Attendance interpreting | Professional interpreters

November 13, 2025

Even though online interpreting has become a natural part of everyday life, many people still choose traditional in-person interpreting.
And there’s a good reason for that.

“Interpreters pick up on nuances when they sit with the person whose language is being interpreted. Facial expressions, mood and body language play a big role,”
tells Diane and Erik from OnLine Translation.

When the interpreter is physically present, they must be able to read the situation in the room and react to moods, pauses and unspoken signals. This creates a sense of security and trust – especially in sensitive contexts such as school-home conversations, family matters or in the criminal justice system.

1. Safety and trust in space

A key difference between online and in-person interpreting is about security.
With in-person interpreting, you are sure who is in the room – and who is hearing the conversation. This means a lot in cases where confidentiality is crucial.

“The interpreter must inspire confidence so that the client feels safe and understood. In the criminal justice system, this requires empathy and situational awareness – and the ability to remain neutral,”
explains Erik from OnLine Translation.

The interpreter is not a participant, but a tool – a professional communicator without opinions. This role requires humility and respect for the situation.

2. Professional interpreters with ethics and training

OnLine Translation places high demands on its interpreters. They must be presentable, well-trained and familiar with their subject area. Many have completed interpreting courses and are approved by the Danish National Police, especially when working in criminal cases.

In addition, the interpreters’ specialist terminology – e.g. legal or healthcare – is tested to ensure accuracy and quality.
As Erik and Diane explain – after almost four decades in the business:

“We have 100% skilled interpreters – and it shows in the quality of the work.”

3. Confidentiality and neutrality – the basic principles of interpreting

Interpreters must always maintain confidentiality and neutrality. This applies to everything from family matters to court cases.
Interpreters must not take sides, make small talk with the client or participate in breaks – all to ensure complete neutrality.

4. Continuity and trust in collaboration

At OnLine Translation, we often use the same interpreters for regular customers. This provides security and continuity in the collaboration – for both clients and courts.

When judges and caseworkers know the interpreter, it creates a mutual trust that makes the work more efficient and credible.

5. Attendance interpretation in practice

Attendance interpretation is not just a practical solution – it’s a relational and human task. It requires professionalism, situational awareness and ethics.
And in a time when so much is going digital, presence, understanding and the human factor are still needed.