Interpreting

Virtual Meetings and Events Define the 2020s

Two thousand twenty – the year of the virtual meeting! Whatever sectors had been resisting technology were suddenly thrust into it. Sometimes change is gradual; it can also be abrupt and forceful. When quarantine mandates occurred in March of 2020, all interpreting and consulting work came to a swift halt. We had no idea when …

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8A Certification Plans

In 2020 we had a goal to become an 8A certified minority business. Sadly, a confluence of events prevented that from happening. Now we are in 2021 and its time for a do over. For some time, we are certified by South Carolina Small and Minority Business Contracting and Certification which helped to foster the …

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Where should the medical interpreter stand?

Simply put, the perfect position for the interpreter in a medical setting is the triangle. This format allows the patient, the medical professional, and the interpreter to easily see and hear each other. However, sometimes there is only one seat for the patient; the interpreter must stand. The triangle is still the best option. However, …

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Watch out for medical interpreting errors

A simple error by a medical interpreter could be catastrophic. If a doctor or a patient were to misunderstand the dialog, mistakes could be made in the decision-making process. This is another reason why I constantly advocate for the use of professional certified interpreters. It is very common for inexperienced interpreters to make mistakes by …

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Three modes of interpretation for medical interpreters

I have spoken about this in the past, but I believe this is worth considering once again. Healthcare interpreters need to be proficient and the three modes of interpretation. What are they and when are they needed? 1 Consecutive Interpreting By far the most common and preferred method of interpreting for medical interpreters is consecutive …

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From Alfonso Interpreting to Archway Safety

Last year, our name changed from Alfonso Interpreting & Transporting, Inc. to Archway Safety Consulting & Language Services, Inc. Although this might come as a surprise to many, gradual adjustments have been occurring in our business. In the mid-1980s, I worked on scaffolds in New York City. In the 1990s, I operated Atlantic Painting and …

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industry technology design pipe

Conduits of Communication? Part 4

As we have considered so far in this series of articles, a conduit of communication is simply a machine, a robot. Although I understand the purpose is to keep healthcare interpreters neutral and unbiased, people are not machines. People are complicated, and so are the roles of the professional interpreter. In addition to being professional …

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Minority Business Delay

Every year, I meet with my co-owner Emily to review our past year and plan our next year. Two thousand twenty prime goal was to become an 8A certified minority business. We were making slow steady progress. I believe we would have reached that goal within the year. However, the coronavirus pandemic stunned our business. …

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What are Interpreter Fees Really?

This week we feature a relevant guest post from our esteemed conference interpreter colleague, Tony Rosado. Dear Colleagues: The following post first appeared on the website of the International Association of Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI). I wrote it for members of the association, but I believe it is also relevant to this blog: There seems …

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industry technology design pipe

Conduits of communication? Part 2

As discussed in Conduits of Communication Part 1, there is a valid reason why it has been taught that interpreters are conduits of communication. By categorizing interpreters into unemotional machinery, the issue of interpreter bias is perceived to have been addressed. However, often resolving one problem creates new ones. For instance, in 2015, my downstairs …

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