Interpreting agencies certainly aren’t in short supply for those seeking services; so much so that selecting the most suitable one can be a difficult process. Work within and outside of commercial business is frequently undertaken by these agencies Traduttore simultaneo. We often take them granted, but have you ever stopped to think just why they are so important?
The list of individuals and parties that benefit from interpreting agencies is endless. Many people who are hearing impaired are in numerous ways dependent on interpreters specially trained in sign language. Services more centred on linguistics that agencies provide include interpreters operating in settings as varied as courtrooms, hospitals and business conferences. Having them present allows seemingly mountainous linguistic and cultural barriers to be scaled, and even though this is achieved with effort and skill, if done professionally it will appear almost seamless to the eyes of those who benefit. In fact, many will forget an interpreter is even present due to the discreet and low-key nature that they function in.
Interpreters don’t operate exclusively in person, though. The rise of telephone interpreting services offered by agencies in recent decades has been noticeable, particularly in recent years with digital technology coming further to the fore. Pre-arranged telephone interpreting services are prominent in international business transactions, both when the two parties involved are thousands of miles apart and even when they’re in the same room. In the case of the latter occurrence, having an interpreter perform their duties from the end of a phoneline rather than being present in person can help instill a sense of privacy, as well as possibly even avoiding intruding on distinct cultural beliefs that attendees at a meeting may hold. Then there are also cases in which people may urgently need to be connected to an interpreter in a matter of minutes, for example during a medical emergency in a foreign country, for which interpreting are fully prepared to provide such services.
It is inevitable that these language barriers and cultural differences are going to exist when visiting foreign countries or dealing with foreign nationals for all kinds of reasons. In business especially, the quality of the interpreting is going to have a noticeable effect on the outcome of business dealings and partnerships abroad, since how you come across and convey your message is so key to success in any field. Interpreting agencies can help companies make the jump into international business and continue to support them as they establish themselves.
Business itself is an obvious example, but interpreting agencies also prove exceptionally useful from a legal standpoint. Rarely will two laws ever be the same in two separate countries, which is why the assistance of a knowledgeable legal interpreter is hugely advantageous should one ever encounter legal difficulties abroad.