FAQ

Why choose us?

With the number of translations and interpretation agencies existing in the world, deciding which one to choose is definitely not easy. While we cannot decide for you, we can tell you why you won’t regret it if you choose Lighthouse Translations and Interpretations for the job.

Our experience precedes us. We’ve been providing our clients with quality services since 2003, and as of today, we have over 200 experienced translators and interpreters working for us. They have access to the latest technology to make sure that all the tasks are done efficiently and in time and with attention to detail.

What’s more, all of our translators and interpreters have some sort of certification issued by either state, regional, national, or international bodies, including the American Translators Association, NAJIT, and more.

If you want to learn more about us or our offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, either by giving us a call or completing the form on our website. What’s more, we have offices in many cities around the US and more, so if you prefer to talk about things in person, you can always schedule a consultation.

List of all languages available for translation and interpretation

As plenty of studies had shown before, if a person had the option to order from a website written in their native language and one that is solely in English, in most cases, they would choose the first option. That’s because they feel like they understand the product and the descriptions better. 

Here at Lighthouse Translations and Interpretations, we understand all of that. That’s precisely why we provide translation services for a number of different languages from all over the world. Below is a list of all languages available for translation and interpretation.

Languages available:
Spanish (European & Latin American)
Portuguese (European & Brazilian)
Italian
French
French Canadian
French Creole
Haitian Creole
Hungarian
Swedish
German
Russian
Romanian
Slovak
Ukrainian
Czech
Polish
Hebrew
Greek
Dutch
Arabic
Norwegian
Turkish
Chinese Mandarin
Chinese Cantonese
Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Thai
Indonesian

What kinds of services do you offer?

We have plenty of different services in our offer, starting with website or document translation, through interpretation equipment rental, and ending on simultaneous interpretation and conference interpreting. The variety of services ensures that you will find one that will perfectly meet your needs.

What equipment is needed for simultaneous interpretation?

When you choose Lighthouse Translations and Interpretation Services, you are partnering with a company that has the best interpretation equipment for your event and an experienced, supportive, proactive and friendly technical support team. We really strive to become another member of your team! We work hard to anticipate any of your needs and will be more than glad to work with you to resolve any last minute issues, even if they are not interpretation related. For the truly curious, we have put together a brief introduction to the different types of interpretation equipment and how they work. If you need simultaneous interpretation services for more than 1 person, chances are that you will need simultaneous interpretation equipment. Common simultaneous interpretation equipment consists of:

• Booth (either Table-top or Full-size)
• Interpreter Console
• Interpreter Microphone
• Wireless Audience Headsets
• Wireless Transmitters

Learn more about our interpretation equipment, including interpretation equipment rental. NOTE: For consecutive interpretation, the equipment listed above is not needed. In addition to the interpretation equipment listed above, you will need a sound system for your event. We work everyday with many audiovisual companies, from in-house hotel audiovisual companies to equipment owned by the client themselves. We will always touch base with your AV person to ensure that we are able to plug in to their sound system to ensure the best possible interpretation. Depending on the size of your meeting, you will need a combination of the following audiovisual equipment:

• Amplifiers
• Loudspeakers
• PA Systems
• Handheld microphones
• Lapel microhpones
• Microphone stands
• Push-to-talk microphones
• Speaker stands
• Projection screens
• Projectors

We will be more than glad to refer you to reliable audiovisual professionals should you need us to recommend one for you. For the majority of events, we do not provide audiovisual equipment. Feel free to contact us for a consultation on any audiovisual needs you may have.

How much advance notice do you need to service my request for an interpreter?

Our interpreters are professionals and as such possess a broad experience in making their interpretations tailor-made to our clients’ requirements. Lighthouse Translations and Interpretation Services only hires experienced interpreters who have past experience in such fields as:

• Law
• Medicine
• Insurance
• Finance
Sciences (biology and physical sciences)
• Business
• And many other industries that require specialized terminologies from our interpreters.

If your project requires specialized terminology for your industry, discuss it with one of our customer service representatives. Based on your needs, we may request for further information that would enable our interpreters to effectively do their job, including:

Reviewing beforehand any materials made available (Presentations, speech notes, meeting or company website, etc.).
Direct communication with the speaker(s) or presenters.
Research into the topics to be discussed.
Preparation of a term glossary.

What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpretation?

Consecutive Interpretation As the name implies, the speaker of the source language and the interpreter take turns when speaking in consecutive interpreting. Consecutive interpretation is used in telephone interpretation, in small meetings, as well as in official settings. One of it’s main drawbacks, when compared to simultaneous interpretation, is that it takes additional time for the message to be said twice, first in the original language and then into the interpreted language. It also breaks the rhythm and flow of the presentation, since the speaker needs to pause frequently to allow the interpreter to render the message in the other language. In consecutive interpretation, the interpreter listens and then takes down notes while the speaker delivers his message. When the speaker makes a pause or is done speaking, the interpreter delivers the message in the target language. Learn more about our consecutive Interpretation Services here and here. Simultaneous Interpretation On the other hand, simultaneous interpreting is used when there are people who speak different languages. As the source-language speaker talks, the interpreter works inside a a sound proofed booth and delivers the message through a microphone connected to a wireless transmitter, speaking at the same time as the presenter, in the target language. Learn more about our simultaneous interpretation services.

How do you ensure that the translated documents are error-free?

Through our quality assurance processes, we can guarantee that each document translation project meets the following three criteria:

• Precision
• Accuracy
• Cultural appropriateness

A team composed of three translation professionals is always assigned to each project- translator, editor, and proofreader. The members work together to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the document translation. We review and revise all translation work done to ensure grammatical correctness, context, localized word use, style, intended meaning, and overall message. To learn more about how we ensure the quality of your translated document, visit our quality assurance section.

How can you assure the confidentiality of my documents?

We understand the importance of security and confidentiality and take it very seriously. We adhere to professionalism and a strict code of ethics to uphold confidentiality for every document translation project we undertake. Lighthouse Translations and Interpretation Services can provide non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements to clients who request it for additional security measures. As corporate members of the American Translators Association since 2004, we fully comply with the ATA’s Code of Ethics as well as the ATA Code of Business Ethics.

Do you offer certified translation services for documents?

Yes, we offer extensive translation and certification services for a variety of documents that includes birth certificate, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees among others. Documents that need to be certified are mostly personal documents. These include:

• School diplomas
• Certificates (Marriage, Death, Birth)
• Transcripts
• Other types of documents for individuals (legal, university or immigration purposes).

Lighthouse Translations and Interpretation Services has close to 10 years of experience translating and certifying documents. Delivery speed may be classified as regular or urgent. Certified translations are usually mailed via FedEx, USPS or certified mail.

What forms of payment are accepted?

We accepts payments for most translation projects through the following:

1. Checks
2. Major credit cards (Visa/Mastercard / American Express)
3. PayPal
4. Wire transfers
5. Purchase orders

How much time is needed to translate my documents?

Each document translation project is one of a kind. Various factors need to be considered to estimate the time it will take to complete the translations. To be able to estimate how much time will be needed to finish your translation project, please fill in our request form for a free quote. Our costumer service representatives will take a look at your document(s), assess the length of time needed for translation, and communicate the results back to you via email or telephone.

What file formats do you accept documents for translation?

We can work with almost any type of electronic file, including: text, Tiff, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, InDesign, Publisher, Acrobat and most other DTP software applications. Feel free to contact us should you want to verify if your file is in a format from which we can work your translation from.

How do I send you my documents for translation?

We accept hard copies and digital formats of documents. Hard copies may be sent through the mail or personally dropped off at our offices. For files that are in digital format, they may be sent to us by email or sent to us through our document quote request form. For extra-large digital files we can send you information so that you can send them through our FTP service.

How is the cost of a translation determined?

Each document is one of a kind, so the most convenient means of determining the price of your document translation project is to fill in the request form for a free translation quote. This will enable a customer service representative from our team to look at your project, make an assessment, and personally communicate back to you. To determine the cost of each translation project, several factors are considered. These include:

1. The type of document for translation (legal, technical, financial)
2. How many words does the document to be translated contain
3. Whether the translation needs to be certified or not
4. The number of documents to be translated
5. Into or from what languages is the document going to be translated from or into
6. By when is the translation needed?
7. The format in which the document will be sent: (Word, PDF, Powerpoint, HTML,Faxed, Scanned Image)

Do let us know if you need us to send you a signed confidentiality agreement before you are able to send us your document so that we can prepare the quote. Many of our first time clients feel very reassured to know that we will protect the confidential nature of their document with the utmost care.