Drumroll, please...

After several months of anticipation, we are pleased to announce that we finally unveiled our new website!

If you need interpreter services or language translation, be sure to fill out a request via our new interpretation and translation quote forms. The revamped website will feature not only blogs but videos, infographics, and other items about Interpreters Unlimited and the language service industry. Take a look around and stay tuned for more IU news and updates!

The Olympics – A Cultural Melting Pot

The Olympics. Whether you’re a devoted soccer fan, an occasional NBA watcher, or an all-around anti-sports individual, there’s no avoiding the Olympics.  Millions of people worldwide tuned in to cheer on their countries’ representatives, hoping to see their flag raised and their national anthem played for winning the gold medal. With participants and spectators from all across the globe, the Olympics set the stage as an event where translation and interpreter services would be highly critical.

Being a contestant in the Olympics must be exhilarating experience (I can only speculate however, as I am one of those people who was perpetually picked last in gym class), but competing in a country where you do not understand the language can create more than just an inconvenience without the language service industry. Signs to be translated, announcements to be interpreted, and conversations to facilitate are only a few of the vital tasks assigned to language professionals at the Olympic Games.

Although the language industry is one that often goes unrecognized, it is clear that interpreting and translation companies play a pivotal role in global events like the Olympics by allowing visitors to feel welcome and understood in a foreign locale. 

The Value of Professionalism in the Interpreter Business

When it comes to interpreting services, skill and accuracy are absolute requirements. Another important element is professionalism. In a courthouse in Worcester, England the judge adjourned a trial FOUR times because the scheduled interpreter did not show up. The Polish defendant, whose understanding of English was minimal, even received an apology for the inconvenience that the situation had caused. This instance is a perfect example of how important reliability is when it comes to choosing interpreter services, especially in the legal arena.

If you are dealing with legal matters, the last thing you want to be worrying about is if your interpreter will show up for your appointment. So how do you decide which agency is right for you? There are many factors to consider in selecting an interpreter business for the law industry. Be sure to do your research before making a decision. Choose an agency that is trustworthy, has a strong reputation in the language service field, and works with credentialed legal interpreters so you can have full confidence that your language service needs will be met successfully…and on time.

Home Based Franchise

Interpreters Unlimited is excited to launch our new home based franchise website, http://interpretersunlimited.com/franchise/. We have already received excellent feedback on the information it includes as well as the franchise opportunity itself.

Offering interpreter services and translation services for the last 40+ years has truly made IU one of the most active players in the industry. We started with offering these language translation services in just five core languages and have expanded into over 150 languages. IU provides in-person interpretation services, document translation services, telephone interpreting services and most recently video relay interpreting services well over 130 languages.

With this experience comes extensive knowledge of the language translation business and interpreter business making it a smooth transition to begin offering a home base franchise opportunity. Those showing interested in this home based franchise praise the low initial costs, the training IU includes, and the ongoing support our staff and management provide.

Learning Language Translation from the Web

Have you heard of Linguee or Duolingo? These are sites that allow you to learn languages while also helping to translate web pages. The concept is great and these sites are attracting tens of thousands of users. But the question lies as always; how is the accuracy of the language translation? A language translation professional part of proz.com argues that these sites and others cannot product the quality of language translation that a professional translation company can or a person trained to provide interpreter services. These tools and others like them are fascinating however as they confirm the high demand for interpretation and translation services. Although they focus on the language translation need in the Internet world, the need for accurate and reliable interpreting services is vast - reaching just about every industry out there.

Visit these sites. See how they work and maybe you will learn a foreign language in the process as they claim you are able to do. Just note that it does not take the place of a professional language interpreter, but I think you already knew that.

Language Translation at a All Time High

According to a PR firm in Canada, the need for language translators and language interpreters is at an all time high. Many international companies are in need of not only document translation and localization but also in-person interpretation. Some turn to recruitment agencies that have a slew of language interpreters and translators ready for short notice assignments. They can provide part time and/or full time language specialists. These agencies claim they their language translation services and interpreter services are of a high quality because they have a very stringent vetting process.

This is a claim that should be tested, quite frankly, tested with whatever type of translation service company you choose. These recruitment agencies are not focused on the actual language industry but instead are focused on filling a personnel need. This may work for some quick needs even like Google translate works for a quick language translation. However, if accuracy is important for your interpreting service need, then contact an actual language services company, like Interpreters Unlimited. IU has been providing translation services and in-person/phone interpreting services including American Sign Language for over 40 years. IU understands the nuances of this industry including matching dialect and cultural competency. Contact IU today and learn more about the quality of our language interpreter services and how they will meet your timeframe, budget, and expectations.

Language Translation Organizations

The language translation industry is growing at a very rapid rate. With such an influx of immigrants, that is, those with limited English proficiency (LEP), the need for professional translation services and qualified language interpreter services is a must. These language translation services are a crucial for pretty much all industries. Hospitals, attorneys, government agencies, private companies, event planners, news reporters, schools, hotels, laboratories…you name it, they all need interpreting services.

The need has been establish, what has not is a standard. Language translation organizations are working hard to develop some basic principles, qualifications, ethics, etc. that language interpreters and translation service companies can abide by and recognize on a national level. It’s not easy since like everything else politics sometimes get in the way. But do note that there are indeed language translation and interpreter service organizations that are getting it right, ATA, CHIA, RID, just to name a few.

IU remains on top of this initiative and hope that whatever the outcome, it is in the best interest of the LEP or deaf/hard of hearing community.

From Refugee to Language Interpreter

I was truly moved when reading about a Bosnia refugee who came to the US in 1997 with no knowledge of English and now currently owns his own language interpreting services company. His story is quite unique. As a police officer he would use his knowledge of Bosnian and English to providing translation services to the refugee community, but not always in the capacity of a police officer. He actually worked for a language translation company but was not happy with how the company operated. So he ventured out to start his own language translation company. His wife speaks both English and Arabic so was also able to assist with the start of their new interpreting service company.

Today the couple services multiple languages and run a tight ship. He requires language interpreters to wear a uniform, be on time, and act professional at all times. He finds that the most common language interpreting service requested is for medical appointments and translation services for private meetings with attorneys. Before his interpreter services were available, refugees would take their children out of school to be their interpreters. Many times these were Elementary age children. This is the reality of many refugee communities. This is why IU works with so many Department of Health and Human Services to provide language translation.

As a refugee himself who struggled for so long, this police officer and business owner’s motivation was simple: to give back to the community that supported him so much.

Loving Translating Services

The New Oxford American Dictionary has chosen Sarah Palin’s refudiate as its 2010 Word of the Year. The Word Geek has chosen augmented reality for her 2010 Word of the Year. Yes there are people out there who do nothing but focus on language and all the idiosyncrasies which go along with such a profession. But there are even people like Talk Show Host David Letterman who have top ten lists of their favorite words. Letterman’s 2010 Word of the Year was palincoherent. His humor never gets old.

So what’s my pint with all of this? These word and language experts are the very ones you want to utilize for translation services and interpreter services. I don’t mean hire Letterman for translating services. I am simply stating that those who have the love for the language industry are the ones that will perform the best translation service and/or interpreting service. The question is how to you know if the interpreter or translator you are using has this knowledge; has this compassion for the interpretation and translation service industry? Well, just ask. Interpreters who love their profession love to talk about it too. Those who love being in the translating service industry will be the first to tell you that.

At IU our staff is bi-lingual. We have staff who have spent many years in interpreting services and translating services and now use that experience and knowledge to evaluate the interpreters and translators we use. Call us to learn more about what we do, and yes, ask us if we love our job!

Punjabi Crossword Books

Two Punjabi Crossword books now translated into English have been nominated for an award in the translation service category. This may seem insignificant, but it actually is rather news worthy, at least to those of us in the translation service industry. It only reaffirms the need and importance that is slowly being put on an accurate translation service or interpreter services. Valuable language translation skills are being rewarded internationally as the World is indeed flat.

As a full service language translation and interpreting services company, Interpreters Unlimited excels at providing accurate translation services and interpreter services in over 130 languages and dialects. These services are managed by five regional offices located throughout the US. Although our translation services and interpreting services are headquartered in San Diego, our multiple regional offices allows for better efficiency in managing the hundreds of language translation contracts we currently service across the nation.

IU continues to soar as the global community continues to recognize the value of utilizing a language translation service that offers interpreting services from professional and certified interpreters, where applicable. Contact IU today to obtain a free estimate on your next translation service or to schedule an in-person interpreter service including American Sign Language.