However, by industry standards, they also have their own distinct professional traits. What do interpreters do that translators don’t? What does a translator need that an interpreter can do without? How different are they really on the job? Here are just a few of the things that set translators and interpreters apart from each other.

1. Work Mode
Professional translators and interpreters sometimes forget that many people outside of the industry often don’t even realize that these are two different professions. To put it as simply as possible, translators write while interpreters speak. A translator takes a text in one language and rewrites it in another language. Interpreters, on the other hand, listen to what someone says in one language and then convey it by speaking in another language.

The fundamental difference in their respective lines of work is this: a translator usually does not speak at a job, but must have excellent writing skills, with all the things this implies: perfect punctuation, spelling, grammar. A successful interpreter needs all the skills required of a good public speaker, delivering messages clearly by speaking.

Translators in general enjoy the luxury of having more time, but that also means they have to be skilled at personal time management and able to focus deeply on one thing for an extended period, whereas interpreters must be quicker on their feet, able to tune out distractions, and have strong multi-tasking skills.

2. Working Environment
Translators and interpreters have different tools in their arsenals, and work in different environments.

A modern translator is computer savvy and skilled with the leading translation software (MemoQ, Trados, Wordfast, Déjà Vu, etc). Translators often have more freedom in terms of where they can do their work, and since translation requires a great deal of focus and time, this means a comfortable space free from distraction, whether it be a home office or a space at the agency or company a translator works for.

Interpreters, by contrast, have much less personalized work areas, since they generally work in spaces that are not their own, although there are interpreters who work over the phone or through video calls from home. Interpreters in many cases also don’t own the equipment they work with: simultaneous interpretation requires microphones, audio transmission equipment, receivers, and headphones, but these are generally provided by the translation company or the client. Interpreters working in the consecutive mode have a more modest toolbox which usually includes just a pen and a notebook. Recently, tablets and digital pens with special features have been making their way into consecutive interpreters’ kits, but are not yet widespread.

3. Dealing With Pressure
Interpreters work under great pressure because what’s being said needs to be interpreted immediately, which doesn’t leave much time to think. For interpreters, time is very precious. If they spend too much time on a certain sentence or word, they run the risk of missing important information that follows.

By comparison, translators are not under immediate pressure but incremental pressure. They spend a long time refining their work and even invite others to edit and proofread it in order to ensure that the final product is as flawless as possible.

Whatever the reason your business has for holding a conference in Silicon Valley, Monterey Languages Services is here to help.  We come from a conference interpretation background with an amazing network of alumni, graduates from the Graduate School of Translation and Interpetation of the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS), speaking many different languages, and equipped with the most advanced listening and presentation technologies.  We hold ourselves to the industry’s highest standard, and have contributed to the success of many international conferences for our Silicon Valley clients.

Before every conference interpretation event starts, we make preparations in advance. From selecting a team of conference interpreters, putting together interpretation equipment & the audio and video system, setting up interpreter rooms or interpreter booths, to studying the conference materials in advance, there is a design and a goal in mind in order to achieve the best result in an event we are entrusted to provide conference interpretation.

When the audience gets there, each member is provided a headset connected to a radio-like device that receives the channels of interpretation in different languages (English, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, etc.). Use push to talk microphones to ask questions.  With all of these high-tech equipments, we come on site to provide technical support and make sure customers are enjoying using modern technology to help them break the language barriers.

At the end of the event, every audience member has clearly understood the conference. They were enthusiastic about it, and good business deals are about to come out of this.

The Monterey Language Services team feels—hey, Silicon Valley–mission accomplished.

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for a quote.

Local interpreters carry out their services in person. They travel to the location – a conference, a business meeting, a doctor’s appointment or a court hearing – and interpret onsite, whether consecutive or simultaneous. There are certainly advantages to sticking with this tried and true approach. Since the interpretation is face to face, there are no worries about technological limitation – no extra delays, always the clearest possible picture and sound, no special adjustment and setup needed.

That is not to say there are no possible pitfalls. Naturally, the pool of available local interpreters is limited, and for rare languages may be entirely nonexistent, not to mention that there is a multitude of travel-related concerns and expenses, from car trouble to traffic.

On the other hand, global interpreters work over the phone or, more often today, through video software. Distance between client and interpreter ceases being a concern, and interpreters’ hours become more flexible. Far more languages and much wider pool of interpreters become available. There are no travel expenses.

However, to balance it out, global interpreters are dependent on cutting-edge technology, with all the attached concerns. Fortunately, nowadays, more and more interpreters can meet these requirements, in terms of hardware, software and internet access, and the technology itself has become much more reliable. We are entering into the future.

There is no clear “superior” choice. Whether selecting a global interpreter or calling up a local one is better depends on the event, the languages, set up and people involved, the situation specifics.

We at Monterey Language Services are always striving to determine the best solution for our customers, and to that end, we offer a full line of interpretation services – whatever your needs, we will find the interpreter for you, whether they are five miles away or on the other side of the world.

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for a quote.

Our interpreters are professionally qualified. They have studied translation and interpretation at the graduate or undergraduate level, or are professionally certified, or have received training in medical, legal and technical subject areas. They are experienced medical interpreters, legal interpreters and technical interpreters. Furthermore, they pursue continuing on-the-job training and education.

Our interpreters are not only local, able to come to our headquarters or to our client sites to perform services, but also distant, working remotely through a range of technology options such as video remote.

Our interpreters work consecutively, but also at conference, offering simultaneous interpretation.

Monterey Language Services has been providing language support to hospitals for years. A short list includes Spanish, ASL, Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin and Cantonese, Korean, Tagalog, Russian, French, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Punjabi, Gujarati, and indigenous languages such as Triqui, Mixteco, Zapotec. Even when a rare language is needed, we can vet and bring interpreters to our customers in a matter of hours.

We stand by ready 24-7, either work with a regular schedule of interpreting appointments, or provide last minute on-demand interpretation, for example for a hospital’s emergency needs.

It is our goal at Monterey Language Services to provide a full line of interpretation services. And it is to that end that we maintain our huge pool of professional interpreters to serve you whenever or wherever you need them.

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

We are already at the point where technology can make this possible with just an app that can be used on any device – tablet, smartphone, laptop or desktop. Our VRI services make sure that an interpreter is just one click away.

Technology such as Skype and Google Hangouts are very popular. However, the downside is that they are not known for being secure, private or reliable, but security, privacy, and reliability are absolutely necessary to serve medical and legal industries.

Monterey Language Services’ video conferencing capabilities are in compliance with HIPPA regulations and meet all the requirements set by the court.  Working together with medical and legal interpreters, technical and project management teams, we provide a solid infrastructure for video remote interpretation serving hospitals, clinics, legal offices, and business nationwide and worldwide.

One of our missions is to assist communication in the mobile age. Through modern video and audio systems, we are one step up to bridge the world’s languages nationally and globally.  See http://www.montereylanguages.com/video-remote-interpretation-services.html

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Interpretation, however, can mean many different things. It can be in-person, when interpreters travel on-site, to hospitals and doctors’ offices or to conference, including seminars, workshops, and trainings. They provide consecutive or simultaneous interpretation, using transmitters and receivers or, alternatively, the booth, or even simply through whisper interpretation.

Interpretation can also be done from a distance. One option is using a video conferencing system, which can provide private and secure communication that meets medical and legal industry requirements. Another option is Video Remote Interpretation through the use of a tablet, smartphone, laptop, desktop or HD.

We offer all of these options, and more. It is our goal to provide a full line of interpretation services, including any necessary equipment, Spanish to ASL relay, etc. Which method of interpretation would better serve your needs? No matter what it is, you can always find it here at Monterey Language Services.

Professionalism—Medical Terminology and Quick Reactions

To be able to interpret in the medical field, a solid knowledge in the medical terminology is essential. Because palliative care is often utilizes multidisciplinary approaches, the medical interpreter needs to be equipped with both general and specific medical terms. In addition, to ensure the completeness of information, the interpreter needs to react quickly to the situation. For example, when family members engage in conversations among themselves instead of having a discussion with the medical provider, it is often recommended that the interpreter switches to simultaneous interpretation to convey as much information as possible.

Human Qualities—Composure and Compassion

In the medical interpretation, the interpreters often need to deliver serious messages such as the time the patient has left or an unfavorable prognosis. While the patient and family members may become distressed or emotional over the news, it is vital that the interpreter remain calm and composed in these situations. This can be a very difficult balance to achieve as medical interpreters should embrace compassion and empathy for the patients but at the same time need to maintain their professionalism. However, this aspect also injects humanity into this profession, making it extremely fulfilling.

Interpretation, therefore, is beyond simply converting one language into another. Because human beings are lively creatures who show emotions, human interpreters should take both professionalism and humanity into account to ensure optimal communication.

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

The Athletes in the Spotlight
Thinking back to the London Olympic Games this past summer, the elegant divers and agile gymnasts delivered near-perfect performances in front of the world and left millions in awe. While we appreciate the outstanding performances of these athletes, it is very easy to overlook the thousands of hours and the sheer amount of energy they devoted for their brief moment under the spotlight.

The Translators and Interpreters behind the Scenes
Translators and interpreters are, in many ways, similar to Olympic athletes. In the interpreting booth, conference interpreters work 20-minute segments, performing their “sport.” And behind the clear, informative message generated in this 20 minutes are thousands of hours spent on professional training, developing vocabulary, and public speaking skills. Translators, too, have to spend many years polishing their language and writing skills in order to deliver work of utmost quality.

Quality through the Pursuit of Perfection
While Olympians can enjoy the attention and spotlight, translators and interpreters, more often than not, remain behind the scenes. This, however, does not stop these linguists from perfecting their skills. Many translators and interpreters are on a journey of lifelong learning, continuously and meticulously honing their skills for quality performances. The “mental workout” that these linguists go through can be as strenuous as athletic training. So if the opportunity arises, remember to recognize those seemingly nameless interpreters and commend them for their hard work. Because in way, they are just as amazing as Olympic athletes.

Monterey Language Services strives to provide the highest quality of translation and interpretation services. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

This think quality story brought to you by our team member Ringo Li.

Imagine what the future routine of translation and interpretation can be.  You could end up doing something very interesting, like addressing the United Nations General Assembly from your virtual office, or making a presentation from your home to people in China.  Regardless of where you are or what you do, chances are that you will need an interpreter at some point in your daily life.

Scenario #1: simultaneous interpretation

 An American firm hopes to gain exclusive rights to market a Mexican company’s product in the United States.  The Mexican company’s executives show the American representatives a short film in Spanish about the company via video conferencing.  So, the American company hires a Spanish-to-English interpreter versed in technical argot.  The interpreter, wearing a headset, verbally translates the film’s dialogue into English.  

Scenario #2: consecutive interpretation

A French sales representative wanted to go to San Francisco to negotiate with a winery about sales rights in France.  Without enough time to meet directly with the executives, he has to have a video conference with them.  He has an English-to-French interpreter, while the company has a French-to-English interpreter.  The two sides discuss the business deal through consecutive interpretation.

Scenario #3: sign language interpretation

A hard-of-hearing person has had a medical condition and is in the hospital.  The doctor has to explain the condition and what has to be done, but of course cannot simply tell the patient directly.  The ASL interpreter performs sign language interpretation through a videoconference where the interpreter can see the patient and doctor.  They jointly explain the patient’s condition, with the doctor speaking and the interpreter manually translating.  The patient understands perfectly.

With these ideas in mind, Monterey Language Services is not just imagining what the future could be: it is moving towards the future by providing video remote interpretation services and video conferencing services.  To Monterey Language Services, the future is now!

Check out our webpages:

http://www.montereylanguages.com/video-conferencing-services.html

http://www.montereylanguages.com/video-remote-interpretation-services.html