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How to Choose the Right Language Interpreter

In Blog by Rafael MorelLeave a Comment

Running a company and conducting business with clients requires dedication and preparation, especially when dealing with foreign clients. It’s important to keep the line of communication open at all times. You need to know that the clients you’re dealing with understand your messages loud and clear. You also need to know if they’re happy with your offer or if more negotiations are needed to close the deal.

The only way to make sure you’re communicating efficiently with your foreign clients is to use the right interpretation service. Advanced technology has made it possible for companies to reach out to potential consumers and associates all over the globe and interpretation services make it possible to communicate with these new contacts effectively.

To ensure your company is getting the most from your foreign marketing efforts, you need the right interpreter for the job.

Determine Your Needs First

Finding a language interpreter with a good reputation is a vital part of communicating with foreign clients successfully but their reputation is not the only thing you need to be concerned with. You also need to find the right interpreter for the job. If they don’t have experience dealing with the type of language interpretation you need, then they won’t be of much benefit to you no matter how good of a reputation they have. For this reason, the first step in choosing the right language interpreter is to determine your needs.

Will you be visiting an international conference where there will be multiple languages spoken or will you be conducting a one-on-one meeting with a potential client to discuss business? Do you need an interpreter for a phone conference or do you need someone to accompany you to trade shows and similar events? Determining your needs will help you decide which type of interpreter you need.

Simultaneous or Consecutive Interpretations

After determining your needs, you need to choose the type service to use. Knowing a little about the different types of services offered will help you decide which one suits your needs the best. Simultaneous and consecutive interpretations are the two main types of services used by businesses and both types require skill and concentration in order to interpret conversations accurately.

Simultaneous interpretation requires the interpreter to listen and translate everything a certain speaker is saying while he’s speaking. Normally, you’ll have two interpreters so they can switch off every twenty to thirty minutes. This allows them time to rest from the stress of concentrating so carefully, so they can prepare for the next session without holding up the meetings.

Consecutive interpretation is when one interpreter acts as liaison between two people. He will listen very closely to the first speaker and then translate what he says. Then, the interpreter will listen to the next person’s reply and repeat it back to the first person. The interpreter will go back and forth this way throughout the meeting but it can be very exhausting so he’ll need to take a lot of breaks.

Once you know what your needs are and a little about the different types of services offered, you’ll know whether to look for an individual interpreter or an interpretation agency that offers several interpreters that speak different languages. Choosing the right language interpreter for the job will help ensure you communicate efficiently when doing business with foreign clients and associates.

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