Onsite Interpreting

USE TRAINED INTERPRETERS
Supporting 90 languages and American Sign Language
We provide onsite Interpreters for scheduled appointments and emergencies 24/7

A simultaneous interpreter talks at the same time as the speaker usually in a conference or meeting. The interpreter listens to one language and interprets into another. The interpreter does not keep a record what is said and does not converse with the speaker. Since the work requires intense concentration and is tiring, simultaneous interpreters normally work in teams of 2 or more and alternate short sessions of 20-25 minutes each.

A consecutive interpreter interprets short utterances: normally a sentence or a few sentences at a time. The interpreter will often take notes to help him/her in the interpreting process, especially if the utterances are long. Consecutive interpreting is usually bi-directional between two languages, for example interpreting French to a listener in English and then interpreting the English reply back into French.

An escort interpreter works with individuals or groups who are not confined to a conference or meeting room. Typical occasions are site visits, tours of facilities and inspection rounds. Escort interpreters work consecutively (see above) but can expect a typical day to range from formal meetings to tours of factories to dinner parties.

LEGAL
A legal interpreter works in a legal setting such as a courtroom, police station or lawyer's office, where some proceeding or activity related to law is conducted. Legal interpreting is similar to consecutive interpreting, but the interpreter must be more precise in his wording and is not able to add explanation to an utterance, except with explicit direction from the speaker.

Who is a qualified legal interpreter? (click here to see guidelines found in this resource document for law enforcement interpretation.) A qualified legal interpreter is someone with specialized training and knowledge of legal terminology; who has completed a seminar on the code of professional conduct for judiciary interpreters and experience in court interpretation.

Who is a certified interpreter? Persons who have passed a National Center for State Courts Consortium test, or a Federal Court Certification examination, or a NAJIT credentialing examination. (Federal Court Certification is only available in Navaho, Haitian Creole and Spanish)

MEDICAL
Who is a qualified medical interpreter?
A bilingual individual with specialized training, ethics, confidentiality and knowledge of terminology. HIPPA training, TB testing and up-to-date immunizations are also required.

Are you meeting JCAHO standards?
If you are a medical professional you are familiar with the Joint Commission (JCAHO) whose guidelines on interpreters specifically mention the dangers of using untrained and unskilled interpreters. LIMIT YOUR LIABILITY.

Affordable Language Services provides trained on-site interpreters. Some health care providers attempt to satisfy current legal requirements by using just a friend or family member to interpret. IS IT LEGAL? No, if you want confidentiality protected. Such person is not trained to respect the confidentiality of personal medical information (HIPAA) and certainly is not trained in medical ethics and terminology. What if a crucial medical decision was based on a diagnosis having only 75% of the patient’s input interpreted accurately? The repercussions could be catastrophic. That’s why a trained interpreter is necessary.

At Affordable Language Services, Ltd., we have re-invested our profits in the education of our interpreters to assure that all staff is conversant with national interpreter code of ethics. (To view the National Interpreters Code of Ethics click here)
Many of our medical interpreters have attended the most NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED course entitled "Bridging the Gap". This is a special 40-hour medical interpreters training program (licensed by Cross Cultural Health Care Program). Affordable Language Services is licensed to train this course. Training includes language screening, pre-test and post-test, and a certificate if the interpreter passes the test. Click here for more info on the program and course content.