What are the rules for telephone interpreting, 10 tips for clients
What are the rules for telephone interpreting
A new invention is coming out every other day. It is hard for people to keep up sometimes. You know how to use a smartphone because you have always seen it around you. Most young kids today get their first phone or computer in their early teenage years. A generation growing up with such easy access to technology will have no problem learning about the new devices. But it isn’t the same for everyone. If you hand over a smartphone to someone who grew up reading a newspaper and never saw a computer up close, they will be perplexed about its usage.
The same situation occurs when people don’t know how to use modern services. We all have one or two embarrassing experiences with modern services where we don’t know what to do. Some try to turn on the automatic tap in restaurants; some don’t know how to use the electric hand dryer. But that’s okay, and it isn’t something to be ashamed of. It is not anyone’s fault that inventors are creating things faster than we can adapt to them. And services help us; no one will blame us if we take too long to understand them. Eventually, we will see how they can make things easier for us.
Translation has been around for a long time. The units of armies in World War I and II had their interpreters with them who helped them interact with prisoners of war. Interpreters also helped states of heads communicate with each other and resolve conflicts to ensure peace. But time has become more critical today than it was in the last century, and sometimes, the old methods of translating are not sufficient for people. That’s why the telephone interpretation method was thought of so that people can get in touch with an interpreter no matter where they are and save time instead of waiting for a translator to come to their meeting. Telephone translating also gives people control over their privacy and removes their worries about keeping their information safe and secure.
However, since telephone interpreting is something relatively new, not a lot of people know about it. And when they do find out, they don’t know what rules govern this service and what they can do to aid the work of their interpreters. But there is nothing to worry about. As long as the clients want to help their interpreters, they can. All they have to do is learn a few basic rules of telephone interpreting. If you want to get an interpreter on the phone, here are the ten tips you should follow:
- Start with the Introduction:
You don’t want to tell your name to the interpreter if you don’t want to, but you should ask them to introduce themselves to all the parties in the conversation. This will take away the hesitation of everyone else about speaking in front of a stranger, and they will be able to express themselves more openly.
- Be Patient:
Translators take a day to translate a document; interpreters do that in real-time. But when they have to think in real-time, they will need to think of the proper words to relay the message to you. If they take a few seconds’ pause, don’t interrupt them. They will only think of the right words to make you understand the message. Give them the time they need to do their job in the best way possible.
- Use Short Sentences:
The interpreter will translate a person’s statement as soon as they are done talking. But if you say three to four sentences consecutively, you will make their job difficult. Be considerate when working with them, and use fewer and shorter sentences. Use precise wording to get your point across.
- Explain the Purpose:
Explain to them the purpose of the meeting beforehand and also talk about what you will be discussing. The context will help them perform their job in a better way.
- Answer Questions:
The person you are working with to translate your conversations is a human, and humans can make mistakes. If they mishear you and ask you to repeat yourself, don’t get angry at them and answer their questions calmly.
- Maintain a Reasonable Speed:
The interpreter might have trouble following your words if you speak too fast. Sometimes, they may even ask you to slow down. But it is better to think of it beforehand and maintain a pace that is neither too fast nor too slow.
- Don’t Talk Via Them:
They are there to translate whatever you are saying like a machine. Please don’t ask them to ask the other person something. Instead, talk like you are talking to a person who doesn’t speak your language, and your interpreter will relay your message as it is.
- Remove Distractions:
If your office or the place where the meeting is taking place is noisy, it can be a problem for the interpreter. Be sure to eliminate any such distractions before initiating the call.
- Avoid Slangs and Native Phrases:
Something familiar in your language may be challenging to explain to a non-speaker. Avoid using those phrases.
- Ensure Clarity:
Once the meeting is over, ask everyone if everything is clear. So, if there is anything left uncleared, you can clarify it in the presence of the interpreter because once they leave, you will have no way to explain your point to everyone else.
Now that you know the rules of telephone interpreting, you can start using this beneficial service yourself.
