Q. What about Machine Translation?

A. Machine translation feebly approximates live language. It cannot accurately translate cultural concepts, semantic (meaning) phrases that belong to specific contexts such as law, sports, medicine, theater, literature, business, insurance, banking, music, education …the list goes on and on. Machines can do translation of rigidly limited pairs of words with unambiguous meanings and with set syntax.

Definitely, language is dynamic and fluidity is geographical, demographic and contextual. It’s very complex!

Languages evolve, and you want your translation to be vital and readily understandable to the people you have in mind. Only humans translate language accurately and fluently. Don’t hang your organization or enterprise out to dry with amateur or artificial translations. You deserve respect and relaxation after getting a translation done!

Q. What are you like to work with?

A.We are professional and specialized in translation and linking people to interpreters. We are the hub of teams of professionals located here and there who love to work with us for our steady and casual rapport. You can email us (or call) with questions, changes, worries and thank-yous. We meet deadlines and put high quality work first.

Q. Does just one person do my translation?

A. Every translation is ‘triaged’ by a project manager, who assigns it to one or more experts in that language and field. The translation is later checked by a professional translator working in the opposite language direction of the original translation.

Q. What is the difference between “interpreting” and “translation”?

A Translation is written language, interpreting is spoken language.

Q. How long does translation take?

A. In some instances, it can take just as long to translate a document as it does to write it in English. It is best to allow 3-5 business days for most documents, longer for larger files.

Q. How much does translation cost?

A. Translation pricing is generally billed at a “per word rate”, this means you are billed by the word versus by the hour. We are happy to provide quotes free of charge.

As we know, interpreting is the conversion of spoken language between two speakers. Professional interpreters must be fluent in speaking and understanding both languages in regard to specialized terminology, cultural and regional differences, and individual nuances of expression. They must also be able to pay careful attention and have an exceptional memory.

There are two primary types of interpreting: consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting. Here’s a look at how they differ and what skill sets are required for each:

1. Consecutive Interpreting

Consecutive interpreting begins after the speaker has finished a sentence or more. Interpreters often take notes while listening and may develop some technique for writing quickly. Professional interpreters must have a prodigious memory, since they must remember accurately back to the first idea expressed by the speaker.

Consecutive interpretation is frequently used in medical interpreting to communicate between patients and clinicians. These professional interpreters should be familiar enough with their subject that they can anticipate the end of a sentence.

2. Simultaneous Interpreting

In simultaneous interpreting, the professional interpreter listens and speaks at the same time as the speaker. Simultaneous interpreting is very intense and focused and is usually done in teams, so interpreters can take breaks every 20–30 minutes.

You might have seen this type of interpreting at the United Nations, where professional interpreters work in booths above the meeting floor and the ambassadors listen to them on headphones. A legal interpreter will also often perform simultaneous interpreting in court.

Regardless of the method of interpreting used, professional interpreters must have the analytical skills, focus and mental dexterity to work in two languages under pressure.

The need for professional interpreters is growing exponentially in today’s global marketplace. Whether you are a business owner who needs to speak with international investors, a clinician in an emergency room or urgent care setting, or an attorney who needs to communicate with witnesses who are not native English speakers, professional interpreters are an essential part of a successful business.

Here is an overview of some of the different types of interpreters and what they do:

Medical Interpreters

In a healthcare setting, it is extremely important to have clear communication between clinicians and patients. Medical interpreting provides that communication between patients and their doctors, nurses and other staff to ensure medical providers understand the patients’ symptoms for accurate diagnoses, as well as to ensure patients understand their treatment plans.

Quality medical interpreting requires intimate knowledge of medical terminology, as well as the ability to communicate medical concepts clearly and simply. An understanding of cultural differences is also a necessity.

Legal Interpreters

A legal interpreter can work in trials and hearings, as well as in law offices at depositions and attorney-client meetings. Legal interpreters need to understand both colloquial vocabulary and specialized legal terminology. They also need to be able to make that terminology understandable to a lay person.

Sometimes a legal interpreter may also be asked to translate written documents aloud (sight translation) in trials, hearings or arraignments.

Sign Language Interpreters

Sign language interpreters help ease communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing people and hearing people. They primarily use American Sign Language, but can be asked to interpret using English word order or even to make things clearer for people who lip-read. Some sign language interpreters specialize in tactile signing for those who are both blind and deaf.

Conference Interpreters

Usually fluent in more than two languages, conference interpreters are highly skilled and are commonly found at the United Nations doing simultaneous interpretation.

Guide Interpreters

Also known as escort interpreters, guide interpreters accompany visitors to the U.S. in order to facilitate communication. Some professional interpreters prefer this specialty as it involves frequent travel, special events and locations and is often more informal. Guide to interpreting assignments can run for days or weeks at a time.

These are only some of the interpreting specialties that might appeal to bilingual individuals looking for careers as professional interpreters.

The market for translating and interpreting is awash with new technology, which is great for patients and providers—when it works. As a primary face to face interpreter, we have often heard doctors and nurses complaining about poor connection or sound quality when using a telephonic or video interpreter. Luckily, interpreter technology, along with broadband speeds, has come a long way in the last couple of years and the technology works pretty darn well, with a few glitches.

However, given a choice between a telephonic and an in person interpreter, the overwhelming majority of doctors, nurses, and families will opt for the in person interpreter. Why is this the case? I would argue that it’s easier to fully execute my scope of practice as a certified medical interpreter if I am present during the encounter, where I can fully appreciate the surroundings and the nuances of the situation. We can also take cues from body language that will be lost over the phone. We can see everything that’s going on, and we can hear and be heard better than over a mic or speaker. Although the technology has improved, there is no exact substitute for a face to face interpreter (for now, anyway).

But is it really better to hire an interpreter to come all the way to the hospital just to communicate some simple information for 5 minutes, rather than getting an interpreter on the phone? Is it cost-effective? Is it environmentally responsible? These are all relevant questions, and if you take a second to answer each one, it should be pretty clear what’s best for any given situation. Let’s take a look at each question, and the possible answers:

Certain situations will benefit more from an in person interpreter than others. Noisy environments with multiple speakers, such as rounds, can really benefit from having an interpreter present, as can sensitive topics like mental health and palliative care. For simpler conversations, like ordering meals, or asking a patient what their level of pain is every hour, you can be pretty confident that a telephonic interpreter will get the job done as well as one that is physically present.

So what about the cost? It’s a double-edged sword. For short conversations, 15 minutes or less, a telephonic interpreter generally costs less. After this, there are diminishing returns, and a face to face interpreter is generally cheaper. Although a less significant factor, one may consider whether it’s environmentally a good idea to have an interpreter drive 30 minutes each way to interpreter only 30 minutes. Every situation will be different. Sometimes the choice is already made for you because there is no face to face interpreter available because if it’s an emergency or there is a lack of qualified interpreters for the language pair.

We would argue that the potential for an excellent interpretation is always better with a face to face interpreter, but the realities of cost and limited availability necessitate the use of telephonic interpretation. The good news is that the technology for remote telephonic and video interpreters is increasing by the day. We don’t know if we will ever see the day when face to face interpreters are completely replaced by remote interpreters, or even computerized interpreters, but we are certainly headed in that direction—and more high quality options on the table for interpreter services can only be a good thing for patients and providers alike.

We at Interpreter Professionals have worked with numerous interpreters. Over time, we’ve identified the core skills that make a great interpreter.

Here they are:

Punctuality: This one is pretty straightforward, so I don’t really need to get into too many details. A good interpreter will show early, at the right place, ready to begin interpreting immediately. Simple, but important.

Memory: The memory of an interpreter is an amazing thing, but the best interpreters don’t develop it overnight. Thousands of hours of study and rehearsal go into making that memory the wonder that it is. Interpreters heavily utilize short-term memory, and just like a muscle, short-term memory can develop greater endurance. Teams of conference interpreters are not unlike runners in a relay race!

Discipline: A truly disciplined professional interpreter will know when and what to study and how best to maintain his or her skills. Refraining from allowing personal biases to affect an interpretation also requires a great attention to detail and sense of discipline.

Ethics: This is an often overlooked, but vital skill for any interpreter. Interpreter ethics include such important pillars as confidentiality, respect, and knowledge of one’s limitations.

Tools: Any great interpreter will have tools available at his or her disposal to facilitate a smooth interpretation experience for the customer. Commonly used tools include a computer to complete necessary research, a subject specific bilingual dictionary, and a notebook and pen to take notes. A proper pre-session is a tool many interpreters will utilize to make a smooth experience for everyone involved.

Cultural Competency: Language and culture are inextricable, so it’s extremely important that any interpreter be well-versed in the culture of both interpreted languages. There are certain times when cultural differences are more notable, and these are when a great interpreter will really shine. Humor and symbolic languages can be difficult, and cultural differences may be more pronounced in topics such as mental health, and palliative care.

Style: In my opinion, if you’re going to do something well, you’ve got to have style. It’s what separates being good and being excellent. For me, an interpreter with style is one that has a really clear rhythm and sense of delivery. Experience can play a huge role in this skill.

Anyone who’s ever used an interpreter can tell you the importance of clear delivery and rhythm. Choppy, broken speech is difficult to understand in any language, so the best interpreters will strive to deliver the message in the same tones, inflections, and rhythms and the original speaker.

There are many questions you could intentionally ask to determine if a medical interpreter is capable of doing a professional job. During the patient encounter, of course, you cannot judge their performance as you don’t know the language—that’s why you need them in the first place! So here are some straightforward questions you can ask before things begin to make sure you’ve got a competent professional to help you communicate with your patient:

Are you a certified interpreter?

You need to know that there is now national medical interpreter certification available in a variety of common languages, including Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Korean. The certification tests for linguistic and interpreting skill, as well as knowledge of interpreting ethics, standards of practice, and medical terminology.

If certification is not yet available for the language in question, there is still a provisional credential that tests an interpreter’s knowledge of ethics and protocol in English only.

Are you proficient in both the spoken and written language?

Interpreters are mainly responsible for transmitting an oral message into another language, but sometimes they need to translate documents, such as discharge instructions or consent forms. Although longer and more technical translations should always be handled by a qualified translator, an interpreter should be able to be trusted to do a good job on short translations.

A mastery of both spoken and written language will also generally mean that an interpreter has received formal education in that language, rather than just speaking it at home.

What kind of training do you have?

There’s a lot more to interpreting than simply being bilingual. A well-trained interpreter will usually render a more accurate and faithful message than an amateur. The minimum training for a medical interpreter should be at least 40 hours. There are several 40-hour training readily available for medical interpreters throughout the country, and quality online training is on the rise as well.

Where is your medical dictionary?

Any good medical interpreter will carry some form of bilingual medical dictionary as backup. Interpreters have to manage very complex terminology in multiple languages and work in specialties as diverse as oncology, to psychiatry, and gastroenterology.

Most interpreters rely on digital dictionaries on their tablet or phone these days, but many still carry physical dictionaries. If an interpreter does not understand a word, or simply cannot recall it, a dictionary is their backup—guessing or making something up is not an option. That is what the dictionary is for. So without one, an interpreter is not properly prepared.

It all Comes Down to Trust

In the end, working with an interpreter always comes down to trust, and asking these four questions will give both you and the interpreter a foundation for building it.

In the end, working with an interpreter always comes down to trust, and asking these four questions will give both you and the interpreter a foundation for building it.

Whenever you need something to be translated, it’s important to get it right first. Otherwise, you run the risk of embarrassing yourself or insulting someone. Hiring a certified translator seems to be the best way to avoid this bad situation, but how do you really know that you’ve hired the right person?

Here are some ways listed to be sure that the person you’ve hired is a competent and a very professional translator.

Make a Plan

Leaving everything to the last minute means you’ll be rushing around trying to get your documents translated, and that leads to sloppy translation. Avoid this by knowing exactly what you need translated and in what time period before you speak to a translation provider. By talking to them ahead of time and outlining what you need, you can also have the certified translator help you every step of the way.

Do Your Research

Do research before you make a commitment will help to ensure that you get the best quality service. Not only should you look into as many companies in your price range as possible, but you should also check all the fine print. Don’t be afraid to ask for references. In return, make sure that the translation service knows exactly what you need, in as much detail as you can provide. This will also help ensure an accurate quote.

Be Specific

You got to know that, languages and cultures all have their own idioms, slang, and cultural shorthand. Your certified translator should have specific knowledge in both the language you are wishing to translate into or out of, and of terms within your field. If you are a bank, for example, you would want a translation service that understands monetary terms in all the languages you are working with. General translators may choose the wrong terms and completely change what you’re trying to say.

Budget & Assign a Project Manager

When doing your research, make sure you know all the costs associated with hiring a certified translator up front, and ensure that you have the budget for it. Once you have chosen the company and signed a written contract, assign an employee or two to oversee the project.

They can make sure that the translation is proceeding according to schedule and budget, and quickly bring any problems to your attention. Your project manager can also work with the translation service for quality assurance and help handle any changes that might need to be made.

Check the Final Result

If you’ve done your research and know that you’ve hired a reputable company with solid standards and competent translators, then you can be fairly confident that the final result is polished and error-free.

However, it never hurts to check what steps the company takes to ensure the quality of their translations. A final proofread may cost a little extra, but it’s worth it to know that your company isn’t accidentally sending an embarrassing or insulting message.

Translation can be tricky, but it’s an important part of doing business in an expanding multicultural world, especially if you are looking to take your company to other parts of the world.

By following these five tips on how to make the best possible choices when hiring a certified translator, you will ensure that your message is clear, professional, and easily understood no matter what language it’s in.

The need for effective communication across languages and cultures has never been more evident. Whether it's for personal, legal, or business purposes, translating documents accurately is crucial to ensuring that the intended message is conveyed without any misunderstandings. While machine translation tools have made significant strides in recent years, there's still no substitute for the expertise and reliability of a licensed human translator.

Here are some reasons why you need a licensed translator for your documents.

1. Precision and Accuracy

Language is intricate, nuanced, and context-dependent. A minor mistranslation or misunderstanding can lead to significant consequences, especially when dealing with legal, medical, or technical documents. Licensed translators undergo rigorous training to understand not just the language itself, but the cultural context, idiomatic expressions, and industry-specific terminology. Their meticulous attention to detail ensures that your documents are translated accurately, maintaining the original meaning while adjusting for cultural sensitivities.

2. Cultural Sensitivity

Languages are deeply intertwined with culture, and what might be perfectly acceptable in one culture could be offensive or confusing in another. Licensed translators are not only fluent in the language, but they're also well-versed in the cultural norms and subtleties. They can adapt your content to resonate with the target audience while avoiding cultural missteps. This is particularly important in marketing materials, advertisements, and business communications where cultural nuances can make or break a deal.

3. Legal and Official Documents

When it comes to legal or official documents such as contracts, immigration papers, or certificates, accuracy is paramount. A licensed translator understands the legal implications of the documents they're working on. They ensure that the translated content adheres to the legal terminology and requirements of both the source and target languages. This is crucial to avoid legal disputes, delays, or rejections due to inaccuracies or mistranslations.

4. Maintaining Professionalism

In professional settings, the quality of your documents reflects your credibility. A poorly translated document can harm your reputation and credibility, leading to misunderstandings or lost opportunities. Licensed translators maintain professionalism in their work, delivering polished and well-structured translations that align with the tone and style of the original document.

5. Specialized Expertise

Certain fields demand a deep understanding of industry-specific jargon and technical terms. A licensed translator often specializes in a particular domain, be it law, medicine, finance, technology, or any other industry. This specialization ensures that your documents are translated accurately and comprehensively, preserving the intended meaning even in the most complex terminology.

6. Confidentiality and Privacy

Many documents being translated contain sensitive information, whether it's personal, financial, or proprietary. Licensed translators are bound by codes of ethics that prioritize confidentiality and privacy. Reputable translators take measures to secure your documents and ensure that sensitive information remains protected during and after the translation process.

7. Adapting to Nuances and Idioms

Languages are filled with idiomatic expressions, metaphors, and wordplay that don't always have direct equivalents in other languages. A licensed translator understands these nuances and can skillfully navigate the challenge of preserving the original intent and flavor of such expressions. This ensures that the translated document doesn't come across as awkward or confusing to the target audience.

8. Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Machine translation tools might seem convenient, but they often fall short when it comes to handling homonyms, homographs, or words with multiple meanings. These tools lack the human touch needed to discern the correct meaning based on the context. Licensed translators are well-versed in recognizing and resolving these ambiguities, ensuring that your document's message remains clear and accurate.

9. Meeting Regulatory Requirements

In regulated industries, compliance with language requirements is crucial. A licensed translator understands the specific regulations and standards that apply to your industry. They can translate your documents in a way that meets these requirements, ensuring that you remain compliant and avoid any legal or financial repercussions.

10. Saving Time and Resources

Relying on machine translation might initially seem like a cost-effective solution, but it can actually end up costing you more in the long run. Incorrect or poorly translated documents can lead to delays, revisions, and potential legal issues. Hiring a licensed translator from the start can save you time, resources, and headaches, allowing you to focus on your core tasks and objectives.

11. Effective Communication in International Business

For businesses looking to expand globally, effective communication is essential. A licensed translator not only translates your documents accurately, but also helps you bridge cultural gaps and tailor your message to resonate with your target market. This can be a game-changer when trying to establish rapport, negotiate deals, or market your products and services in foreign markets.

12. Enhancing Accessibility

In today's diverse world, making your content accessible to a broader audience can open up new opportunities. Whether you're translating educational materials, healthcare information, or public service announcements, a licensed translator ensures that language barriers don't prevent people from accessing vital information.

Nowadays, communication transcends borders, the role of a licensed translator cannot be underestimated. They bring a depth of understanding and expertise that machines simply can't replicate. The choice to entrust your documents to a licensed translator is a strategic investment that safeguards your reputation, prevents misunderstandings, and fosters effective communication across linguistic and cultural divides. As the world continues to globalize, the value of accurate and culturally sensitive translation remains a cornerstone of successful communication in a diverse and interconnected society.