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 certain parts of the USA you'll even need to be able to communicate in Spanish with local communities. The country's Hispanic population is huge and especially new immigrants often know only very basic English at most. In Miami FL, for instance, Spanish is fast becoming the most widely spoken language and in some parts of the city you need to be bilingual or you need an interpreter simply to do the shopping.
An interpreter is not the same as a translator. A translator changes a text from one language to another, using resources such as dictionaries to provide a detailed translation. An interpreter doesn't have the time to consult dictionaries but needs to change the text into the target language immediately. Instead of providing a faithful translation, he or she focuses on the ideas or concepts to convey.
There are many different reasons why you might need an interpreter to help you. In a city with a large Hispanic population, government services often have interpreters on their payroll to help with new immigrants or with law enforcement. In the private sector, everyone from doctors to shopkeepers may need to communicate with clients who cannot speak English very well. If you do business with companies from Latin America, you'll need an interpreter for day-to-day transactions but also for meetings and conferences.
When choosing an interpreter, you need to know that the person is qualified for the job. You may want someone who has professional certification, especially if you need a court or medical interpreter. However, many highly competent interpreters don't have formal certificates. Their experience and recommendations from clients should be enough to tell you whether or not they will be able to provide a good service.
It's also important to choose the right interpreter for the job. A court interpreter may not know business jargon or medical terms, for instance. Find someone who has experience in your particular field. Also check that they have experience in the type of interpreting that you need, such as conference calls or as an escort for a delegation.
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.
There are different places where you can look for the services of an interpreter. Many language agencies can be found online. Most are also listed in the Yellow Pages. If you're unsure, contact a professional organization such as the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida for advice.
In certain parts of the USA you'll even need to be able to communicate in Spanish with local communities. The country's Hispanic population is huge and especially new immigrants often know only very basic English at most. In Miami FL, for instance, Spanish is fast becoming the most widely spoken language and in some parts of the city you need to be bilingual or you need an interpreter simply to do the shopping.
An interpreter is not the same as a translator. A translator changes a text from one language to another, using resources such as dictionaries to provide a detailed translation. An interpreter doesn't have the time to consult dictionaries but needs to change the text into the target language immediately. Instead of providing a faithful translation, he or she focuses on the ideas or concepts to convey.
There are many different reasons why you might need an interpreter to help you. In a city with a large Hispanic population, government services often have interpreters on their payroll to help with new immigrants or with law enforcement. In the private sector, everyone from doctors to shopkeepers may need to communicate with clients who cannot speak English very well. If you do business with companies from Latin America, you'll need an interpreter for day-to-day transactions but also for meetings and conferences.
When choosing an interpreter, you need to know that the person is qualified for the job. You may want someone who has professional certification, especially if you need a court or medical interpreter. However, many highly competent interpreters don't have formal certificates. Their experience and recommendations from clients should be enough to tell you whether or not they will be able to provide a good service.
It's also important to choose the right interpreter for the job. A court interpreter may not know business jargon or medical terms, for instance. Find someone who has experience in your particular field. Also check that they have experience in the type of interpreting that you need, such as conference calls or as an escort for a delegation.
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.
There are different places where you can look for the services of an interpreter. Many language agencies can be found online. Most are also listed in the Yellow Pages. If you're unsure, contact a professional organization such as the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida for advice.
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