What To Look For In A Spanish Interpreting Service

By Beryl Dalton


With globalization, there will be times when you need to communicate with people who don't speak any English at all or whose English is not good enough for them to express complicated ideas. Especially people from the Latin American countries don't often speak English since their language is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world too. This is why it's important to choose the best Spanish interpreting service for your communication needs.

In the USA, you may even need to communicate in Spanish with Americans. The country's large Hispanic population means that there are now more people with Spanish as their first language than there are in Spain. There are entire neighborhoods in cities like Miami FL where you won't even get by with English only and will need an interpreter if you're not bilingual.

An interpreter is not the same as a translator. A translator changes a text from one language to another, using resources such as dictionaries to provide a detailed translation. An interpreter doesn't have the time to consult dictionaries but needs to change the text into the target language immediately. Instead of providing a faithful translation, he or she focuses on the ideas or concepts to convey.

Interpreters are often employed by government services such as courts or immigration offices, especially in cities where there is a significant population of Hispanic descent. However, the private sector in these cities also needs interpreters. For example, hospitals may need someone to help the doctor and patient to communicate. Businesses may have to communicate not only with immigrant clients but also with trade partners in Latin American nations.

When you want to employ an interpreter, the first thing you need to do is to check that the person is suitably qualified. Interpreters who work in courts or hospitals usually need specific formal certificates. For more general interpreting jobs, you can choose someone who doesn't necessarily have a formal qualification but who has experience in the field and good references from other clients.

Your chosen interpreter should have experience in your specific field. While a court interpreter may be highly qualified, he or she does not necessarily know business terms, for instance. There are also different kinds of interpreting and if you want someone to accompany a business delegation, the right candidate will know how to deal with groups on a face-to-face basis. In a conference setting, the best person is one who knows the technology involved.

You also need to remember that Spanish speakers come from vastly different backgrounds. Each country has its own particular expressions and accent and you may want to choose an interpreter who comes from the same cultural background as the people you're going to be dealing with. For example, if your clients are mainly Cuban, it makes sense to pick an interpreter with Cuban ties.

The Yellow Pages or other local listings are good places to start when looking for interpreters. Many agencies also have websites. Otherwise, contact a professional association for advice and recommendations. In Florida, the organization to contact is ATIF, the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Florida.




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