Business Translation Services - Tips for Working with an Interpreter

By: Armando Riquier
Submitted: 2008-03-17 16:17:30
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Interpreters are becoming more and more popular and in great demand. With people from all over the world taking part in business events such as conferences, business meetings and marketing campaigns, the language barrier can be a tough hurdle to get over. The interpreter is an important piece to the puzzle when it comes to this type of communication, and knowing how to hire one is a must for international businesses.

You can certainly just go out and hire one, but that would be too easy. You want to research the business translation service you are interested in, because a business translation service that provides interpreters will only work with qualified and experienced interpreters. They will also ensure that an interpreter is familiar with the subject matter.

Working with an interpreter can also bring unforeseen challenges, because the aspect of their job can be cumbersome and stressful. They perform "on the spot" work, and there is no time to think or consider what is being said. They don't have breaks like other employees either. So, in order to ensure you get the best out of an interpreter, good communication is necessary.

Here are some valuable tips when working with a business translation service interpreter.

Make sure you communicate exactly what needs to be accomplished to the interpreter prior to the start of the job.

Provide the interpreter with a briefing of what will happen in the meeting, and try to provide him or her with background information on the subject matter. Let them know the topics and issues that will be covered.

If you have any materials that have been pre-printed, make sure the interpreter has a copy and time to review the materials. This will help when the interpreter is in front of the live audience, as it will not be the first time reading it.

Humor is a bad thing. You want to avoid it like the plague. What you find funny, the other culture may find offensive. So, be as professional as possible. An interpreter from a respectable business translation service will know to avoid humor.

If you have set aside an hour for the meeting, you will need to double this time, due to the use of the interpreter. Meetings generally take twice the amount of time. If it's a presentation, it may even take longer, so plan your time accordingly.

In order to help the interpreter, try to speak slowly, so they can reiterate exactly what you are saying. It can be a stressful job for them and if you speak too quickly, this can make the job harder for them. Remember, you don't want the quality of the translation to be hindered in any way.

An interpreter from a business translation service will already know this, but avoid any emotion when speaking. Sometimes emotions can be taken the wrong way, and you certainly don't want the interpreter to communicate your emotions along with your words.

Make sure the interpreter doesn't answer questions on your behalf. Even if the answer is simple, the interpreter should still convey this to you. If an interpreter starts to speak on your behalf, this can have numerous negative consequences

These are just a few tips to get you started. You will more than likely have a reputable business translation service that will provide an interpreter that is versed in all of the information above. But, if not, you want to make sure they are clear on all points, as not to make you look bad.

Armando Riquier has many years of experience as a writer and translator and works with Tectrad, a company specialized in translation finance, legal and technical matters. Maintain an excellent image with your investors, shareholders and foreign customers using their professional business translation services for all your promotional or corporate issues.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Language category

  • Accredited TEFL Courses - By: Ajay Shringi
    Lots of prestigious academic institutions organize accredited TEFL courses as part of their extensive English teaching programs. These programs are geared towards coping with the international demand for people equipped to teach the most widely spoken language in the world.
  • Why Learn to Speak Foreign Languages - By: David Stack
    Why should we learn another language? Today when the whole world is becoming English-speaking, I don't see any reasons for learning languages other than English. We can go anywhere in the world and communicate in English with the locals, but knowing foreign languages will take people a step forward in global communication, and it will open more opportunities in their lives
  • Why Websites Need Translation - By: Nate Rodnay
    Many Europeans can speak a little of the languages of neighboring countries. The English aren't known for their linguistic prowess. And in the continent of America, North Americans tend to be uni-lingual, speaking only English. In some cities, such as Miami where there is a large Hispanic presence, there are many bi-lingual speakers, but in general people tend to speak only English.
  • Effective Business Translation Services - By: Armando Riquier
    The Earth continues to grow smaller as more businesses and non-profit organizations set up a presence on the world wide web. Logically, the demand for quality business translation services increases. The down fall of any sort of growth is the inevitable arrival of incompetent providers desiring to take advantage of a lucrative market. What are the facts to be considered when electing a business translation service?
  • French English Translation Botches - By: Armando Riquier
    It is no wonder why many website owners are getting their sites translated into French considering that there are roughly 128 million people in the world who speak this international language. Whether the web pages are those of a not-for-profit organization or of a business engaging in e-commerce, French English translation services are useful in reaching a considerably larger group of people.
  • Technical Translation Services - What it Takes - By: Armando Riquier
    Providing effective translation services of technical documents calls for special skills and expertise.
  • Business Translation Services - What to Look For - By: Armando Riquier
    Numerous companies around the world require, at one time or another, business translation services. For instance if you are a United States based business and are working with a company based in France, sometimes hiring a translation service agency will be necessary. Initially you may progress by having a translator within your organization that speaks French. However, if you need written documentation, spreadsheets or multimedia translated, this becomes another issue altogether
  • Problems in English To French Translation - By: Armando Riquier
    English to French Translations can present difficulties rarely found with other language combinations. Acquainting oneself with these difficulties so as to easily surmount as many of them as possible is therefore sound advice.
  • Business Translation - Why is it Important? - By: Armando Riquier
    Communicating with people from different countries is becoming ever popular. Not only do companies need proper business translations, we encounter people from different countries at work, in our own towns, and we go on vacation. You are now just as likely to need a few words of French to order something from the menu when visiting France for a business meeting or while on vacation. Getting it right is critical, if you want to make a good impression.
  • Business Translation Services - Tips for Working with an Interpreter - By: Armando Riquier
    You can certainly just go out and hire an interpreter, but that would be too easy. You want to research the business translation service you are interested in, because a business translation service that provides interpreters will only work with qualified and experienced interpreters. They will also ensure that an interpreter is familiar with the subject matter.