Imagine being present at the scene of an emergency where a victim does not understand the language of the paramedic. Or being called to assist during a court case where one party is unable to communicate with a legal team because of their lingual backgrounds Traduttore simultaneo. Those are just some of the services that a phone interpreter is called upon to perform daily.
Introduced only a few decades ago, telephone interpreting is undoubtedly a fairly new phenomenon in the translation field. However, since its introduction, it has grown to become very popular with companies and individuals around the country. Today there are thousands of phone interpreting professionals. Some of these are independent freelancers while many others work under larger agencies in varying capacities.
In the case of the above example, paramedics would simply need to contact a phone interpreting service and work with an interpreter in conveying their message to the victim.
Telephone interpreting services are also a lot more affordable than hiring a local translator or interpreter. Unlike simultaneous or consecutive interpreting which require that the interpreter be physically present, phone interpreting services can be done anywhere without the interpreter being present. Buyers of this service therefore do not need to factor in secondary costs like paying for interpreting equipment or handling the transportation costs of an interpreter.
Phone interpreters are also a good option during sensitive discussions where both parties prefer that a third party is not physically present. This might be during a business negotiation or some discuss between two parties of unique religious persuasions. Phone interpreting services offers a fairly flexible option to most people. Since the only additional hardware needed to work with this service is a connected phone, there are few limits to when and where they can be engaged.
Still, even though the job of a phone interpreter might be an exciting one, it is certainly not an easy profession. It has been estimated that about 70% of the content of a language is conveyed by a person’s body expression. Telephone interpreters therefore need to be alert to determine what the mood and intent behind a person’s words are. This is why most companies opt to use trained interpreters whenever the opportunity presents itself.
It goes without saying that not every phone interpreting agency can promise reliable service. You will therefore need to be careful and how you go about choosing an interpreter for your needs. The ideal interpreter should be courteous, smart and professional. They should also have clear voices that both parties can comfortably hear and understand.
Unless the circumstances prevent it, it is advisable that you spend some time carefully researching your options before making a decision. Finding a reliable telephone interpreting service isn’t easy, but it can be done with the right approach.