Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am contacting a language professional?

Ask questions about his/her background, training, and other qualifications.  Being bilingual, having spent some time overseas, or having one degree or qualification is not enough.  Professional interpreters and translators are active in pursuing opportunities for collaboration and growth. 

Can a bilingual individual work as an interpreter and a translator?

Not necessarily. While knowing two or more languages may offer some personal and work-related advantages, professional interpreters and/or translators are activively engaged in the pursuit of any combination of the following: credentials/certifications, training, membership in organizations, speaking and coaching events, additional related industry education opportunities and more. Furthermore, interpreting and translation require different sets of abilities.

t If you are at least bilingual and decide to work in this industry with hardly any qualifications, you may be exposed to a higher degree of liabilility than professionals.

t If you are a client and trust your case or documents to an unqualified interpreter/translator, the desired outcome and the quality of the information may be in jeopardy.

Can I trust individuals or companies who use translation software or related tools?

It depends on the qualifications and background of the people who do the translation work.  Machines do not turn people into experts or proficient translators.  They are tools and they need to be used by professional translators for quality work. 

t Ask questions about the background, training, and other qualifications and see what they can tell you about additional contractors they work with.

Many translation companies offer quick or express translation services.  Is this a professional and reliable service?

Time constraints should be the exception and not the norm. A degree of flexibility assures that the quality of the project is achieved. Professional and qualified translators understand the complexity of the language constructs and require the necessary time for quality assurance.

t If you go for fast and cheap delivery, your project may be at risk, particularly when it is handled by people who are not quite competent.

Some translation companies test translators before they can begin working with them.  Is this an accurate practice?

Not necessarily. Tests are usually prepared according to templates with pre-defined standards. Unfortunately, this may also happen with some certification exams. This process does not account for either the flexibility of the language or the full abilities of the translator who is tested. Moreover, some companies or organizations operate at their discretion and will not disclose either the testing criteria or their evaluators' background.  Exceptional language professionals may be turned away as a result.

Is there a difference between Cultural Competence and Cross-Cultural Communication?

The two may actually be interwoven concepts in many contexts. We start with training to understand how we view ourselves and others around us. Then we extend ourselves to others to examine possible differences and bridge gaps. We realize that the differences need to be understood and considered in the context of the communication exchanges and with observance of cultural norms and beliefs.

I have additional questions.

We certainly welcome your questions and quest for assistance, Use the Contact us page and we will gladly respond.