Jeffrey Alfonso

The Great Safety Chasm

For several years now, I have been conducting OSHA 30-hourand 10-hour classes in construction and general industry at Greenville Tech. I love teaching those classes because of the variety of students who attend. It has also helped me to see that there is a huge, Grand Canyon divide in construction safety. On one side is […]

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Preparation is the Key to Successful Conference Interpreting

Whether you have an international conference or a company training, the presenters are experts in their field. They likely use complicated terminology specific to their subject. The listeners will benefit from years of study and experience in the subject matter being considered. Now consider that a simultaneous interpreting team is required for the presentation. The

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Interpreting Humor and Slang

My dad used to always say, “Mind over matter, when your mind’s made up, nothing else matters!” Imagine trying to interpret that! In this case, matter in English has a double meaning. Mind over matter, (the substance of which a physical object is composed) When your mind is made up, nothing else matters! (A subject

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Legal Services for Hispanics

Recently, Emily and I were invited by Charleston Legal Access to work at a Spanish power of attorney clinic in Charleston, SC. About nine lawyers offered their time and expertise pro bono to assist undocumented and limited English proficient Spanish families in case of arrest, detention, deportation, or other incapacitating circumstance. They met with families,

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Questions we need answered before translating

Who is your intended reader?   Quite often, potential clients ask me what my fee is to translate a safety manual into Spanish.  Believe it or not, without more information, that is a hard question to answer. Let me explain why. “Who is your intended reader?” is a major factor in the work involved in

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Pain in The Neck Continuing Education

This year, I received a reminder that if I don’t obtain my continuing education credits, my healthcare interpreter certification will expire! This would mean that in order to re-certify, I would have to start over by taking a 40-hour language course, followed by a written test that if I pass, will allow me to take

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5 Tips for Successful Conference Interpreter Collaboration

Multilingual conferences require an extra level of planning to incorporate interpreting teams; they also have the potential for snafus. The purpose for the following tips are to assist the interpreting team(s) in performing a fantastic rendition of the speakers.  It not only makes for a smooth event, but also elevates the meeting planner to a

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What kind of interpreter do you need when planning a conference?

Most large conferences require a ton of planning (sometimes over a year in advance) for the event to proceed smoothly. Conferences with multinational/multilingual attendance require special planning. Your goal should be to impress delegates with a memorable, flawless event that takes into consideration their needs and preferences. Language Needs: Conference Interpreters: Most meeting planners are

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When Ethics and Common Sense Collide in Medical Interpreting

It never fails that at least one session at the American Translators Association annual convention results in a very entertaining, lively debate over interpreter ethics. Entertaining for me, not at all for those involved in the debate. Especially if it disrupts the presentation and the speaker is being attacked. For me, the debate typically falls

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2 Reasons for Appeal Regarding Interpretation

  Nobody really wants to return. Prosecutors seek a guilty verdict that sticks; defenders seek the best outcome possible for their clients. Victims don’t want to re-live the experience; they want to heal and move forward. This is also the case for defendants. When it comes to people with limited or lacking English proficiency, there

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