Not everyone understands who is entitled to an interpreter or translator. The government doesn’t make it any easier using their own “language” to explain. Reading Executive Order 13166, I start to wonder if I should be entitled to an interpreter. Does anyone speak “Congressese?” In a nutshell, the executive order, which was signed into law by […]
What would you do if an individual walked into your place of work and did not speak English? Would you know if this person is legally entitled to an interpreter? Better yet, would you provide the individual an interpreter, or would you turn them away because you were not able to communicate with them? Many […]
It’s time to make your resolutions for the new year. While I may not be able to give you any advice about losing weight or kicking that bad habit, I can help when it comes to the most in-demand job skill: fluency in a foreign language. There are so many different ways to learn a language […]
While I look forward to Christmas every year, I found myself especially looking forward to this year’s holiday, as we would be spending it with our 15-day-old grandson. When the day finally came, it was as joyous as I had imagined. Yet try as I may, I couldn’t keep work completely out of my mind: […]
Your content is always changing, growing, and evolving. What about in other languages? If you don’t keep everything aligned with the realities of today, you risk misinforming your customers, the consequences of which could be severe. Though updating the translations can be a chore, it doesn’t have to be. Follow these three simple steps with […]
History of Telephonic Interpreting Telephonic interpreting is a newer technology in the language service industry. Telephonic interpreting was originally introduced in Australia in 1973. It was designed as a free service to facilitate communication with Australia’s growing immigrant communities. It wasn’t until eight years later that the first over-the-phone telephonic interpreting (OPI) service was offered […]
Are you fluent in American Sign Language (ASL)? If not, would you know how to communicate with a deaf individual if he or she needed to visit your organization or place of business? Let’s start with the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with […]
You’ve contacted a company to translate a document for you, worked with them to define exactly what you need, and received the completed translation. What’s next? Can you feel confident publishing it? Many people in your shoes would feel better if someone else reviewed the document first, someone in their organization. This process is known […]
Without knowing both languages, and knowing them well, it’s nearly impossible for you to determine how good a translation is. I’ve had this problem myself when looking at documents in Chinese. While I do speak some Chinese, reading and writing is something I’m still working on. When I see something translated into Chinese, I can […]
There are a myriad of questions you could ask to determine if a medical interpreter is capable of doing a good job. During the patient encounter, of course, you can’t audit their performance because you don’t know the language—that’s why you need them in the first place! So here are some straightforward questions you can […]