Travel and migration have become standard practices for so many in today’s world. As a result of this trend, many people in different places do not speak the native language of the areas they choose to dwell in. In most cases, they have some familiarity with the language, but more is needed to have conversations in a business, medical or legal setting for example. This then brings about the need to hire an interpreter to help them navigate their way around and get their business done.
A similar situation can arise for a business or company that wants to do business abroad, but none of the parties involved speak each other’s language. It is situations like the ones we mentioned and so many others that require the services of an interpreter.
Our Day Interpreting Blog today will help you determine when and how to know if you need to hire a professional interpreter.
Keep reading to find out more.
Who is an Interpreter and Why do Language Skills Matter?
An Interpreter is someone who offers language services in the form of translating the spoken word from one language to another. They are used in a variety of situations from medical emergencies and even a business meeting.
The technical terms for the job are source language and target language; with the source language being the original language you are translating from and the target language being the one you are translating to.
It isn’t uncommon to have the terms interpreter and translator used interchangeably, but it is good to understand that there’s a distinction between the two. Let’s take a look:
- An Interpreter – Translates the spoken language from one language to the next. This includes on-demand ( in an emergency, business, or casual situations), Voice-overs, and Dubbing.
- A Translator – Translates written content from a source to a target language. This includes legal documents, books, advertising and branding material, and so much more.
More often than not, there’s a common belief that if there’s a friend or colleague present who speaks the target language they wish to communicate in, it is sufficient enough just to have them interpret. When this happens, it can cause stress on the person asked to interpret as well as errors in the line of communication. Poorly trained interpreters cannot properly bridge the language barrier as they do not possess specialist knowledge to render interpretation services.
While having someone interpret for you in a casual setting for a short time may be convenient, this isn’t the best way to go about it when doing business of any kind. The service of a professional interpreter is what is needed for effective and efficient education to take place.
Having this base knowledge now leads us to answer the question of how to know if you need an interpreter.
When is the Right Time to Hire an Interpreter?
Many situations call for the services of a professional interpreter with specialist knowledge. We’ll list some of these situations below:
Hire an Interpreter if Not Everyone in Your Group Speaks a Common Language
If you’re aware that someone you wish to communicate with isn’t a native speaker of your language, it’s best to make a fair assessment of how well you both will be able to communicate and whether or not incorporating an interpreter would be best. Here are some things to look out for:
- They speak your native language as a second language but aren’t fluent.
- You find that it’s difficult to understand what they’re saying.
- They respond to you in a minimal manner.
- They have to rely on someone to interpret for them.
- There’s a strong preference to communicate in their native language
- They’re unable to respond in your language.
If you check one or more of these points, then you’re definitely in need of a professional interpreter and interpretation services.
Consider Using an Interpreter for an International Business Meeting
If you are a company or business that has business in other countries, then the need for a professional Interpreter should be high on your list. Within the business meeting setting, clear communication is important.
One key point to note is that the professional interpreters you hire for these meetings should be experts in the required field or industry you work in. This is because there are certain jargon and protocols that need to be observed and used along with expert language skills.
Interpreters that work for language service providers are available on demand or by appointment for over-the-phone, Video conferencing, or in-person meetings. They can also facilitate various styles, including simultaneous or conference interpretation, to cater to your needs.
You Might Need to Hire an Interpreter for Medical Appointment
Many hospitals and physician offices within the United States offer language services for patients with limited language proficiency patients. Providing this service ensures that patients can communicate exactly what they need to a doctor. Additionally, it guarantees the right course of treatment, where necessary, being rendered.
The professional interpreter on hand is also there to explain to the patient what’s going on, what medication to get, and how to use it. Experienced interpreters never seek to change the meaning of any messages being communicated and adhere to the doctor-patient confidentiality clause, which is in place along with all other codes of ethics.
Court Proceedings Often Require the Presence of Interpreters
If there happens to be a legal matter arising with a limited language proficiency individual, then a professional interpreter is needed for all levels of the legal process. This means that a professional interpreter must be involved from start to finish.
Such an individual should be certified as a Legal Interpreter, knowledgeable and up-to-date with all legal terminologies and sight translations required for court proceedings. Legal interpretation services are some of the most challenging language services as learning legal terminology is a tedious task. More often than not, legal interpreting also calls for the use of more than one interpreter to facilitate different language needs.
Hire an Interpreter for Interviews
There are some key interview scenarios that would require the presence of an interpreter if a Limited Language Proficiency Individual is involved. They are as follows: Police Interviews, Job Interviews, and Immigration Interviews.
Most of the time, these sorts of interviews can be looked at as being high-pressure in nature. With a professional interpreter involved to bridge the communication gap, it helps to make things run much smoother.
Use ASL Interpreting Services to Communicate with a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Person
There are oral interpreters, and there are sign language interpreters. In the United States, they are referred to as American Sign Language Interpreters, ASL Interpreters for short.
Whenever the need arises to communicate with a deaf or hard-of-hearing individual, then an ASL Interpreter will be required. Accessibility is required for every individual, so if you’re a product or service provider, you really should consider having sign language interpreters in place to serve your customers and conduct business.
A Note on Interpretation Services
Now that we’re aware of the different situations where you would need to hire an interpreter, it’s time to become aware of some of the sensitivities involved when hiring an interpreter.
If you’re a business or company meeting with Limited language proficiency clients and customers, it isn’t recommended that you go ahead and determine the language they speak based on their country of origin. This is because some countries speak multiple languages and have varying dialects. With this in mind, it is always best to do the following:
Ask the client/customer or anyone on their behalf what language they speak.
If they cannot communicate that way, use visual aids to help in the process. There are exceptional cases, however, where a language may not have a written form or the speaker cannot read in their native language.
Final Thoughts
We’re happy that we could share with you the different situations in which you need to hire an interpreter.
Don’t forget that Day Interpreting offers on-demand interpreting services 24/7, 365 days a year, in every language. Download the Day Interpreting app today to get started!
Kayan is a multi-talented writer based in the beautiful island of Jamaica. Her strong point is ideation and she loves to take on new challenges.
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