Interpreters sit in conference rooms and listen to the source language while taking notes. When the speaker ends or stops waiting for the interpreter, the interpreter uses the clear and natural target language to accurately and completely re-express the entire information of the speech, just as if he were speaking. Consecutive interpretation in conference interpretation requires that the interpreter be able to listen to continuous speeches for up to five to ten minutes, and use good speaking techniques to completely and accurately translate all of its contents.
Consecutive interpretation is often used in smaller venues involving only two working languages, such as diplomatic meetings, bilateral negotiations, visits, small-scale consultations, interviews with reporters, judicial and quasi-judicial processes, party speeches, press conferences, and short seminars.
Compared with simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation requires longer momentary memory, more accurate and specialized translations. As an independent subject, consecutive interpretation has its own features and rules.