Back to Basics: The Difference Between Interpretation and Translation

Today’s topic might seem like common knowledge to people who are familiar with the language service industry, but if you are one of those individuals who believes that these two words mean the same thing, you’re not alone. Lately I have come across a number of articles online that use the terms interpretation and translation interchangeably.

In a nutshell, an interpretation refers to the conversion of one spoken language into another. (For a sign language interpreter, it is the conversion of a spoken language into Sign Language or vice versa.) A translation refers to converting written material from one language into another. Consequently, interpretation services and language translation require contrasting skill sets, making interpreters and translators distinctly different.

Coming Soon: A Smartphone Sign Language Interpreter?

Scientists in Scotland are currently working on groundbreaking software that would allow smartphones to act as mobile sign language interpreters. The app would enable sign language recognition by utilizing the camera feature on mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets. After signing into the camera, the captured video would then be translated to text in real time.

The Portable Sign Language Translator, or PSLT, has the potential to offer remarkable benefits in everyday language translation. While the app could facilitate many aspects of daily life for signers, it can never replace the technical skill and accuracy of traditional in-person interpreting services. A smartphone application, no matter how advanced, will always be just that- an app. Vulnerable to the same glitches and malfunctions as your beloved Angry Birds application. When it comes to formal conversations and official situations that need exact translation, I’ll choose an experienced interpreter over a smartphone app any day.

Standardizing Language Translation and Interpreter Services

Almost quarterly those in the language translation or language interpreting services hear from organizations, and more specifically, language translation agencies that are trying to mainstream the process of becoming a professional language translator or interpreter. Because there are so many languages, dialects, and specialties like medical or legal, it’s been quite a challenge to be able to create one standardized way of certifying interpreter services.

Here at IU we recognize this challenge and have consequently adopted the standards of many reputable organizations to certify, assess, and qualify our language interpreters and translators. These could be RID, CHIA, ATA, just to name a few.

The language industry is growing since the need of their language translation and interpreter services are growing at such a rapid rate. It’s important to scrutinize the language company you opt to work with until you have a satisfaction level that the interpreters and translators to be utilized are professional, reliable, and qualified. Contact IU today to request interpreting services.

Franchise Opportunity

Interpreters Unlimited has experienced a long run of success and only anticipates further growth providing companies with language translation and interpreting services. As a professional translation service provider, IU is able to work with medical facilities providing accurate and reliable medical translation as well as professional Spanish medical translations.

Providing in-person interpreting services is also one of IU’s rapidly growing divisions. IU provides interpreter services in over 130 languages including American Sign Language interpretation.

Among IU interpreting services is telephone interpretation services. Although not offering these services as long as in-person interpreting services, IU has managed to build this division into a competitive branch of service.

What this all means is that IU now has the ability to offer potential franchisers the opportunity to run their own branch of IU. The language service industry is a billion dollar industry with plenty of room for those with entrepreneur goals. IU provides training here in sunny San Diego and a committed support system to help ensure success. Contact IU today to learn more.

Online Spanish Translators?

It is amazing how people still question whether an online Spanish translator is as accurate as a live language interpreter or language translator. Yes, I know you are just as shocked as I am. How can one believe a machine would be able to take into account the cultural nuances and dialect when performing a translation or doing an interpretation. IU has seen time and time again how important it is to have a qualified language translator for various interpretation services. It could be for a medical translation, a Spanish translation, really just any professional translation service.

IU chooses to work with language interpreters that have experience offering interpreting services and professional translation services. There will always be those that rely on online translators and may be satisfied when the accuracy of the translation is not that important.

If you want a professional translation service that is accurate, reliable, and timely, IU can help. IU provides language interpreters in over 130 languages and have been doing so nationwide for over 40 years. IU has locations all over the nation to help provide proper and timely professional translation services and interpretation services.

Spend it on Professional Translation Services, It’s Worth it

Medical translation services are needed all over the World. Although based in the United States, Interpreters Unlimited is able to receive a document from anywhere, perform the medical translation service or Spanish translation service, whichever the case, still within a three-business day turn around.

With President Obama and many members of his staff on the way to India, there is much talk about trip expenses that fall on the tax payers. Part of these expenses could be allotted for professional translation services, medical translation, language interpreters, or other translation services. Although it is up for discussion what is a necessity and what is not, I feel confident to say that expenses toward a professional language interpreter or professional medical translation, if needed, is worth it. Course, I could be bias.

Spend the extra amount on a professional that is qualified to provide medical translations, or Spanish translations, or any in-person language interpretation. Get a free estimate on your next translation you need.

Choose a Professional Medical Translation Company

Over one-fourth of medical translations are performed by freelance translators. Although it’s a growing industry, many of these medical translators work in their field sporadically. Hence, it is prudent to work with a professional translation service that will ensure the quality and accuracy of the medical translation.

IU has access to over 7,000 language interpreters nationwide. Among this pool of language interpreters is a long list of qualified, experienced, and timely medical translators. Since IU provides medical translation all over the nation and for a wide range of size and type of medical facilities, IU has the luxury of being quite selective with the translators we choose to trust with our medical translations.

IU selects only translators who have proficiency in medical and colloquial terminology in both languages as well as sensitivity to cultural practices.

Do not rely on just someone you know is bilingual. There is no room for error in medical translations. Contact IU today to learn more about our medical translation division.

My Baby: A Sign Language Interpreter?

Is it possible to teach my baby Sign Language as she is starting to learn muscle movement? Of course it is, in fact, it’s encourage. Some studies have shown that babies that learn Sign Language have a larger vocabulary at an earlier age. It’s quite fun to watch too.

But how do I go about teaching my kids to Sign? You have several options. First, look out for classes that are specifically for teaching babies Sign Language. There are many Sign Language classes available, however, many are for people who want to become language interpreters or work for a professional translation service. There may even be classes that are quite inexpensive and taught by a language interpreter as a volunteer.

Second, look for flash cards for Sign Language. Again, these cards may be quite sophisticated and geared toward someone wanting to be a language interpreter. Find flash cards that are colorful and very simple. Babies have an aptitude to learn many words and/or phrases in Sign Language, but you want to make sure the flash cards are easy for them to understand; that they have drawings that they can interpret.

Third, work with someone who already knows Sign Language, like a Sign Language translator. If you find someone who would be willing to teach a class, talk with your local library to see if they will help promote a series of classes for those wanting to teach their children Sign Language.

Learning any new language at an early age is quite beneficial. Many professional language interpreters IU works with have been submerged in the language they interpret since early childhood. Teaching your children a new language could put them on a path toward being a professional language interpreter.

Microsoft Translating Telephone

Technology is amazing. Microsoft is amazing. TechFair2010 held in Silicon Valley featured the latest and greatest innovations including Microsoft’s Translating Telephone. This machines acts as a language translator. With two people wearing headphones, the computer will listen and provide consecutive interpretation. We viewed a demonstration of this language translator telephone and were not surprised by the results. It proved again that a machine cannot replace a human language translator. Don’t get me wrong, the translating telephone is a very cool tool that does give each person the gist of what the other is saying, but it was evident that this machine could not be relied upon in cases where errors in a translation service can be detrimental or even fatal.

In the demo we could see that simple questions like “Do you like football or basketball?” or “What is your favorite type of food?” were easily translated by the language translator tool. However, a question like “How long have you been working on this program?” lead the technician to describe what the functions of the program were instead.

There will always be language translator tools that try to perfect the art of accurate and reliable professional translation services. It will truly be amazing when someone develops a language interpreter tool that matches dialect, idioms, culture influences, and regional accents as a professional human language translator does daily and with ease.

Language Interpreters Who Work Abroad

No one can argue the benefits of being proficient in another language other than English. Even having a little knowledge of another language can open up opportunities that would normally not be attainable. For many, living abroad is a dream. This dream can come true for those who have enough knowledge of another language to become a language interpreter or provide other translation services. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the importance of learning about the culture of the country one plans to work at as a language interpreter.

After gaining this priceless experience of being a language translator while living in another country, the next logical step would be to join a professional translation service. Interpretation agencies like ours value language interpreters who have not only the proficiency of a language but the in depth knowledge of the culture and practices of a certain group. This only adds to the accuracy of an interpretation or translation.

Being a language interpreter takes more than knowing a source language and target language. From our experience of working in this industry for nearly 40 years, our best interpreters are those who have experience living overseas or are native to that country.

American Sign Language Interpreters

It is impossible to understand the life of those hard of hearing or hearing impaired. But American Sign Language interpreters understand best! American Sign Language interpreters play a vital role for the deaf who live in this hearing world. ASL interpreters help the deaf get through doctor appointments, court proceedings, and other sessions where language causes a barrier in communication.

A language translator for American Sign Language can attain different levels of certification. It’s not just about knowing ASL; it’s about understanding the culture as well as the ethics of being a language interpreter. Language interpreters must remain objective, accurate, timely, professional, and honest, just to name a few requirements. The professional of language interpretation and translation services has come a long way. Do not just rely on someone who says they are proficient in a source and target language; work with professional language interpreters and professional translation services.

Inaccurate Online Language Translator Tool

Have you used those online free language translator tools? They seem so easy and accurate, and free! But, you must understand you are getting what you paid for. These language translator tools cannot compare to using professional language interpreters or professional translation services for written document translation projects. These tools are quite handy for looking up quick vocabulary translation. That is, searching for a single word translation. However, if you really want an accurate translation, you won’t get it from these online language translator tools. These tools are notorious for incorrect word usage, grammar mistakes, dialect mistakes, and inaccurate translations. They are not reliable. Do not use an online language translator tool for anything you want translated accurately. Use a professional!

Interpreter’s experts must have Degrees in particular fields

In our diverse era, for successful medical translation of current medical terminology it is not enough to just be a competent linguist. Language Interpreters experts must also have certificates and degrees in particular fields, including Medical, French, German, Arabic, Chinese and many more. At Interpreters Unlimited, we join an eminently qualified language translator staff with personalized attention and an individual approach to every client in order to provide a really great medical translation service.

Interpreters unlimited has team of highly trained Language Interpreters be able to cope with all kinds of documents of any size and complexity such as clinical study reports, insurance reports, product description and data sheets, patient information and history record, product licensing, patents, and marketing materials, medical equipment instruction manuals, etc. All translated documentation goes through our multi-stage quality control process which includes error correction, editing and proof-reading before we deliver the final copy to the clients.

Molding the Business for Local Needs: Language Translators

Globalization of the business has brought in several aspects into the daily working of a business. And this includes the need of translator services.

Language Translator translates the documents from the local language to the English language or vice versa. In case the spoken records or testimonials needs to be translated, the services of Language Interpreters are required. This service interprets the spoken data, and converts to the required language; either in spoken form or textual format.

Medical Translation service is required for translating the medical prescriptions and medical data. Being a crucial task, only medically proficient personals are used to handle such tasks.

The Importance of Translators and Interpreters

Interpreters as well as translators play a vital role in the success of global businesses. They not only augment communication but also help in conveying the right information from a particular language to another. A Language Translator handles written communication. And on the other hand the role of Language Interpreters is to handle verbal communication. Interpreters as well as translators provide a number of services in multiple business areas.

Medical translations help in promoting communication between patients and hospital management. Conference interpreters act as mediators between international businesses. Specialized business translations associated with financial markets involves the translation of different documents such as mutual fund reports, financial statements, regulatory statements, etc.

Language Translators – Bridging the Gap between You and Your Clients

With the advent of the internet and other advanced means of communication, more and more companies are trying to reach out to a wider audience. When a business expands its horizons, it has to face with many issues, including language barriers. This has led to the growing popularity of translation services. A language translator possesses the required skills and expertise to translate a written document to a specific language, in a grammatically correct way. Great writing skills and analytical abilities are the foremost requirements in this profession.

Due to rapid globalization, interpreting services has become a part of every industry. Language interpreters perform the challenging job of converting one spoken language to another. High level of skill is required in this field as the interpreter has to remember what has been said and rapidly translate the information. As the diversity in medical facilities increases, services like medical translation has become essential for effective communication between the health care provider and the patient.

Language Translation Services: Right Words For Right People

Whether you are running your business or own a website, it is quite obvious that language barrier does pose a big problem, when you need to expand your business – globally. But now, with the help of Language Translator services, you can cross that hurdle. It is always better and fruitful to convey your message to your target customers – in their own language rather than force some other languages upon them. This is the reason why, Language Interpreters have been in great demand these days.

If you are looking forward to get the reliable and Professional Translation Service, then it’s better to do an online research. Now that more and more companies have been expanding their business operations in varied geographical locations, there are many notable online firms, which offer these services. In fact, medical transcription services have become hugely popular among people. In order to get the best in services, you can do a thorough online research.

Language Translation Services: Express Better

Over a period of time, a Language Translator has become one of the most sought-after employees across the world. Nowadays, leading corporate houses throughout the world hire these translators to reach out to their audiences, in their own language or dialects. If you look into the details, then you would find that sometimes, business transactions do get affected badly because of the language barriers. This is where Language Interpreters can come handy. It can really prove helpful, if you want to target a particular country or region speaking the same language.

Everyday, new and innovative products have been coming on the forefront like anything, thus it is not easy to sell your products online. This is where, a Professional Translation Service providing agency can make a big difference. To avail these services, you need to do a thorough online research. There are many notable agencies with strong online presence. Here, you would get clear-cut information about their services and other related aspects.

Professional Translation Service: Helping Your Business to Expand by Removing Language Barrier

One of the problems often confronted by multinational businesses is a language barrier. Chances are that your customers and clients are based outside the US. Their culture and language are quite different from your own. To make sure that your business advances are not halted by this barrier you need a language translator. He is a professional who translates any type of documents into your language. The document may include articles, product descriptions, business reports, collaterals etc. These services are offered by language interpreters as well as interpretation services you will find handy during meetings and conferences. While a translator offers written translation, an interpreter translates orally.

For all kinds of translation services, you can approach a professional translation service provider. Such a company offer services including translation and transcription, in-person interpretation, telephone interpretation, American Sign Language interpretation, and language certification. So whenever you are in need of any translation service you can consult them.

Language Interpreters: Facilitating Business by Removing Language Barriers

Have you ever visited an alien country? Or to put across the point in a more straightforward way, have you ever experienced a cultural shock? If your answer is in the affirmative, you must surely felt how is uncomfortable is it to negotiate a day in your life in a country inhabited by people who speaks a language which is beyond your understanding and whose culture is dissimilar to yours. You must have felt if only you had a language translator present with you. A similar predicament is confronted by the business world as globalization presents them with the issue of localization. As companies are opening regional offices across continents, they are often confronted with the problem of having to deal with alien languages. For overcoming such situations, they may consider taking the professional service offered by language interpreters.

Today there are many companies who extend their service to a number of clients who belong to different industries. A company providing professional translation service can translate all sorts of physical documents, and digital and audio materials including subtitles.