISO 20228:2019

 

ISO 18841:2018: Interpreting services — General requirements and recommendations

This document specifies basic requirements for the provision of interpreting services. Additionally, it provides recommendations of good practice.

NOTE Interpreting specializations/specialized interpreting services can be covered in other International Standards (e.g. ISO 20228, Legal interpreting).

Publication date: 2018-01
ISO 18841:2018

 

ISO 13611:2014: Interpreting — Guidelines for community interpreting

This document establishes criteria and recommendations for community interpreting during oral and signed communication that enables access to services for people who have limited proficiency in the language of such services. Community interpreting occurs in a wide variety of private and public settings and supports equal access to community and/or public services.

ISO 13611:2014 addresses community interpreting as a profession, not as an informal practice such as interpreting performed by friends, family members, children, or other persons who do not have the competences and qualifications specified in this International Standard or who do not follow a relevant Code of Ethics.

Publication date: 2014-12
Next: under development ISO/AWI 13611
ISO 13611:2014

 

ISO 20539:2019: Translation, interpreting and related technology — Vocabulary

This document provides the vocabulary for translation, interpreting and related technology standards.

Publication date: 2019/12
Next: under development ISO/AWI 20539
ISO 20539:2019

 

ISO/FDIS 23155: Interpreting services — Conference interpreting — Requirements and recommendations

Under development

Isabella Massardo

Content strategist at GALA. A linguist and technologist who has lived in Italy, Russia and the Netherlands. Through GALA, Isabella offers the translation community content that’s relevant, reliable, and timely. She is always on the lookout for thought-provoking globalization and localization topics.