Let’s Talk About Décalage

By: Jiraporn-Ann H. Huynh

I’m a big fan of revisiting the building blocks of all things.

That is, the foundational knowledge that helps us build our skills. 

Recently, I had a discussion with some of my colleagues about décalage, which, to be honest, was something that I have learned after I have become an interpreter. For many of us, as with so many seasoned colleagues, me included, interpreting became a natural thread in our lives long before we ever practiced it raw, with the formal mastery of its techniques arriving much later in our careers. It was on autopilot, and just part of the practice!

Before I entered the magical world of the interpreting profession, I would often mishear the word “décalage” as “décolletage” (day-kohl-uh-TAHZH).  Then I’d be scratching my head, wondering, “Wait a minute, what does the neck, collarbones, and upper chest have to do with interpreting skills?” It reminded me when I was younger, I used to hear the word “décolletage” quite often while watching TV. Skincare commercials in Thailand would regularly say something along the lines of, “Apply the product all over your face, and don’t forget to extend it down to your neck, collarbones, and upper chest (décolletage) to ensure your skin gets all the nourishment it needs.”

It wasn’t until I’d been in the profession for a while that I finally figured out what décalage actually meant.

Even my boomer Scottish friend thought the two words were the same! I was so proud when I got to tell her, “Nope! They are two completely different words with entirely different meanings.”

Décalage (pronounced roughly day-kah-lahzh) is a French word that, in interpreting, refers to the time lag between hearing the original speech and delivering it in the target language. This gap gives interpreters time to process meaning, group information, and restructure sentences to suit the target language, rather than having to translate every word immediately.

A related term is Ear-Voice Span (EVS), which refers to the interval between hearing a speaker's words and beginning to render their meaning aloud. Depending on the context, décalage and Ear-Voice Span (EVS) are often used interchangeably.

Below is an example of interpreting from English to my A language, Thai.

Example 1

The speaker speaks in English:

“Today, we will discuss climate change.”

The interpreter listens and begins processing the message before rendering it in Thai:

“วันนี้ เราจะพูดคุยเกี่ยวกับการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ” (“Today, we will discuss climate change.”)

Example 2

• 00:00—The English-speaking presenter says: “The government announced a new policy.”

• 00:03—The interpreter renders the message in Thai: “รัฐบาลประกาศนโยบายใหม่” (“The government announced a new policy.”)

In both examples, the approximate three-second interval is the décalage, or Ear–Voice Span (EVS).

Why Is Décalage Important in Simultaneous Interpreting? You might ask.

Well, if the interpreter rushes or maintains a décalage that is too short, they may not have fully understood the meaning of the sentence before beginning to interpret it. This can lead to inaccuracies or distortions in meaning.

On the other hand, a décalage that is too long can become a burden, making it difficult for the interpreter to retain information/register and keep up with the speaker.



An appropriate décalage allows interpreters to understand the message accurately and deliver it naturally in the target language.

So next time you work in simultaneous mode, try to see what your décalage is and see what the EVS is best for your optimum delivery!

Keep the Conversation Going

If this topic resonated with you, be sure to check out our previous blog posts for more insights on the realities of our profession, and the evolving world of judiciary translation and interpreting:

Help Shape the Next Issue of Proteus — Want to help shape the next issue of Proteus?

Taking a Pause — What do moving boxes and NTO have in common?

It Takes a Village (of Volunteers) — How can professional associations encourage more members to volunteer and take on leadership roles?

The Feedback Matters — Have something to say about a TNO post? Keep sending your thoughts our way. You may see your comment featured in a future reader roundup.  

You can find these and more in our blog archives!

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