Your guide to Interpretation Services

What is an Interpreting Service?

It’s a service that involves a professional interpreter or team of interpreters that verbally translate speeches, conferences, presentations and conversations into the native language spoken to by the receiving audience.


The role of an interpreter:

Is not to only convert the words but also emotions and tone of the language spoken and this role involves different aspects which will be discussed through the different types of interpretation:

1-Simultaneous Interpreting: is simultaneously listening, comprehending, interpreting and rendering the speaker’s statements into the target language. This method tends to be used during large-scale conferences with teams of two or more interpreters who work in turns to ensure they relieve each other from the overwhelmness resulting from intense levels of concentration. This interchanging reduces chances of errors and inaccuracies.

2-Consecutive Interpreting: involves pausing for a while every couple of statements for the interpreter to repeat the speaker’s statements into another language. It tends to be more time consuming than simultaneous interpreting but it also tends to be used in meetings with a small number of participants where time is not as essential in big conferences.


3-Over-the-Phone Interpreting: this form of interpretation can either be simultaneous or consecutive depending on the project and preferences. It’s performed during a scheduled appointment. In this type, interpreters are usually available 24/7 as they don’t see the parties in person, instead it’s over-the-phone.


4-Video remote Interpreting(VRI): is similar to over-the-phone interpreting in terms of the process: the user creates an account, dials a specified number, key-in the language codes then the interpreter connects with the user within a few seconds. But with VRI, it’s more of a two-way or three-way communication where the client sees the interpreter. Seeing the facial expressions and the body gestures gives the user more space to express themselves and gives the interpreter deeper insights about what the client is feeling or if their any cultural sensitivities.


5-Sign language Interpreting: is needed to provide equal access to information for everyone. The interpreter uses sign language to convey the information said by the speaker to the viewers. This form of interpretation can take place in a one-to-one setting or in groups. In the case of groups, there needs to be high-quality audio and excellent views for both the receiver and the interpreter, to ensure clarity.


Equipments used by the interpreter:

The equipment used usually varies according to the type of interpretation process used, but the equipment components commonly used are a headset connected to the presenter’s microphone and a microphone to transmit the interpreted speech to the audience who have individual receivers and headsets.


Top 10 industries that need interpreting services:

Wondering when you will need an interpreter? Interpretation services are more common than you think, they actually play vital roles in almost every aspect of both our daily personal and corporate lives.

Below are the top 10 industries where the interpreter plays a major role:

1-Healthcare industry: is one of the most critical industries where the ability to understand the patient is a matter of life and death. A medical interpreter is a mediator between the doctor and the patient when both don’t speak the same language. Also, the medical interpreter must be familiar with the functioning national health system they’re practicing in and memorize medical terminology along with its technical aspects.


2-Governmental services: the several different branches of the government typically get in contact with different publics and must ensure accurate dissemination of their information to avoid problems such as: waste of time and resources which could lead to loss of revenue, loss of funding, delay in services, bad reputation and in worst cases impeding the process of providing the public with safety and emergency responses.


3-Humanitarian services: the NGOs providing humanitarian services usually serve the marginalized people who often speak different languages. An interpreter is essential as they are who mainly keep the place in order incase of any emergency or crises. They safeguard the well-being of the citizens by explaining to them what they will be doing next, any warning signs and interpreting the health condition incase of any injuries.


4-Event production: which include conferences, large scale meetings, talks and concerts tend to have attendees from all over the world with different languages and backgrounds. This industry in particular usually requires different forms of interpreting with several interpreting teams present during the event.


5-Entertainment industry: interpreters are now being seen on screen in entertainment talk shows, theatres, concerts and even circuses. Their role is to make entertainment accessible for anyone regardless of any impairments or language difficulties. Everyone deserves access to entertainment.


6-Training and consulting: many companies are now going or are currently in the process of having global business which indicates communication in different languages. Here an interpreter’s role will be to increase the company’s client and employee base overseas by enhancing and framing the services.


7-Travel and tourism industry: travelling to different countries definitely means coming across different languages and cultures from all over the world. If someone is travelling for tourism purposes, not having an interpreter would work, but those travelling for business will be dealing with colleagues, partners and potential clients that don’t necessarily all speak the same languages. This is when the interpreter is here to save the business day.


8-Legal profession: interpreters are required in courts for individuals who are not comfortable expressing themselves in a second or foreign language. Their role is very important to the extent that in cases where they are not available, some of the court cases would get rescheduled or postponed until further notice.


9-Banking and financial services: this is where the clients must trust and be assured that their money is safe, but what if the client speaks a language the bank or investment hub is not fluent in? Having an interpreter during meetings with clients will prevent any wrong decisions from taking place due to any misunderstandings and at the same time building a strong reputation and relationship with the customer which leads to future recommendations.



10-Insurance industry: this industry is really based on accurate information and any mistake could lead to financial and legal costs. In this industry, the interpreters are needed to interpret: the initial contact with the client, reports and assessments, subsequent client meetings, examination for discovery and trials.


What’s the difference between translation and interpretation services?

Don’t get mixed up! Professional interpretation and translation tend to be terms that are used interchangeably, but these two services are fundamentally different.
Some of the key differences include:

Interpretation


Translation

Oral rendering of foreign speech


Written rendering of foreign text

No time for wordsmithing


Demands being completely error free

Interpreters must have conversational fluency and almost memorise the dictionary


Translators are not necessarily be conversationally fluent and take time to find the appropriate terminology during the process


Saudisoft provides people with the right words

Our native interpreters are qualified professionals with the solid experience needed to smoothly run your multilingual conferences, events and meetings in whichever industry you’re in whether it’s on site or remotely through our latest interpretations tools and equipment.

Schedule a professional interpreter for your facility, wherever and whenever needed.