Make The Most Of A Spanish Interpreting Service
As the world becomes more globalized, you will come into contact with people whose English is bad or non-existent. In the countries of Latin America, for example, most people never learn any English, even when they are highly educated. Unless you're bilingual, you may want to make use of a Spanish interpreting service to help you communicate with business people from that part of the world.
In the USA, you may even need to communicate in Spanish with Americans. The country's large Hispanic population means that there are now more people with Spanish as their first language than there are in Spain. There are entire neighborhoods in cities like Miami FL where you won't even get by with English only and will need an interpreter if you're not bilingual.
Interpreting is a specialized skill. It differs from the skills of a translator. For example, a translator has more time to consult dictionaries and to faithfully render a text into the target language. An interpreter, in contrast, has to get the main ideas across as they're expressed in the original language and has to do so without the aid of dictionaries. This is why the interpreter has to be very fluent in both languages. He or she also needs a good memory and the ability to work under pressure.
Interpreters are often employed by government services such as courts or immigration offices, especially in cities where there is a significant population of Hispanic descent. However, the private sector in these cities also needs interpreters. For example, hospitals may need someone to help the doctor and patient to communicate. Businesses may have to communicate not only with immigrant clients but also with trade partners in Latin American nations.
When you want to employ an interpreter, the first thing you need to do is to check that the person is suitably qualified. Interpreters who work in courts or hospitals usually need specific formal certificates. For more general interpreting jobs, you can choose someone who doesn't necessarily have a formal qualification but who has experience in the field and good references from other clients.
Your chosen interpreter should have experience in your specific field. While a court interpreter may be highly qualified, he or she does not necessarily know business terms, for instance. There are also different kinds of interpreting and if you want someone to accompany a business delegation, the right candidate will know how to deal with groups on a face-to-face basis. In a conference setting, the best person is one who knows the technology involved.
Another factor to consider is cultural background. The culture of Cuba, for instance, is vastly different from that of Chile. It's best to choose an interpreter who has a similar cultural background as that of the person or group you need to communicate with. In this way, you can avoid cultural misunderstandings or misinterpretations of colloquialisms.
The Yellow Pages or other local listings are good places to start when looking for interpreters. Many agencies also have websites. Otherwise, contact a professional association for advice and recommendations. In Florida, the organization to contact is ATIF, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida.
In the USA, you may even need to communicate in Spanish with Americans. The country's large Hispanic population means that there are now more people with Spanish as their first language than there are in Spain. There are entire neighborhoods in cities like Miami FL where you won't even get by with English only and will need an interpreter if you're not bilingual.
Interpreting is a specialized skill. It differs from the skills of a translator. For example, a translator has more time to consult dictionaries and to faithfully render a text into the target language. An interpreter, in contrast, has to get the main ideas across as they're expressed in the original language and has to do so without the aid of dictionaries. This is why the interpreter has to be very fluent in both languages. He or she also needs a good memory and the ability to work under pressure.
Interpreters are often employed by government services such as courts or immigration offices, especially in cities where there is a significant population of Hispanic descent. However, the private sector in these cities also needs interpreters. For example, hospitals may need someone to help the doctor and patient to communicate. Businesses may have to communicate not only with immigrant clients but also with trade partners in Latin American nations.
When you want to employ an interpreter, the first thing you need to do is to check that the person is suitably qualified. Interpreters who work in courts or hospitals usually need specific formal certificates. For more general interpreting jobs, you can choose someone who doesn't necessarily have a formal qualification but who has experience in the field and good references from other clients.
Your chosen interpreter should have experience in your specific field. While a court interpreter may be highly qualified, he or she does not necessarily know business terms, for instance. There are also different kinds of interpreting and if you want someone to accompany a business delegation, the right candidate will know how to deal with groups on a face-to-face basis. In a conference setting, the best person is one who knows the technology involved.
Another factor to consider is cultural background. The culture of Cuba, for instance, is vastly different from that of Chile. It's best to choose an interpreter who has a similar cultural background as that of the person or group you need to communicate with. In this way, you can avoid cultural misunderstandings or misinterpretations of colloquialisms.
The Yellow Pages or other local listings are good places to start when looking for interpreters. Many agencies also have websites. Otherwise, contact a professional association for advice and recommendations. In Florida, the organization to contact is ATIF, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida.
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