Taking the current trends of globalization and worldwide communication into consideration, it comes as no surprise that the use of some sort of translation or localization service has become ubiquitous for the vast majority of businesses, from start-ups to large, multinational corporations. Almost all businesses will need some materials or messages converted from one language to the other in order to facilitate operations or break into new markets.
However, not all translation services are the same, and sometimes, knowing which one would best fit the needs of your company is crucial to success.
In the present article, we will address one of the less discussed services available on the market – interpretation. We will highlight the aspects that differentiate it from other translation services, the different types of interpretation services, as well as the cases in which they should be employed for optimum results.
First of all, we must address the obvious question:
What is the main difference between a translator and an interpreter?
A translator deals with the written or scripted part of communication – whether the source text is a document, a book, a website, marketing content on social media, or the voiceover in a video, the task of a translator is to understand the meaning on all levels and render it into the target language. Translators are usually specialized. Their knowledge on a specific domain will help them localize content in a way that is accurate and efficient.
An interpreter, on the other hand, needs to apply the complex language skills required for translation in a more dynamic, fast-paced manner. Their domain deals with live, active speech that needs to be translated immediately, in order to facilitate communication between two parties separated by a language barrier.
Types of interpreting services
Depending on the needs of the customer, there are a few different types of interpreting services.
With Consecutive interpretation, the interpreter actively listens to a speech or several sentences being spoken, makes notes, and then reproduces the contents in another language after the speaker has paused or finished their communication. Apart from translation skills, the interpreter has been specifically trained for this type of service, developing the capacity to listen actively, with the purpose of quickly understanding and structuring discourse.
Simultaneous interpretation is similar to consecutive interpretation. The difference is that the interpreter reformulates the speech and communicates it to their audience at the same time, using specialized equipment such as headsets. Simultaneous interpretation can be extremely useful in specific situations, where time restrictions would otherwise not allow for consecutive interpretation. An example would be international conferences, where the speaker addresses a multilingual audience.
itlocal’s latest interpretation project – On client premises/Consecutive premises
Consecutive interpretation is a highly versatile service, with numerous uses in business. It can be done on location or over the phone and it can be adapted for a wide range of situations.
In order to better understand how this service can become crucial to a company in unexpected situations, we will discuss an actual example of a consecutive interpretation project requested by one of our clients.
This project entailed on location interpretation in order to implement new accounting software at the local branch. The role of our interpreter was to break the language barrier between the local employees and the software engineer tasked to familiarize them with the program. This was performed on location, over a few days. But most importantly, we were also asked by the client to contact our local tax authorities (ANAF) and make sure that the client’s accounting software complies with ANAF’s regulatory requirements. It was not an easy process, but the presence of a qualified team of linguists was crucial in solving all issues and ensuring optimal communication and understanding between the two parties.
The right tool for the job – itlocal’s recent partnership for online interpretation services
Knowing what service best suits the needs of your company is crucial to applying efficient and viable solutions to break any language barriers that may hinder growth and development. In cases that require efficiency and speed, interpretation services done by highly trained professionals can be the best option to bring your business closer to the world.
Here at itlocal, we prioritize offering our customers the best translation services, optimized and tailored to the needs of their company. As such, in order to supply this highly versatile and important service more efficiently, itlocal has signed a new partnership with VoiceBoxer.
VoiceBoxer is a multilingual web platform for presentations, video conferences, and webinars that lets you reach an audience in any language—anywhere, anytime, and in any configuration.
Comments