A whisper set in the courtroom: faster and more accessible

In a courtroom, everyone must be able to follow the proceedings, including those who do not speak the language. At the same time, interpretation must not hold up or disrupt the hearing. A whisper set such as the Sennheiser Tourguide 2020-D makes simultaneous interpreting in court simple, fast and discreet. In this article you can read how it works and why it suits the justice system so well.

What is the Sennheiser Tourguide 2020-D?

The Sennheiser Tourguide 2020-D is a digital, wireless system with transmitters, receivers and chargers. It works in a licence-free frequency band, so no permit or installation is needed. The receivers last up to 16 hours on a single charge. The equipment is rugged and intuitive to use. Combined with the hygienic Orpheo Airset headphones, it makes a strong combination for prolonged use.

In a court case the system serves as a whisper set: the interpreter speaks softly into a microphone and the listeners hear the interpretation through an earpiece or headphones. The hearing itself continues undisturbed.

Faster thanks to simultaneous interpreting

With consecutive interpreting, everyone waits for the translation after each sentence. With a whisper set, the interpreter translates simultaneously, without pauses. That saves a lot of time, especially in complex cases with long witness statements.

In international cases involving several languages, the floor language simply remains the working language of the hearing. Only those who need it receive an interpretation. The system is also quick to set up: no interpreting booths and no cabling.

Accessible and discreet

Accessibility is essential in the justice system: everyone must be able to follow the proceedings, whatever their language. Non-native speakers hear the interpretation live, which improves their understanding and their participation. Whispered interpreting is also discreet: the interpretation can only be heard by those wearing a receiver. With a whisper set, the interpreter does reach several listeners at once, so nothing has to be repeated. According to translation specialists and interpreting platforms, whispered interpreting is ideally suited to small groups in a legal setting.

Tips for use

• Make sure all receivers are fully charged: with 16 hours of battery life you will easily get through a long day in court.
• Test the channels beforehand, especially if interpretation takes place in several languages at once.
• Give the interpreter a quiet spot with a view of the speakers.
• Use hygienic headphones or disposable earpieces.

Conclusion

A whisper set speeds up the proceedings through simultaneous interpreting and makes the justice system more accessible to non-native speakers, without disrupting the hearing. GuideXpresse rents out the Sennheiser Tourguide 2020-D as an interpretation system, even for a single day. Also read What is a whisper set?