Interpreting is not the art of transferring words it is the art of transferring messages

Néstor Wagner

Interpreting is the facilitation of spoken or signed language communication between users of different languages. According to the ISO (International Standards Organization), it is the rendering of spoken or signed messages into another spoken or signed language, preserving the register and meaning of the source language content.

In the language industry, there are three primary modes of interpreting:

consecutive

the interpreter speaks after the source-language speaker has stopped speaking.

simultaneous

the interpreter listens and renders the message in the target-language at the same time as the speaker is speaking.

sight translation

the oral rendition of a written text. In all cases, the interpreter must quickly and carefully convey the meaning, tone, and intent of the original message into the target language.

Interpreting requires excellent language proficiency, the ability to quickly analyze and transfer messages between languages, and adherence to professional ethics and standards of practice. Interpreting is performed face-to-face and remotely. Remote interpreting requires technological platforms to facilitation telephonic and video multilingual communication.

Read the blog post HERE on Platforms for Remote Interpreting.

Interpreters are employed in a multitude of settings including courts, schools, medical facilities, social services and national and international institutions, and more. Advances in interpreting technologies are facilitating more and more virtual and remote interpretation scenarios, making interpretation achievable in new settings and scenarios in light of COVID-19.

In 2006, Emily was approved to interpret Spanish<>English in the New Jersey state courts. Then, in 2009, she began a long love/hate career as an Immigration Court Interpreter, which has taken her to courts in different states such as PA, NJ, NY, CA and CO. Emily is also a candidate for the Phrase II Oral Exam of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification. She is also currently a volunteer community translator and interpreter with Casa Cornelia, a legal services center that advocates for the rights of victims of crime.

To find it if you need a consecutive or simultaneous interpretation for your next Spanish or Portuguese project, click HERE!