The Translator

Do you have to lead a discussion or give a speech/presentation that requires simultaneous interpretation? If that is the case, here are a few tips to help make life easier for both you and the interpreter(s) attempting to convert your words into meaningful thoughts in a different language.

The first thing that the presenter must be aware of is that slang and other idioms should be avoided!  These types of language-specific sayings sometimes cannot be interpreted easily –if at all.  In these situations, the interpreter does their best but sometimes has to resort to summarizing to the audience what was just said or in a worse case scenario could not be translated at all.   I am reminded of a time where an English speaker was attempting to tell a joke and use not only English slang, but physical humor as well to a 100% Asian audience.  But the joke was full of phrasings that could not be translated.  The Chinese interpreter had to simply tell the audience that the speaker just told an “American” style joke that could not be properly interpreted into Chinese.  You don’t want to be the one standing in front of a group, tell a joke and then wonder why nobody is laughing!  So when you are planning out the wording of your next speech to non-native speakers, choose your words, stories and jokes carefully so that they can easily and correctly be understood by multiple languages and cultures.  When in doubt arrive early and consult the interpreters prior to your presentation to see if they have any input or feedback regarding particular comments or idioms.

The second tip is to consciously slow down the pace of your speaking rhythm.  This is another tricky task that really requires a great deal of practice.  Many speakers have a tendency to speak more rapidly when in front of large audiences.  While professionally trained interpreters are pretty good at interpreting rapid speakers, they’re not miracle workers.  If it is vital that your message be interpreted with high-accuracy, take a breath, slow down and use a nice, steady speaking rhythm.

Lastly, try not to go off on tangents while speaking.  Not finishing sentences or thoughts can confuse audiences listening to you via an interpreter.  Thoughts and ideas should be crystal clear and efficiently spoken.  Be sure to complete one thought before starting the next one and it is also a good idea to follow the tried and true three-step speaking method:

1. Tell them what you’re going to tell them.

2. Tell them.

3. Tell them what you told them.

If you follow this simple strategy, you’ll find less blank stares in your audience as the language interpreter could also easily follow along to the topics that were outlined in your speech.

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO

LS-06 (MSRP $1,891.92)

As a Listen Technologies dealer, we might be a little biased but with 20 years of experience, we have used, tested, owned and handled numerous portable interpretation transmitters from several manufacturers which, in our opinion make us the perfect candidate to review the Listen Technologies Tour Guide system.    Language interpretation actually uses these units on a regular basis and Atlas Language Services, Inc. uses these as both our in-house interpretation equipment in addition to the  rental of these units.  As a dealer of Listen Tech equipment; we thought we would provide our feedback and findings for our readers.

Before we get into specifics lets cover the frequency differences first.

72 MHz  vs. 216 MHz (North America)

While both frequencies work great with the Listen Tech systems, our preference as a Language Service Provider (LSP) is the 72 MHz range.  Both the 72 and 216 MHz portable transmitters such as the LT-700 offer up to 150’ of transmission range based on line of sight (LOS) and personally, I have heard the LT-700 broadcast in excess of 150’ but it does tend to pick up static once you exceed that 150’ LOS.  However, that is not a statistic that is supported by Listen Tech that we know of, nonetheless, the 72 MHz is our frequency of choice for one simple reason.  The 72 MHz frequency can support up to six (6) transmitters broadcasting simultaneously whereas the 216 MHz frequency can only support up to three (3).  For exhibition tours that require us to support six (6) tours going on simultaneously, the 72 MHz is our only choice!  Every even numbered year, we provide simultaneous interpretation and language support services to a large international company.  During that event, we also provide six of the LT-0700-072 transmitters and about 200 of the LR-400-072 receivers.  We prefer the LR-400-072 receivers during these exhibit floor tours since we have so many tours going on simultaneously, we need to control the frequencies.  So the 72 MHz is numero uno in our book.   Now don’t get me wrong the 216 MHz frequency works very well when less than three transmitters are needed, however, if there is ever the chance of needing more than three transmitters/tours going on at once then why not allow yourself the option of supporting multiple tours simultaneously.

Portable transmitters

When it comes to portable transmitters, the Listen Tech LT-700 is one of my favorite portable transmitters.  There are other manufacturers who sell portable transmitters as well such as: Williams-Sound T36 and the Gentner Venture-Express which are both good solid units.  That said the Williams-Sound T36 is a solid choice and would be my second pick next to the LT-700 and the Gentner Venture –Express coming in third.  The Gentner is a solid durable unit as well, however, it is only offered in the 216 MHz range which to me is a shame.  The Williams-Sound T36 is a little lighter in weight then the LT-700 and can theoretically broadcast up to eight units simultaneously in the 72 – 76 MHz range, however, from my experience it is a little difficult to quickly change channels and mute.  So what separates the LT-700 transmitter, that is the users ease of use.  The LT-700 has a nice big red mute switch with flashing light, easy to read LCD display, exceptional battery life and can bounce well when dropped (although, I don’t advise doing so)!  It is a very user friendly unit that is very dependable.

Receivers

Being able to quickly locate the channel of the tour and/or change channels really makes the receiver a critical unit during a tour or interpretation.  When it comes to ease of use for attendees, we find that the Listen Tech LR-400 or LR-500 are great options depending upon the usage.  The LR-400 has the channel section buttons hidden behind the cover, which is both good and bad in the sense that the attendee will not be able to change channel but during interpretation, it is ideal to keep the attendee from channel hoping.  The Listen Tech LR-500 has the channel section accessible on the face of the receiver which for tour groups transitioning from one room to another and having to change channels in order to hear various tours.  Personally we like the Listen receivers as they have proven to be very durable, simple to use and easy on battery consumption.   The Williams-Sound R37 is a very close second in that it is just as durable and easy to use as the Listen LR-400/LR-500 receivers but is not as cosmetically attractive in my opinion nor as easy to use.  I know that is a stretch, and honestly if that is the only thing that separates the Williams-Sound R37 receiver from the Listen Tech LR-400/LR-500 then that speaks for itself.

Batteries

I am not a huge fan of rechargeable batteries in any of the receivers nor the transmitters.  I have not had good luck on a long term basis with rechargeable batteries and as a LSP that rents the equipment, the last thing we need is a couple hundred people rushing to the headset distribution center to say that their unit is dead and having to change out batteries on the spot.  That said, I prefer to use Energizer Industrial AA batteries.  We replace the batteries after every event, regardless of the amount of time used.  Although this is an added cost, it does eliminate the crowds from rushing the headset distribution counter as well as unhappy users who lose time listening to the tour or event.  The amount of time the disposable batteries last is about 15 hours give or take.

Cases

Let’s face it, a case is pretty much as case… but I do like the Listen Cases as they are custom cut to accommodate the unique shape of the Listen receivers.  The downfall is that the Listen cases ( LA-320, LA-311, LA-321, LA-324) do have the outer shell which tends to scratch pretty easily, but when it comes to durability the case does what it is made to do, protect your equipment.  The Williams-Sound cases tend to have the same issues, easy to scratch, dent, etc. but durable.  The outside might show signs of wear, but once again your equipment inside will be protected.

Conclusion

Overall the Listen Technologies tour guide system is a great choice for tour groups or event language interpretation.  Depending upon the number of receivers you need, the system is easy to adapt and upgrade.  The transmitters and receivers can take a beating and we have had some in our inventory with hundreds of hours of usage that are still going strong.   Since Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an authorized dealer of Listen Technologies, please feel free to contact our sales team for very competitive prices.  You will never pay MSRP when you purchase Listen equipment from Atlas Language Services, Inc.

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO

For those of you that don’t know, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buyub6vIG3Q) crowdsourcing is the process of outsourcing tasks to a large, loosely defined community through an open call.  Commonly, crowdsouricing calls are performed online through social networking sites such as crowdspring.com, bootb.com or elance.com.  The members within a “crowd” answer an open call request to work on a project.  The individuals within the crowd are responsible for collaborating with one another to complete the project.  The crowd size varies in size and the individuals within the crowd may or may not know the other members they are working with.

In many cases, crowdsourcing projects can be a low-cost and effective method for various tasks that require a large amount of man-hours with very defined and easily achievable goals.  But in some cases including crowdsourcing language translations, crowdsourcing just doesn’t cut it.

The problem that is seen when crowdsourcing a translation projects is the fact that languages vary greatly from region to region.  Even English in the United States has subtle, but notable differences in different regions.  The same holds true for virtually every spoken language in the world.

One primary example of where crowdsourcing language translations have failed deals with the king of social networking; Facebook.

Facebook has been aggressively expanding all over the world and requires thousands of man-hours to translate their site into dozens of languages.  Instead of hiring a professional language translation firm to manage the quality of translations, Facebook has looked to their user base to have them crowdsource the translation of the site for free.

So how did it go?  well, according to this (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24205912/ns/technology_and_science-internet/MSNBC article) that spoke to Ana B. Torres, a professional translator, she said the Spanish translation version of Facebook was “extremely poor” with “outrageous spelling mistakes”.

Others have stated that while translated material on Facebook is decent, other material is sloppy and haphazardly put together.  Therefore, it would seem that Facebook’s crowdsourcing suffers from the lack of professional translators and an overall lack of quality control that often arises from crowdsourced projects.

That’s why language translation crowdsourcing projects really never turn out well.  Language translation projects that are crowdsourced are frequently full of unqualified amateurs that don’t understand the language and don’t have much of an incentive to produce a quality product.  That is why a professional linguist is critical to any project.  Feel free to contact Atlas Language Services, Inc. for your next professional translation project.

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO.

During international conferences with multiple languages, it is of the utmost importance that all attendees can understand what is being said.  Conference interpretation equipment enables interpreters to render the message from the floor language into another language as quickly as possible (simultaneously).

International events that require multiple languages also require a wide range of equipment in order to be able to interpret between two languages and reach their target audience with the least amount of hassle.  Typically, interpreters will reside in a soundproof interpretation booth which is approximately 6’ (1.83m) x 6’ (1.83m).  Once there, the interpreters receive a live audio or video feed of the speaker and stage and the interpreter speaks into a microphone that is then broadcasted to wireless transmitters or receivers that are distributed to the audience prior to the start of the event or conference.

There are several different methods of distributing the interpretation to the audience.  Here in the United States, the two most common choices of interpretation equipment are radio frequency (RF) which is FM based and Infrared (IR).   We will briefly identify some of the benefits and drawbacks to each technology.

IR boasts the following benefits:

• Secure communications (due to line of sight – LOS requirements).  LOS limitations allow these units to be used in highly secure/confidential events as the risk of interception is virtually impossible.
• No chance of radio interference from other sources including wireless microphones, etc.
• Superior audio quality.
• No interference from lighting systems.
• Up to 32 separate channels can be transmitted simultaneously.

The drawbacks of IR include:

• Inability to transmit between solid objects.
• Difficult to setup and position for optimal operation as well as sound distribution.
• Indoor operation only.
• Labor intensive.
• Not portable.

Alternatively, RF radio transmitters have the following benefits:

• Ease of setup and flexibility in various environments.
• Ability to transmit through objects (no line of sight issues).
• Can be used indoors or outdoors.
  • RF units help to ensure that public venues meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or National Persons with Disabilities Act in Canada.
  • Transmitters can be placed virtually anywhere.
  • Portable units can be used for:
    • Factories
    • Sightseeing Tours
    • Tradeshows
    • Employee meetings
    • Museums

And FM has the following drawbacks:

• Insecure communications.
• Chance of radio interference from outside sources (depending upon frequency).
• Limited simultaneous transmission in North America:
  • 72 MHz can transmit up to 6 languages (including the floor).
  • 216 MHz can transmit up to 3 languages (including the floor).
  • Limited range:
    • 72 MHz broadcast range is up to 1,500 feet (457.2m).
    • 216 MHz broadcast range is up to 3,000 feet (914.4m).

Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your language interpretation partner.  Find out as much about them as you can.  Feel free to ask how long they have been in the conference interpretation profession and how many conferences they have interpreted during.  If they have experience in the city, state or even country you are working in.  Trust us, it makes a HUGE difference.  When working in China for example it is best to use IR technology as the radio frequencies are not regulated as they are in North America.  Therefore, in our opinion, RF in China is a BAD idea and actually RF in China is much more expensive then IR!  Little tips and insights into particular regions will make all the difference during your event.

Here are some other basic tips:

• Check references.
• Provide as much information about the event as you can.
  • Is the event highly confidential or open to the public?
  • What are the hours of the event where interpretation will be needed?
  • Will interpretation be needed during break-out sessions or during only the general session?
  • Can you provide preparation material or copies of the speaker’s scripts prior to the event?
    • Please remember we are acting as the voice of the speakers, we need to know what the topic is as well as how technical the material is.  The more research and preparation an interpreter can do prior to the event, the smoother and more professional the interpretation will come across to the audience.
    • Will there be a question and answer session (Q&A)?
    • How many languages will you require?
    • Will the interpretation be recorded?
    • When can our team install and strike the equipment?

When planning a multi-language conference event where simultaneous interpreters or translators are needed, your language service provider should ask numerous questions in order to determine your needs.  The more information you can provide to your language partner, the more successful your event will be.

Atlas Language Services has 20+ years of experience in the conference interpretation field both small and large.  If you are in the need for simultaneous interpreters, translators, equipment or project management support, please do not hesitate in giving us a call!

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO.

First, interpretation is a very difficult process. It is not just black and white, there are hundreds of items that an interpreter must consider while interpreting which makes our job difficult, other times rewarding beyond belief.  In a recent article published by Fox News, they reported on a case that has recently been dropped due to an improper telephonic interpretation.  For those who don’t know, telephonic interpretation is when an interpreter at an offsite location interpreting consecutively via a conference call.  In the article dated June 8, 2011 Fox News stated that the case against Mr. Antonio Martinez-Nunez, [who had nine (9) charges pending, including aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse] has been dropped by the Ohio Prosecutor due to the telephonic interpreter providing “incomplete Miranda warnings of his rights”.

“Police interpreter failed to tell Mr. Martinez-Nunez that he could end the interview at anytime, and Martinez-Nunez also made several requests to talk with his consulate that were not acknowledged” according to Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/08/ohio-prosecutor-drops-murder-case-against-illegal-immigrant/).  Without knowing the intermit details of the call nor the case, it reminded me as to why Atlas Languages Services, Inc. has set such strict standards and quality control on our telephonic interpretation line.  All our telephonic interpreters are 100% U.S. based and trained in multiple specialties including health care, legal, insurance, governmental, educational to name a few.  In additional telephonic interpreters should be consistently trained and qualified.  Add to that interpreters should be HIPAA compliant, Safe Harbor certified and Section 508 compliant, as well as licensed, bonded and insured.  All these steps add to the credentials as well as the knowledge of the interpreter in regards to terminology and protocol.  Telephonic interpretation is very important and since telephonic interpreters can be interpreting for a judge in a criminal proceeding; police, fire or emergency medical personnel during life threatening situations; or for a parent of a school age child, our job as telephonic interpreters is to provide the most accurate interpretation possible and not to exclude or omit any details.

Telephonic interpreters must also be highly adept at note-taking.  Considering that telephonic interpretation requires the consecutive mode of interpretation, and because lengths of utterances can be extremely long, it is very common for telephonic interpreters to rely heavily on notes to support their memory and to provide accuracy and completeness in their interpretation.  It is important for an interpreter to request that parties do not speak over each other and not turn away from the telephone’s microphone when speaking nor to rumple papers next to the phone as we cannot interpret what we can not hear.

These are just a few of the issues that telephonic interpreters face every day, it is a clear reminder how important it is to ensure that our interpretation is accurate and that we do not omit any details.  Our job is to interpret, nothing more or less.

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Quentin Atkinson of the University of Auckland, New Zealand has recently published research in (http://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6027/346.abstract ) Science Magazine that all human language originated in Africa.  Mr. Atkinson believes the ancient “click” language, called Khoisan is the first language known to humans and that all of the 6,000+ known languages have roots from this single tongue.  Khoisan is thought to have originated 50,000 to 70,000 years ago.

It’s a bold and controversial claim but it has some solid scientific research to back the idea up.  So how did Mr. Atkinson come to this conclusion?  A computer program was used to study not words but sounds in 504 languages.  By using sounds that are used to form words (called “phoneme” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneme), the application used an algorithm, which determined that they all pointed back to a Khoisan.

From a linguistic standpoint, it is interesting to think about the prospect of a single language having roots in all others.  While it’s difficult to fully jump on board with what the research claims, it does indeed further the discussion of language origin history.  But as the (http://www.economist.com/node/18557572?story_id=18557572&fsrc=rss%22%3EEconomist%3C/a)”the obvious place to look for the evolutionary origin of language is the cradle of humanity, Africa.”

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

US News recently ran a story listing the 50 best careers of 2011.  One of those hot careers are language translators and interpreters.   While language translators and interpreters are two very different skill sets, it is nice to see that both are expected to in high demand for 2011.

The article goes on to state that between 2008 and 2018, the employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 22 percent.  This number is well above average for other careers.  And personally speaking, with the growth of global communications and global marketing exploding on the Internet, this 22 percent growth is likely to be a low estimate.  Here in Chicago, the number of international business meetings and conferences are on the rise and 2011 looks to continue that growth well into the future.

There are two keys to high paying careers and job stability in the fields of language translation and language interpretation.  The first is to focus on languages that are, or will be in very high demand.  Global demand for Asian languages will increase significantly in the next few years.  This is especially true for Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Japanese and Korean.  In the United States, Spanish and English skills will likely remain the language pair that is most sought after.

The second key to a successful career in language interpretation or translation is to specialize in a specific field.  This blog has discussed several specializations previously including medical and judiciary fields.  The more specialized fields get the higher paying jobs because of their unique talents.

If you are thinking about getting into the language translation or interpretation field, it looks like a very good career decision.

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO.

The Certification Commission For Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) has just announced that they have certified the first wave of interpreters!  Congratulations to those who took and past the examination.  Atlas Language Services, Inc. is a proud supporter for CCHI and we feel strongly that this is a step in the right direction.    Although certification is not mandated at this time, it is important to regulate our industry to ensure that qualified interpreters are being utilized and that quality language professionals are being used.  As a LSP, the early stages of using these certified interpreters is difficult since supply is limited, but over time, we are confident that this certification, or one similar will become standard.  Interpreters are the first line of communication that an injured or ill individual receive, and it is crucial for our interpreters to have a solid foundation regarding techniques, terminology, etiquette and know and follow the medical Code of Ethics.

As a company with its roots in California and very familiar with the California Certification process and requirements, it is nice to see a start to a nationwide certification and standard for medical interpreters.

For those unaware, the CCHI has two certifications which are:

Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHI) – A CHI has been tested on the most critical knowledge, skills and abilities required of a healthcare interpreter. A CHI must first complete the AHI examination plus an oral performance examination testing the CHI’s interpreting skills and abilities in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, sight translation and translation. The CHI credential is currently only available for Spanish interpreters.

Associate Healthcare Interpreter (AHI) – An AHI has been tested on only a part of the knowledge, skills and abilities that are required of a healthcare interpreter. Since the AHI examination covers only part of the knowledge, skills and abilities required of healthcare interpreters and does not test an individual’s actual interpreting skills and abilities, a certification is not awarded to those who pass this test. Rather, the AHI credential (a certificate indicating that the individual has passed the first step in becoming a CHI and has shown that he/she has the knowledge required of a certified health care interpreter) is available for all interpreters who interpret in a language other than Spanish. An AHI has been tested on the most critical knowledge related to managing an interpreting encounter; healthcare terminology; interacting with other healthcare professionals; preparing for an interpreting encounter; and cultural responsiveness required of a healthcare interpreter but is not tested on the skills and abilities of interpreting . CCHI offers an oral performance exam only in Spanish at this time. AHI is a credential but it is not equivalent to certification.

As of Tuesday, January 25, 2011 CCHI has published that 235 certifications have been awarded.  130 CHI and 105 AHI.  Congratulations once again to those interpreters who took and pasted the pilot test.

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Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), globalization, localization and conference interpretation and simultaneous conference equipment rentals and sales.

With over 20 years of industry experience in the legal, medical, corporate, pharmaceutical, engineering and conference interpretation fields as well as expertise in written translations for advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, human resources, publications and technical research material, you can be assured that Atlas can handle all your language needs, not just domestically but worldwide.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. is an A+ rated business by the Better Business Bureau as well as a corporate member of:  American Translators Association; Association of Language Companies; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Midwest Association of Translators & Interpreters; Meeting Planners International; and the Illinois Paralegal Association.

Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com.

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO.

It is one thing to be fluent in multiple languages and to have the ability to accurately interpret between the two.  But just as important, the interpreter must fully understand the material that is being presented.  This is even more important in the specialized field of medical interpretation.

Medical interpreters are used in hospitals, doctor’s offices, courts, conferences and any other medical area where the patient or audience does not speak the native language of the medical staff.  A medical interpreter’s responsibilities are to interpret/translate information from the medical staff to the patient.  In addition, if the patient has any questions or concerns, a reverse interpretation is required so doctors and nurses can properly address the patents symptoms, concerns or questions.

Obviously, it is critical that the interpreter fully understand a vast amount of medical terminology in both languages.  It is critical that the interpretations be as accurate as possible so that the patient receives the proper care.

The last thing you want is an interpreter that does not understand medical terminology.  In that case, problems can arise within the communication process between all involved.  When time is critical, you don’t want your interpreter to slow down the treatment process as they try to use the proper terminology or stop to research it.

Even highly experienced medical interpreters encounter difficult situations.  Last week we encountered a difficult request, a large medical facility here in the Midwest had a client from Iraq who was the primary care giver for an elderly gentleman.  The care giver only signed Iraqi sign language and was completely deaf.  Our work flow was:

English -> American Sign Language -> Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) -> the Iraqi care giver then back again.

Although we prepare for all situations, encounters such as these that keep our work load fun and challenging.  The medical appointment went every well and that is due to the professionalism and experience of the interpreters that worked on this case.  If they had only limited medical knowledge or were inexperienced, the relay of the information to the caregiver would have been very difficult to convey.

At Atlas Language Services, we only hire the most qualified health care interpreters that have specialized educations in the field of medical interpretation.  While it is not necessary, Atlas looks to hire interpreters that come from schools that offer specialized medical interpretation certificate programs to insure you have the best interpreter to meet all your medical interpretation and translation needs.

President Obama was recently in the news due to a malfunction in the translation equipment that left him in the dark.  The wireless audio feed that sends the interpreted language to the President ceased to function and the only thing President Obama could do was smile and nod at the Prime Minister of Portugal, Jose Socrates.

Here is an excerpt of the Yahoo! news story found at: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/WHITE-HOUSE-NOTEBOOK-Bo-and-apf-1974735883.html?x=0&.v=2

“With the two leaders standing together, [Prime Minister] Socrates launched into a minutes-long discussion of the U.S.-Portugal relationship. But unless Obama brushed up on his Portuguese before landing, he couldn’t understand a thing. An audio feed that pipes English translations through an earpiece for the president and U.S. reporters failed.”

This mishap tells us two things.  First, all equipment, no matter how meticulously tested and re-tested is bound to fail at some point.  We can only hope that it is not when it is truly needed!  I’m sure that due to the importance and high-visibility of the meeting that all equipment was thoroughly checked multiple times before it was to be used.

The second point that needs to be made is that the people responsible for the simultaneous interpretation equipment should have simple and clear instructions that can be acted upon in case of a failure.  These instructions should be relayed and agreed upon both by the interpreters as well as the speaker who is be interpreted.  Because when it comes down to it, you don’t want your audience to miss out on what is being said, especially a President.

As any company who handles simultaneous conference interpretation and conference interpretation equipment rentals and sales can attest, always expect the unexpected and have a contingency plan.  So what could the interpreters and equipment technician done?  Well, these are a couple options that we have used at Atlas Language Services.  We typically have at least one or two Portable/Tour Guide units preset to coordinating channels.  These portable units can be a life saver if in a bind and can pick up where the stationary equipment left off.

The other option would have been to have one interpreter exit the booth and sit/stand next to President Obama and “whisper” interpret.  Although neither option is ideal, they could have helped remedy the situation.

It is a situation that everyone dreads but how the technician, project manager or interpreters take control and handle it is what separates them from all others.

Atlas Language Services, Inc., a Chicago based Language Service Provider specializing in language interpretation (spoken), translation (written), localization and conference interpretation equipment rentals and sales.  Atlas Language Services, Inc. can be reached at 888-816-0577 / 312-372-1600 / 815-479-1600 or online at http://www.AtlasLS.com .

Kevin McQuire is the President/CEO.