To hire an interpreter is not that easy and get things done as expected requires more effort. Moreover, it is better to know the earnings of interpreters on an average before hiring them.
Let’s discover why this is the case. A communication expert like an interpreter is essential for your upcoming meeting, conference, keynote speech, or business contract. You may think it’s not a big deal to have someone show up and interpret your forthcoming events successfully.
Moreover, overlooking the proper arrangements and briefing can create problems in hiring an interpreter effectively. Likewise, it can cost you a lot of time, money, and pains down the line. There are many ridiculously translated menus scripts or embarrassing government mistakes are out there. When the UK published a Brexit white paper in German version was widely ridiculed for its “outdated” and imperceptive writing style.
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There is no exception, and it can also happen with the interpreting service. Likewise, the complexity arises from the nature of language itself, its intricacies, nuances, and numerous variations. Similarly, it also impossible even for the best interpreters to be a “walking dictionary.” It is also true in the case of interpretation that communication is always an exchange of ideas in a given context.
9 Must-know Things To Hire An Interpreter
Preparation plays a crucial role in ensuring adding value by the communication experts you hire for interpretation. Moreover, interpreters can focus on their job and expertise (language) if you treat them like your team members. It would help if you took care of these dos and don’ts to ensure a successful partnership with your next language interpreters:
1. Hire An Interpreter Who Is An Expert In Your Field:
Before hiring an interpreter, examine his/her expertise in your specific sector or field. In this case, only many years of experience is not enough. Moreover, an interpreter should have a solid background, expertise, and experience in your desired industry. For instance, a legal interpreter will be an excellent fit for the deposition of a patent dispute.
Hire an Interpreter who is an Expert in your Field.
Here, if the interpreters have experience in those settings and already provided relevant technical information in advance, they will succeed. In addition to that, poorly trained interpreters are likely to make 2 to 3 times more mistakes than professionally trained ones.
2. Don’t Worry About Confidentiality:
You don’t need to worry about explaining all relevant information fully to the interpreters in advance. Because qualified and professional interpreters are required to follow the code of ethics strictly. Moreover, they will be happy to sign your confidentiality agreement without any questions.
Don’t Worry about Confidentiality.
Note that words are not enough to communicate the full meaning, and interpreters utilize their knowledge and experience to convey the right message. They need to know the relevant background to contribute to what is unfolding during the conversation or translation to deliver the full picture.
3. Provide Names and Titles in Advance:
It is better to provide the interpreter who will deliver the speech in your meeting, conference, negotiation, facility tour, etc. Again, knowing the speaker’s role in the discussion always helps the interpreters to relay the message correctly.
Provide Names and Titles in Advance.
Names are not only helpful for the interpreters but also for the participants. Moreover, providing the division, unit, and project names will speed up the interpreting process during the live conversation.
4. Share Meeting Details and Goals:
Your team and the target audience across the table need to know why you discuss a particular topic or your primary concern. However, an external person from another foreign company will not have any idea about your state. The interpreter has to inform and explain the purpose of the meeting, and it will significantly help you.
Share Meeting Details and Goals.
Similarly, it is vital to the following questions such as What are everyone’s goals? Are the stakes high and the situation tense? Treat your interprets as extensions of your team and explain them as much as possible. Because if they know your purposes, they will understand your concern better and transmit your message accordingly.
Check out another blog post for more insights on How to hire an Interpreter with 6 considering Factors for your upcoming projects.
5. Don’t Expect More Without any Contextual Knowledge:
Clear communication is the first condition of the interpretation service, and it depends on contextual knowledge. So, you should provide as much background information as possible to make sure everything is clear. Suppose you hire an interpreter to help you sort out an IT sector’s problem with an employee who is more comfortable in a different language.
Don’t Expect More Without any Contextual Knowledge.
It would be best to inform the interpreter about past meetings, the key issues of discussion, and the employee’s work nature. Moreover, it will be better to share anything else you think is relevant to the interpreters.
6. Explain Specific Jargon and Acronyms:
Experienced interpreters have some advantages, such as you don’t have to provide them a glossary. Moreover, they will do some necessary research on the topic for their curiosity. However, it would be best to discuss any internal jargon or acronyms with your interpreters, which can be hade for outsiders to interpret.
Explain Specific Jargon and Acronyms.
If your delegates’ eyes glaze over when you start talking about any uncommon terminology, you should brief the interpreters earlier. Likewise, you can also explain the context while briefing the interpreters about what these terms mean.
7. Make Sure To Address All Parties Interests:
You better talk with your interpreter about the physical space and location you plan to work. Also, it would help if you shared your interpreting positions or manners. Will you be standing, sitting, or touring a facility while delivering a speech? Will you show a slides show? Or Will you play a video presentation?
Make sure to address all Parties Interests.
Will the participants join you via microphone for discussion? All this information will help your interpreter to take a better preparation for the situation. Besides, they may suggest some issues that you haven’t thought about, such as utilizing simultaneous interpreting equipment.
8. Hire More Than One Interpreter If Necessary:
Interpreters relay messages from one language into another on-site or remotely to satisfy clients’ requirements. Moreover, this verbal translation of the statement required an incredible amount of cognitive work. Keep in mind that the quality of interpretation service decreases after about 30 minutes of continuous interpreting by an interpreter.
Hire more than one Interpreter if Necessary.
Thus, you should discuss with your interpreters and ask them if they have any need or service requirements. Similarly, you should take their suggestion if you are planning to deliver a long presentation or lengthy speech. They may suggest an interpreter team working together and working in a shift to take a break for their refreshment.
Likewise, it is better to include a natural or scheduled pause in a more conversational meeting. Therefore, you will get away with one interpreter for a few hours in the said situation.
9. Send Relevant Documents Earlier:
Taking preparation in advance always helps to complete a task successfully. It is also true in the case of an interpreting job. So, it is still better to send any documentation that will interpret a few days in advance. You can send agendas, contracts, minutes of the previous meeting, presentation slides, or anything that provides context and terminology that will guide the interpreters.
Similarly, it will significantly enhance the interpreting service process and save time during the real event or meeting. Easiness and simplicity may work great when getting the most out of working with an interpreter.
Send Relevant Documents Earlier.
It is crucial to share your goals, purpose, target audience, and insider knowledge with the interpreters to reduce confusion and save time and money in the long run. If you follow some rules and principles to carry your interpreting work, everyone will be on the same page and achieve your goals and rewards.
Summary:
This blog post has highlighted 9 dos and don’ts to hire an interpreter and getting the most out of your interpretation service contract. Suppose you are looking to hire a perfect interpreter who will convert your speech in the meeting, conference, negotiation, business discussion, etc., into another language. Then you should carefully follow the above points to ensure successful global communications.
Otherwise, you will not get your desired interpreting service even though you would hire a professional and experienced interpreter. Check out our blog regularly to discover more guides and tips related to translation and interpretation services.
Call The Language Doctors team to discuss your interpretation service and hire an experienced and excerpt to meet all your needs. We would love to hear from you, and our seasoned language professional will be happy to help you by fulfilling all your demands.
