In remote interpreting, a channel is the communication channel connecting the interpreter, the client and the user, both for a telephone interpreting or video remote interpreting session.
For a remote interpreting session, the communication channel should always include all parties, whether they are all in located in different places (Constellation 1) or some of them are co-located (Constellations 2 and 3).
The possible configurations can be the following:
Constellation 1 (picture 1): the interpreter and the primary participants do not share a physical space, and are located in different places.
Constellation 2 (picture 2): the interpreter is located with one of the primary participants, while the other primary participant is located elsewhere.
Constellation 3 (picture 2): the two primary participants are co-located, while the interpreter is located remotely.
Spinolo, Russo, Bertozzi, SHIFT in Orality Handbook (IO4).
Figure 1. Constellation 1. All primary participants and the interpreter are located in different places and connected on the same phone or video call.
Figure 2. Constellations 2 and 3. The interpreter is located with one of the primary participants or the primary participants are co-located.