Friday, February 13, 2015

What To Look For In A Spanish Interpreting Service

By Beryl Dalton


With improved transport and communication systems around the world, it's easier than ever to be in contact with people from almost any country. Sometimes the only barrier is language. This is particularly true if you're dealing with people from Latin America, where English is hardly ever spoken. However, with a good Spanish interpreting service even the language barrier can be broken down.

In parts of the USA, Spanish is also a good language to communicate in with local communities, many of which are made up of immigrants. The country now has more speakers of the language than Spain does. In many parts of Miami FL, it's the predominant language and you won't be able to conduct business if you speak English only or don't make use of the services of an interpreter.

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.

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.

The first thing to look for in a potential interpreter is whether the person can actually do the job. Court interpreters and medical interpreters usually need specialized certification. For business or other purposes, however, formal certification is not as important as suitable experience. You only need to look at the person's references and their previous clients.

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.

It's a good idea to match the interpreter's own cultural background with that of the people you need to communicate with. Spanish has many different dialects and someone from El Salvador may not easily understand the accent of someone from Argentina, for instance. If you're dealing with people from Cuba, an interpreter who has a Cuban background will also understand the aspects unique to that country.

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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