Definition & Overview
Décalage (French for 'time lag' or 'offset') refers to the unavoidable cognitive interval required for a simultaneous interpreter to hear, comprehend, mentally synthesize, and formulate a spoken message into the target language. In standard conference settings, normal décalage ranges from 2.5 to 4 seconds.
Operational Rules & Standard Guidance
- Normal single-booth décalage is 2.5 to 4 seconds.
- In 2-stage relay chains, décalage compounds to 6 to 8 seconds for downstream listeners.
- Fast-paced debate or rapid numeric presentations require speakers to pace delivery to avoid cognitive buffer overflow.
Operational Impact: Proper management of décalage (ear-voice span) ensures conference coordinators and AV technicians prevent acoustic feedback and timing errors. In multi-lingual sessions with relay interpretation, décalage compounds down the chain, requiring dual-interpreter rotations every 30 minutes to prevent cognitive breakdown.
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