Interpreters Unlimited: A BBB Accredited Business

Interpreters Unlimited is pleased to announce that we are now an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau! Founded in 1970, IU has been providing professional interpretation and translation services nationwide for over 130+ languages. As a BBB Accredited Business, you can trust that IU values customer satisfaction and will strive to deliver superior language translation and interpreting services. For more information about IU and the services that we provide, contact us today at 800.726.9891.

Do you YouTube?

Have you ever heard about a new video on the internet that just went viral, and then felt an immediate need to grab your laptop or cell phone, open YouTube, and stream the video to see what all the fuss is about? Now, of those viral videos, how many of them were in languages other than English?

According to YouTube, 70% of their site visitors live outside the United States. As a result, YouTube has taken a new step towards addressing their global audience- offering both an automated caption translation service AND an innovative translation tool that will allow users to provide translations for their own videos or invite others to translate for them.

While this new platform has the potential to bridge the communication gap between speakers of different languages, there will always be an inevitable degree of error when untrained individuals are providing translations. YouTube’s new feature seems like a great concept and solution for its existing needs, but when it comes to official documents or materials, it’s important to select a professional translation company with the experience and training that you can depend on for accurate language translation. 

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. 

Did you watch President Obama’s speech at Virginia Beach?

On July 13th President Obama spoke at Virginia Beach, and Interpreters Unlimited is pleased to announce that we were the language service provider selected to deliver interpreter services for the event.

Since the founding of Interpreters Unlimited in 1970, our list of clientele has been growing constantly. Needless to say, interpreting for the president of the United States is certainly an exciting milestone in IU’s history. For more news and updates on Interpreters Unlimited and the interpretation and translation services that we provide, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

And the correct answer is…

Imagine this- you’re 12 years old. It’s Friday morning and you’re taking a test in Chinese class that you have been dreading all week. You’re on the last question, and you've narrowed down the answer to two choices. Both answers seem correct. Upon further inspection you realize that both answers ARE correct. You begin to think that it must be a trick question; there can’t be two correct answers to a multiple choice question, right? You might be surprised…

A number of articles have been published about foreign language exams in New York schools containing errors due to sub-par translation service. From having multiple correct answers to absurd or ambiguous questions and passages, the number of erroneous translations throughout the state has been increasing.

When converting important documents like school exams, it is imperative to select a reliable translation company. Taking exams is never a pleasant experience (for most people, anyway). Students should only have to worry about getting the answer right- not about the possibility of the question being wrong.

Medical Interpreters – Improving Patient Care

If you’re like me, going to the hospital is often considered a nerve-racking experience. Waiting for a diagnosis or undergoing treatment- whether for yourself or someone else- is always stressful. For many individuals with limited English proficiency, this stress can only be elevated by the language barrier. Fortunately, interpretation and translation companies can solve this problem.

The role of interpreters in hospitals is a natural fit, especially given the complex nature of medical communications. In a recent study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, patients who were assisted by medically certified interpreters during their admission and discharge had significantly shorter hospital stays than those who did not utilize an interpreter. The results of this study clearly illustrate the necessity of professional interpretation and translation service in the field of medicine. Patients need the ability to accurately communicate and comprehend all matters regarding their treatment or condition, not only for peace of mind but for their overall health and well-being.