Professional language interpretation services have gained significant attention in recent times. Rapid global integration brings numerous opportunities for international development but at the same time presents many challenges, one of which is language barriers. To overcome these barriers, translation services have continued to evolve and diversify, reflecting significant changes to meet this increasing demand.
Among these changes, the relentless development of interpretation is vital in ensuring the success of global business activities and cultural exchanges. In this article, let’s explore interpretation, common types of interpretation, and interpretation rates of with Thao & Co.
Language interpretation is a form of translation in which an interpreter converts spoken content from one language into another to facilitate immediate understanding for the interlocutors. The individual performing interpretation is known as an interpreter, and the content may include spoken words, lyrics, or even sign language.
Few people realize that interpretation is the root of translation, predating written text. Despite thousands of years of history, the primary purpose of interpretation has remained consistent. Interpretation aids in making verbal communication between two parties who do not share a common language more convenient and effective, thereby fostering cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and international business cooperation on a global scale.
Interpretation is not an easy task. A professional interpreter must possess extensive linguistic knowledge, excellent memory, situational handling skills, keen translation skills, adaptability, and a profound understanding of the relevant field. Interpreters need to convey information accurately and holistically while maintaining concise, fluid, and easily comprehensible language. In some special cases, interpreters may also need to meet requirements related to appearance, tone of voice, and proficiency in modern software and technology.
These are two concepts that often confuse outsiders and potentially cause challenges when seeking translation services. To select the appropriate approach and effective language rendering process, it is advisable to understand the differences between interpretation and translation.
Interpretation is the process of converting spoken words between relevant parties to ensure smooth and efficient conversations. Interpreters must possess rapid listening and speaking skills to meet the demands of the interpretation process.
Translation is the process of converting written texts and documents from one language into one or more other languages. Unlike interpreters, translators need reading comprehension and writing skills with precision and finesse.
Interpretation and translation also come in various forms, each requiring distinct skills and approaches. Understanding the differences between these two concepts and determining the specific requirements before selecting translation services can save you considerable time and effort.
In which circumstances do we need interpretation services? Interpretation services are essential in specific circumstances related to legal matters or specialized fields demanding a high level of accuracy.
Medical interpretation: Communication between doctors and patients or medical symposiums necessitates professional interpretation to guarantee the accurate representation of medical information.
Focus Group Discussion (FGD) interpretation: Interpretation assists businesses in understanding the content of focused group discussions among foreign participants, enhancing market research effectiveness.
Social services interpretation: Social welfare activities in places that have language barriers can become more accessible and effective with interpretation support.
Conference interpretation: Conferences often require a high level of professionalism in interpretation to maintain a coordinated, professional, and harmonious interaction with rapporteurs.
Courtroom interpretation: Courtroom interpreters for litigation activities must meet specific qualifications and prove objectivity, seriousness, and legal compliance during the interpretation process.
Trade fair and exhibition interpretation: Professional interpretation services help businesses promote their products effectively, reaching a broad audience and potential partners worldwide.
Bilingual MC: Skillful interpreters lead various programs, competitions, and events, juggling two languages seamlessly and gracefully to ensure the audience’s comprehension of the content and emotional nuances of the program.
Event interpretation: Interpretation of participant interviews, MC commentary, or Q&A sessions during press conferences, talk shows, concerts, and corporate events requires professional expertise to convey information accurately to a large audience.
Negotiation interpretation: Interpretation for business negotiations and decision-making or international diplomatic activities calls for solid expertise to ensure an efficient and successful communication process.
Additionally, interpretation services can be used for personal purposes such as communication and paperwork, or professional purposes like recruitment and interactions with clients and partners.
Language interpretation services come in various types. It is best to consider the nature and purpose of the communication to select the most suitable interpretation approach, specifically:
Activities such as appearances in court, doctor-patient interactions, or meetings with foreign partners typically require on-site interpretation. With on-site interpretation, an interpreter will physically present at the event to support the interpretation of participants’ information and conversation.
Escort interpreting involves an interpreter accompanying a client to facilitate seamless communication with foreign counterparts. This form of interpretation is characterized by frequent mobility and can extend over several days, as it often includes planned visits and meetings with the client’s partners. This is a common type of interpretation and is widely used in business trips or large-scale exchange events.
Online events or situations where geographical distance creates language barriers for participants may require remote interpretation (or online interpretation). The interpreter will perform the interpretation via phone or through communication platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more.
Consecutive interpretation involves continuous and alternating interpreting of verbal communication. As speakers finish a sentence or a part of the communication, consecutive interpreters immediately translate to ensure that all participants can understand the information. This form of interpretation is suitable for communication between two or more parties, such as business negotiations, interviews, and site visits.
This is a type of interpretation that is extremely demanding in terms of the interpreter’s linguistic proficiency and work experience. In simultaneous interpretation, interpreters work in dedicated soundproof cabins with specialized equipment, rapidly interpreting spoken content in real-time, with a delay time of no more than 1 second. Participants will receive individual headsets to listen to the interpretation. This method is commonly used at high-profile conferences and international symposia that require professionalism and precision.
Chuchotage or whispered interpretation is a form of interpretation in which the interpreter simultaneously translates the speaker’s words, quietly enough for the client to hear and understand. At first thought, this method seems like a combination of consecutive interpretation and simultaneous interpretation since the interpreter needs to be present next to the client and interpret in parallel with the interlocutor’s speech. However, the United Nations and the European Union recognize whispered interpretation as a distinct form of interpretation because it requires even more complex skills.
The interpreter will not be equipped with modern devices, cannot take notes, and has to interpret immediately while ensuring that the interpretation process does not create disturbance for those nearby and not being influenced by the surrounding environment. Whispered interpretation is suitable for small-group negotiations and exchanges where the utmost seriousness and politeness need to be maintained.
Despite the development of technology that has emerged, resulting in various advanced platforms, even real-time live captioning, these translation machines still struggle to overcome the complexities of diverse languages and cultures to perform flexible and accurate interpretation. Even professional interpreters may face several daunting challenges in their practice, such as:
Technical terms: Complex domains such as medicine, technology, and education often contain specific terminology and jargon that may not be available in standard dictionaries. Interpreters need to invest time researching and preparing for these specialized subjects before interpretation.
Swift pacing: Whispered interpretation generally has a two-second lag time, while simultaneous interpretation requires a stricter lag time of one second only. Consecutive interpretation has a somewhat more forgiving pace but still requires interpreters to express content swiftly and accurately.
Note-taking and memorization: When dealing with lengthy, information-rich dialogues, interpreters must have excellent memorization and note-taking skills to seamlessly convey content. This challenge becomes even more demanding in simultaneous and whispered interpretation, where split-second decisions are required.
Situational handling skills: In addition to scripted content, interpreters often encounter unforeseen circumstances that demand sharp problem-solving skills while ensuring smooth, accurate, and professional interpretation.
Cultural differences: Different cultures have varying communication norms and styles, with some languages having explicit honorific systems such as Korean and Japanese, while others (e.g., English and Spanish) do not. Interpreters must not only be proficient in the language but also sensitive to the cultural nuances to choose the appropriate expression within the cultural and conversational context, enhancing professionalism and fostering strong client relationships. Learn more about Localization Benefits
Objectivity: In all cases, especially in legal and medical interpretation, interpreters need to ensure that they deliver information and connotations objectively, accurately, and comprehensively. Their interpretations should not be influenced by their own personal opinions, perspectives, emotions, or those of others.
Today, one can know one or two foreign languages and there is even the presence of automated translation machines using artificial intelligence. However, interpretation services are becoming more and more in demand. The role of interpretation goes beyond converting languages; it ensures effective communication and professionalism as well as strengthens multinational relationships.
No matter how fluent a person is in foreign languages, it may still be difficult for them to express themselves fully to the extent similar to when they are speaking their native language, especially when discussing highly specialized matters. Interpretation helps break down language barriers, delivering accurate content and messages from the speaker to the listener. Especially in events and negotiations that involve significant decisions, professional interpretation services are essential to ensure that information is conveyed precisely.
Moreover, one of the benefits of interpretation services is localization. Each language carries its own unique cultural nuances that machine translation tools often struggle to discern and apply correctly. For example, in English, pronouns like “you” and “I” are commonly used in communication. In Japanese, however, pronouns are different for gender, age, hierarchy, and role of each person. Interpreters, in addition to their language skills, should understand cultural elements and have contextual comprehension to help them interpret appropriately, show respect, and maintain professionalism with the person they are communicating with.
Beyond the benefits of precise translation and localization, interpretation also helps ensure equality – a key principle of diplomacy. Former French President Francois Hollande, for example, was proficient in English but rarely used it in public or diplomatic engagements, he emphasized “[…]a French president has to speak French!”
Each translation agency has its own process for executing interpretation services. You can consider high-quality interpretation services at Thao & Co., which follows a professional process comprising three stages:
Upon receiving your request, we will choose the most suitable interpreter for your project. For larger projects that require multiple interpreters, we appoint a Project Manager and Lead Interpreter with high expertise and extensive experience in the relevant field to ensure the best quality interpretation. Our interpretation team conducts research on your business/organization, your specific industry, and any relevant materials to create Interpretation Guidelines and a standardized glossary.
Depending on the interpretation method, location, time, and other agreed-upon requirements, the interpretation team will carry out accurate and professional interpretation based on the Interpretation Guidelines. All project information at Thao & Co. is kept secure with strict security rules, and all linguists sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). Our team of experienced native linguists is committed to providing high-quality interpretation services for various fields such as medicine, technology, manufacturing, and more.
After the interpretation process, we conclude the project and provide you with a project report. You can monitor all project information, payment status, and updated linguist profiles on Thao & Co.’s highly secured proprietary platform. After the project is concluded, you will still be able to access your account on our platform to make new orders for your future projects.
The rate of interpretation services depends on several factors:
It is recommended to seek reputable agencies that offer detailed and transparent quotes to avoid hidden fees. For a free consultation and interpretation service quote from Thao & Co., please visit: https://thaonco.com/translation-quote/
Interpretation is an important task that requires a complex set of skills to ensure highly effective communication. Legal proceedings in court or medical conferences, for example, can have negative consequences for individuals and enterprises if not interpreted accurately.
Are you having difficulty finding professional interpreters? Thao & Co. can help you with translation and interpretation services of high quality. We understand that the human factor is particularly important in interpretation services. Therefore, Thao & Co. places great emphasis on the recruitment process with strict criteria for qualifications, expertise, and extensive experience.
The native interpreter team at Thao & Co. is committed to providing you with high-quality and seamless interpretation services. Regardless of whether the language to be interpreted is common or rare, you can contact Thao & Co. to find experienced and professional interpreters.
We provide interpretation in diverse complex fields such as healthcare, science and technology, finance, manufacturing, entertainment, tourism, and legal matters. You can choose any interpretation method, such as escort interpretation, remote interpretation, consecutive interpretation, or simultaneous interpretation to suit the purpose and nature of your event.
For more details, you can visit Thaonco.com or get a quote within 24 hours here!
