At Access 2 Interpreters, our trained professionals promise to deliver interpretations accurately and reliably. Using an interpreter does add another step in the communication process, yet by following the tips listed below, you can be set up for a successful interaction with our interpreters. 

Spoken languages are unique, and in their individual intricacies are one of the most beautiful things people have ever created – but at the same time, this individuality and uniqueness can make it hard to translate and interpret languages. For this reason, we have highlighted some of the most important tips to use when dealing with a translator or interpreter to make for a more efficient and effective experience.

Regardless of the type of interaction, we offer interpretation and translation services to fit your needs. 

• Face-to-face
• Over the phone
• Video chat

Allow the interpreter to introduce him/herself and brief them on the situation.

The interpreter will quickly explain to the person that they are a professional interpreter and will be interpreting everything they say. Not only will this clarify the interpretation process, especially in phone interpretation, but it is also very reassuring to the individual.

Once they have introduced themselves, fill them in on the key points of your specific scenario. By giving them a rundown of what to expect, your translator will have a better grasp of the situation at hand and will be able to do their job more effectively and accurately.

Speak directly to the individual and make eye contact. Speak in the first person.

Using an interpreter doesn’t mean that it has to be less personal. A great tip here is to speak to the individual as if there were no interpreters around. Speak in the first person, not the third. It is easier and way more effective for an interpreter to interpret first-person interactions.

Use short but complete sentences.

This one is difficult to get used to at first, but using short sentences will give the interpreter a chance to relay what you are saying effectively. Interpreters may take notes to remember key things you say during a more “long-winded” sentence, but short and complete sentences ensure that no detail is left out.

Avoid slang, jargon, or metaphors.

Phrases like “it’s raining cats and dogs” or “on the same page” may not translate very well into other languages. You could end up confusing a patient and affecting their understanding of treatment.  Avoid these scenarios by choosing straightforward words and analogies.

Contact us Today for All of Your Columbus Translation and Interpretation Needs.

At Access 2 Interpreters we want to make your next translation a smooth transition. As a leader in Columbus translation and interpretation, A2I wanted to give you these tips so that you can feel confident during your next face-to-face or phone interpretation. If you have questions or would like to schedule an interpretation please contact us today.

If you would like to learn more about the services we offer and how we prepare translators for every possible situation head on over to our Access Academy. This is where you will find all of the training seminars that we use to prepare our translators to be the best in Columbus. We cover every situation including, but not limited to, ethics, medical terminology, legal terminology, and general translator training.

If you have any questions about translation and interpretation services, visit our contact page or visit us online to learn more about Access 2 Interpreters.

The deaf community at Nelson Mendela’s memorial service was shocked by the “fake” sign language interpreter on stage whose signing was repetitive and unintelligible.

Millions of attendees, including President Barack Obama, watched this interpreter as he continued to make many gestures of gibberish. Hundreds of people joined the social media frenzy to express their anger. Several deaf groups confirmed his signing did not reflect the comments being made by the speaker.

Paul Breckell, chief executive of the U.K.-based charity Action on Hearing Loss, said: “We are shocked by the quality of sign language interpretation at Nelson Mandela’s memorial — if it could be called interpretation at all.”

He added, “the limited number of signs, the amount of repetition, lack of facial expressions and huge gaps in translation meant that deaf or hard of hearing people across the world were completely excluded from one of the biggest events in recent history.”

Many people easily recognized that the interpreter’s hand structure, facial expressions, and body movements did not follow what the speaker was saying. In addition to the misinterpretation of sign language at Nelson Mandela’s memorial, the same man was found signing at various African National Congress events.

Watch the video from the New York Times below.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qu1cs6Fhk8

At Access 2 Interpreters, we speak your language! One of the many languages that our experienced staff can assist you with is American Sign Language. Visit https://access2interpr.wpengine.com/languages/ for more information!

The Importance of Voice Inflection in Interpreting

When interpreting, the way we say something is just as important as what we say. Voice inflection, or the modulation of the voice, refers to changes in pitch or tone of voice. This is crucial in effectively communicating the intended message. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters & Translators (NAJIT) recently wrote an article on “The Power of the Inflected Voice,” highlighting the importance of this aspect of interpreting.

A study by Body Language University found that 38% of our communications are conveyed through the tone, inflection, and speed of our voices. This means that voice inflection is an important aspect of interpreting. Access 2 Interpreters, a company that provides interpreting services, recognizes this and places a strong emphasis on voice inflection during their training and services.

he CEO of Access 2 Interpreters, Yana Schottenstein, emphasizes the importance of nonverbal elements in interpreting, particularly during face-to-face interactions. She says, “The non-verbal element along with the tone of voice is vital during the interpretation process yet overlooked. During our training process, we make sure to focus on the non-verbal element. This is especially important during face-to-face interpretation, which is a big part of our business.”

Janis Palma, from NAJIT, also stresses the importance of nonverbal elements in interpreting, such as inflected voice. She explains, “The human voice can convey emotions without actual words, and as interpreters, we cannot always reproduce those nonverbal elements, such as when someone sobs, or laughs. But we can change the pitch of our voice, such as pitch going from a higher note, to a softer one when someone cries while testifying, rather than using a shrill—and incongruent—pitch.”

Access 2 Interpreters was proud to participate in the Asian Festival, a major special event in Central Ohio. The annual event has more than 100,000 visitors thanks to the strong participation of many people regardless of origin and ethnicity.

As a leading interpretation and translation company in Columbus, Access 2 Interpreters had a strong involvement at the Asian Festival. A2I was recruiting interpreters for their growing staff in Columbus and people on-hand also utilized their services.

“The Asian Festival is a major cultural event in Columbus,” stated Yana Schottenstein, CEO of A2I. “Being able to find interpreters locally to help us expand our business is always exciting.”

The A2I team took photographs from the festival of employees showcasing their heritage while having a memorable experience. “It is great that Columbus puts on such an amazing cultural event that has strong recognition nationally,” said Schottenstein. “Our entire staff had a great time and we can’t wait until next year’s festival!”

At Access 2 Interpreters we like to stay aware of interesting facts taking place in our industry. Language can be traced back to over 15,000 years ago, which is why we find this form of communication so fascinating. Did you know that an estimated 7,000 different languages are spoken around the world? Less than 100,000 people speak about 90% of these languages!

According to the BBC, “languages are grouped into families that share a common ancestry. For example, English is related to German and Dutch, and they are all part of the Indo-European family of languages.”

Below we wanted to list 10 interesting facts about language according to the BBC. We have listed the most interesting language facts from where the majority of languages live to the hardest language to learn. Once you read our top 10 language facts you will have an overall better understanding of the numerous languages around us (many of which we translate and interpret at Access 2 Interpreters)

1. Over 2,200 of the world’s languages can be found in Asia, while Europe has only a mere 260.
2. The most widely spoken languages, according to figures from UNESCO (The United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), are: Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, German and French.
3. The five most difficult languages to learn are Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
4. One quarter of the world’s languages are spoken by fewer than 1,000 people and if these are not passed down to the next generation, they will be gone forever.
5. 2,500 languages are at risk of extinction.
6. 75% of the world’s population doesn’t speak a word of English.
7. The United Nations uses six official languages to conduct business: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic.
8. The oldest languages known include Sanskrit, Sumerian, Hebrew and Basque.
9. 200 artificial languages have been created since the 17th century.
10. 10.  The so-called ‘critical period’ of language learning, believed to end sometime between ages 4-12.

Out of the 18 languages listed above in the language facts (German, Dutch, Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, French, Cantonese, Korean, Sanskrit, Sumerian, Hebrew and Basque), 16 of them are on our list of languages that our experienced staff can assist you with. Both Sanskrit and Sumerian are extinct languages that no one writes in or speaks.

See our list of languages to find out if your language is on the list. Our professionally trained interpreters provide services for Scheduled and Emergency Face-to-Face Interpretation and for Scheduled Telephone Interpretation in over 70 languages locally. We also provide over 180 languages for Instantaneous Telephone Interpretation Services nationwide.

For more information and a free language consultation, contact us today.

Translation is a complicated process, and the accuracy of the translation often has far-reaching implications. If you need a translation completed, it’s critical that you use the best translation company available. However, there are countless options out there that can translate your document, and it can be difficult to determine which is best. Fortunately, we can help. 

Access 2 Interpreters is a leading Columbus translation and interpretation company dedicated to serving Central Ohio and the Midwest. At A2I, we pride ourselves on our quality of work, determination, and dedication to you. We have gathered together what we believe are the most important factors to consider when choosing a translation and interpretation company, so you can make an informed decision. 

Language Proficiency and Native Speaking Ability

While many people claim to be able to speak, read and write in other languages, translation is so much more complex. Translation involves capturing the nuance and lexicon of one language and converting it into another without losing the tone or accentuation. This can be challenging, as languages vary tremendously in their rules, tenses, and uses, particularly for non-native speakers. For example, many of us grew up speaking and learning English. But since English is so very different from Chinese and other Sinitic languages, it can be difficult for non-native speakers to capture the minutiae of text structure and grammatical meanings. Certain words have very different meanings from the present tense to the future. A professional translator will take this into account when translating and provide a final product that captures the original document’s style and meaning.

An Understanding of the Subject Matter and Research Skills

Language is a means or tool by which something is communicated. However, in many ways, the “communicative content” is something that is outside the realm of language, where the subject matter is what drives the translation. That’s why industry knowledge and the ability to research are critical requirements of being a good translator. Many industries have particular jargon that is unique to them, such as medical or legal terms. A professional translator will know the right words to use and how best to convey these specific ideas.

Attention to Detail

Going over pages and pages of documents and translating them can be time-consuming, grueling work. However, a professional translator will persevere. Translating documents demands meticulous attention to detail and a good eye for particulars. A professional translation company will provide you with an impeccable final product, free of spelling errors, translation errors, and misused words. 

Punctuality

Often when a company is contracted to translate a document, there is a hard deadline that must be met. This means that punctuality is paramount. When choosing a translation company for your business, it’s important to pay attention to how quickly and accurately they can deliver a completed project. A professional translation company will provide an accurate deadline that you can expect to be met every time. 

Commitment to One’s Work

Of all of the factors that make a good translation company, commitment to one’s work is by far the most rewarding. A committed translator will be determined and dedicated, have a successful attitude, and approach each project with an open mind. Knowledge and talent are finite, and yet the problems and difficulties translators may encounter are infinite.

How Access 2 Interpreters Can Help

When your company needs an accurate and affordable translation, Access 2 Interpreters can help. We offer extensive translation services in over 50 languages for a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to education. We hold our team of knowledgeable translators to the highest industry standards to ensure quality and accuracy, guaranteed. Whether you need educational material translated or technical manual assistance, A2I can make sure nothing is lost in translation. We can help your company break the language barrier with professional and cost-effective interpretation and translation services. Contact us today to learn about our translation company and what we can do for you.

Whether you need to communicate with a patient or client, train a bilingual staff member, or negotiate a business deal with an overseas partner, A2I can help break the language barrier with professional and cost-effective interpretation and translation services.

Many questions arise in the interpretation industry regarding telephone interpreting. The following questions are beneficial for interpreters, language companies, and service providers who wish to learn more about telephone interpreting, as well as its potential benefits and limitations.

What is telephone interpreting?

Telephone interpreting is a service that connects human interpreters via telephone to individuals who wish to speak to each other but do not share a common language. Most often, telephone interpreting is performed in the consecutive mode. This means that the interpreter listens to each utterance first and then proceeds to render it into the other language, as opposed to speaking and listening simultaneously.

Who performs telephone interpretation services?

Access 2 Interpreters offers both Scheduled and Instantaneous Telephone Interpretation Services. A2I provides Telephone Interpretation Services in over 180 languages and Translation Services in over 50 languages nationwide.

When is telephone interpreting preferable to face-to-face interpreting?

Telephone interpreting is preferable to face-to-face interpreting in the following situations:

1. When both parties are already communicating via telephone. Face-to-face interpreting is not a practical option when the primary interaction is taking place via telephone, so telephone interpreting is advisable in these cases.
2. When trained interpreters are not available in person. When it comes to choosing among the patient’s family member, friend, an untrained bilingual staff member, or a telephone interpreting service, it is usually preferable to choose the interpreting service

Access 2 Interpreters provides services to private and public-sector clients throughout Ohio and across the U.S. We are proud to specialize in telephone interpretation!

Access 2 Interpreters is a translation services company offering document translation, transcription, and voiceover translation services. A2I understands that not all translations are equally the same and that some topics or languages may be especially difficult, including Arabic medical translation.

Arabic medical translators work with content that is not only challenging but also complicated. The American Translators Association recently held a webinar specifically related to the challenges faced by Arabic medical translators and how to overcome such challenges.

At Access 2 Interpreters, our professional Arabic translators will allow you to have a seamless transition and allow for the best translation, even when it comes to Arabic translation.
For a Translator to overcome common challenges in the Arabic language they can:

1.  Learn and understand various challenges related to medical texts.

2.  Determine methods for producing accurate translations.

4.  Effectively use search techniques to find reliable primary resources.

5.  Verify the correct use of terms and expressions.

6.  Look for common errors and understand how to fix them.

Arabic medical translations must be performed by highly-skilled and experienced translators who have a thorough understanding of the language. At A2I we pride ourselves in creating the most vigorous screening and training program for interpreters and translators in Central Ohio.

Access 2 Interpreters maintains a separate education department known as the “Access Academy.” Access Academy is staffed by professional educators, linguists, Medical Doctors, and Juris Doctors who train our interpreters and translators in the Interpreter Code of Ethics and industry-specific terminology.

If you are looking for an interpretation or translation company in Columbus, contact Access 2 Interpreters to learn what separates us from the competition.

Learning a new language offers a variety of benefits, from being able to express yourself better to improving your memory. But did you know that it can also help boost your creativity? It’s true! Learning a new language can help rewire your brain, encouraging connections and interactions that may have otherwise been forgotten. Learn all about the different advantages of learning a new language with the language experts at Access 2 Interpreters below!

A new language offers a new perspective of the world
It has long been known that our native tongue has a fundamental effect on the way we perceive and interact with the world. This is illustrated through countless languages and cultures, each with their own idiosyncrasies and different perspectives. Some languages offer specific names for ubiquitous experiences, such as the German word schadenfreude, or, ‘happiness at the misfortune of another.’ Others boast unique sentence structures that can make you look at a common feeling through a new lens. For example, the French term for ‘I miss you’ is ‘Tu me manques;’ however, a more accurate translation may be ‘you are lacking in my life.’ These new point of views can augment the way you think about roadblocks and challenges, and offer unique solutions that may not have been as obvious otherwise.

Learning a new language can teach you to multitask more easily
Multitasking is more than just texting and walking– it’s also a major creative factor that can be improved by learning a new language! When you’re learning a new language, your mind is stretching muscles it hasn’t had to use before, multitasking in a very specific way. As you hear the language you’re learning, you’ll be translating it into your native language in order to understand. These mental gymnastics can strengthen your ability to multitask in other areas too!

Learning a new language gets comfortable with failure
When you’re learning a new language, you’re going to fail a lot before you succeed. Whether it’s conjugation, grammar, pronunciation, or a range of other elements, it’s an incredibly challenging undertaking. But in that failure, you’ll find success. Whereas you may have originally struggled with getting your point across, you’ll find that soon, you can place your favorite coffee order all on your own. Someone may ask for directions, and you’ll find yourself answering them without confusing the words for ‘left’ and ‘right.’ It’s these failures and successes that teach you to accept your limitations without being afraid to push them.

Language learning teaches you how to improvise
You’ve never really had to improvise until you’ve forgotten the word for ‘knife’ and had to call it a ‘little sword.’ Learning a new language keeps you on your toes and teaches you to express yourself more creatively. If you can’t think of the word you need, you’ll have to explain yourself differently. If you’ve forgotten the word for car, you can still get your point across by describing its size, purpose, and look.

Language at Access 2 Interpreters
At Access 2 Interpreters, we break through the language barrier in creative ways to help our clients. If you’re in the process of learning a new language but still aren’t comfortable with using it in a professional setting, we can help. We offer extensive interpretation and translation services for a wide range of industries, from education to social services. We hold our knowledgeable team to the highest standards to ensure accuracy and quality, guaranteed, and can help your company break the language barrier with professional and cost-effective interpretation and translation services. Contact us to learn about our interpretation and translation company and what we can do for you today.