Guidelines for Interpreters
Interpretation Solutions (I.S.) expects professionalism from all its interpreters. The following are some guidelines that can help you carry out your interpretation assignments smoothly.Before the day of interpretation session:
- Familiarize yourself with a general knowledge of the subject to be interpreted. Be prepared for terminology and jargon that are associated with the subject / the industry. If you are aware that proper names (of people, companies, products...etc.) are involved, request for a list with the officially translated names.
- Familiarize yourself with the cultural backgrounds of the different parties requiring interpretation services, and the special linguistic characteristics or lingo associated with the geographical areas they come from.
- Check out the location of the venue and directions on how to get there. Plan your route and estimate adequate time required for the trip. Allow extra time if you are not familiar with the area, if travel is during rush hours, or you need to look for parking offsite. It is a good idea to plan and allow time for a backup route in case of traffic accidents or road closures.
- Pack things you need for the session:
Required
- I.S. Service Record & Feedback Form (for client completion at session end)
- Personal ID
- Name (and contact info) of on-site client contact you report to
- I.S. contact information
- Cell phone (for communication with I.S. where necessary)
- Cash (in case of parking and other incidental expenses)
- Pen and paper
Optional
- Reference materials
- Meals & beverages
- Other personal items if required
- If some emergency comes up and you know in advance you will not be able to show up for the appointment, notify I.S. at the earliest instance possible to allow time for arrangement for a substitute interpreter.
On the day of the interpretation session:
- Arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of appointment to allow yourself time to settle down. Report to the onsite client contact.
- Notify the I.S. Project Coordinator that you have reported duty. This saves us from interrupting the session at an inappropriate time while trying to reach you to confirm arrival.
- Ask your client if there is a prepared list of translated proper names or special terms for your reference. If there is no previously prepared list, confirm if there are any officially translated proper names that may be referred to and note these down. For certain meetings, the client may want to give you a short briefing beforehand, giving you a preview of materials, visual images, physical objects, or documents for sight translation services that would be presented at the meeting.
- Where feasible, request to be seated where you can view exhibits clearly and have eye contact with all parties.
- If more than one interpreter is involved, clarify each interpreter's role and the division of labour.
- Where time and the nature of the forum permits, request your client to introduce you to parties concerned. Explain your role and any interpretation rules and practices. (This could be also done at the start of meeting.) Familiarize yourself with the names of the parties.
During the interpretation session:
- If there was no opportunity for you to be introduced prior to the start of session, make sure that this takes place now. Explain your role and any interpretation rules and practices. Emphasize to parties concerned that confidentiality will be respected.
- Have the various parties address each other directly rather than to you. Interpret by using the first person.
- Convey clients' messages accurately without embellishment, explanation or omission.
- Be faithful to original speech pattern (e.g. tone, volume, gesture, style...etc.) of the speakers.
- Listen attentively. Avoid repeated requests for repetition.
- Remain impartial and observe standards of the profession when there are conflicts between personal values and your role as an interpreter.
- Remain impassive in emotionally charged situations. Stay calm and sustain accuracy.
- When necessary, take down notes, interrupt to seek clarification, and/or make corrections if you realize you have made mistakes.
- In cases where you are on a roster with other interpreters, or your service is only required for a certain part of the session, if you are staying in the room, try to follow the discussion even though you are not on duty. This way you have a better idea of the context when you turn comes.
- If there are breaks during the day, make sure you come back in time before the start of the next session.
- If you realize that you are experiencing trouble performing your duty in a competent manner for whatever reason (sickness, difficulty deciphering speakers with heavy accents, subject matter and associated terms being too foreign or technical for you...etc.), say so and do not continue with the interpretation. Much as it causes inconvenience to the clients, the harm you can potentially cause through faulty interpretation and omissions may be worse. In such cases, notify the client contact and I.S. immediately.
For situations requiring sight translation of documents:
- Request a few minutes to read through the document.
- Perform the sight translation services in the presence of both parties. Never do it in the absence of either one of the parties.
- If one party needs to explain or summarize a document to the other party, he/she should do the explanation or summary him/herself, while your job is to interpret what was explained or summarized.
- An interpreter should not be the signing witness of a legal document presented in the interpretation session. There should be a separate space for the signature of the interpreter.
- Signing as the interpreter means that you have sight translated the whole document. If you have not sight translated everything, you should state what you have done before you sign.
- Notify I.S. if the client extended the service hours beyond what was originally contracted.
- Hand the client the Service Record Form for his/her signature after the interpretation service to confirm the duration of service hours.
- Leave a Client Feedback form with the client for his/her comments about our service. Please ask the client to return the form directly to I.S. once completed.
- Do not reveal any information discussed during the session to anyone. Do not make use of any information you learned during the session for your personal gains or the gains of your family members / friends / businesses / organizations / any third parties.
After the interpretation session:
