One challenge that our agency faces is explaining the difference between a translator and an interpreter.

A translator works with documents, changing a written text from one language into another. An interpreter is someone who works with spoken or signed (in the case of Sign Language for the Deaf) languages and interprets them into another spoken language. While interpreters can often work as translators, and vice versa, the words ‘interpreter’ and ‘translator’ are NOT interchangeable. Unfortunately, 90% of the time I answer the phone and hear “I need a translator” when 90% of the time customers are actually looking for an interpreter. Translators read and, interpreters talk.

Another is the difference between a qualified and a certified interpreter or translator.

More confusion comes in when they are asked whether customers need a certified or professionally qualified interpreter. In most cases if the interpretation is for court, or will be going on the record to be used in court (such as in a deposition), then you will need a court certified or registered interpreter. This means that the interpreter has passed a judicial interpreting exam and whose interpretation will rarely be questioned as to its quality. This is to prevent the customer from blaming the interpreter when negative consequences arise from their testimony.

I once interpreted for a case where the defendant claimed to have met a person every month for a cash car payment, when it was clear that it was impossible (they lived in a distant country). The client, realizing that he had been busted lying, tried blaming me for misinterpreting his statement. The main thing protecting me from getting involved in a “he said, she said” dispute or even being held liable, was my certification. Lawyers also take steps to verify that the interpretation is going smoothly, with the attorneys giving the deposition asking basic preliminary questions that indicate that everything is being understood. Still, it’s important to have that certification to show that you know what you’re doing and that it has been verified by an independent body.

A qualified interpreter, on the other hand, is someone who has some training and experience, but does not hold an official certification from an accepted certifying organization. This person should only be used in more casual settings, where there are not serious consequences for any possible misstep or if the subject matter, pace, or setting is very demanding.

We know that it is not always clear whether you need someone certified or just qualified. In many cases, you may not NEED a certified interpreter, such as for a private business deal, but you may want one. If it’s a multi-million dollar business deal, then you probably want a certified interpreter to ensure you’re getting a better quality of interpretation versus someone who is qualified. You wouldn’t want to risk any misinterpretations affecting the outcome of such an important meeting. On the other hand if it’s for a guest at a wedding with a tight budget, then sure, a qualified interpreter should do just fine as long as they have the proper training and experience.

That’s not to say that all nationally or court-certified interpreters are of the same breed. It just means that what they interpret will be accepted in a court of law and will be very very difficult to prove that their misinterpretation caused serious damage. They can still arrive late, have an undesirable personality trait, be rude or simply unprofessional in other ways. After all, they are just people and will vary along with the normal population. That’s why you should always get the name of the interpreter when you are satisfied with them, so you can request them through the agency the next time the need arises. This will help you to maintain consistency and quality and reduce the amount of job-specific training that you’ll need to go through with an interpreter, especially if you are having them interpret technical jargon.

 

We’d be happy to help you navigate the sometimes confusing language within the

world of interpretations and translations. Just give us a call at 855-562-7768 or email

us at spotoninterpreting@gmail.com to book your Qualified or Certified Translator or

Interpreter in Spanish or American Sign Language today.