Phone Interpreting Vs In-Person Interpreting: Which Is The Best One For You

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a 55% drop in demand for in-person interpreters across several industries. Many businesses are also finding that phone interpretation is far more efficient and cost-effective than traditional in-person interpreting.

PHONE INTERPRETING VS IN-PERSON INTERPRETING:

Thanks to Phone interpretation being lower cost than in-person interpreting, some business plan to make their switch to over the phone interpreting permanent. However, it is important to note that there are pros and cons to both interpretation methods.

Phone interpretation Benefits

At Languagers, we provide reliable, low-cost Phone interpretation services to businesses all across the United States. However, our clients don’t just make use of over the phone interpreting to save on interpretation costs.

One of the chief benefits of Phone interpretation rests with how quickly it is possible to connect with language interpreters.

·       At Languagers, we can connect businesses, professionals, and members of the public with interpreters in a matter of seconds.

·       Phone interpretation can be planned in advance or take place at the last minute with little to no planning.

·       As a rule, Telephone interpretation is more reliable than alternative forms of interpreting like video interpretation, as calls require less bandwidth than video calls.

Now that telephone interpreting is rising in popularity as a result of COVID-19, it is easy to see why some businesses might consider making the switch from in-person interpreting permanent. However, it is important to note that in-person interpreting still offers some benefits that over the phone interpreting is unable to.

In-Person Interpreting Benefits

There is no doubt that Phone interpretation helps businesses save on the cost of hiring interpreters. However, investing in in-person interpreting is still considered the best way to ensure that conversations between different parties are interpreted 100% accurately.

·       When on-site interpreters are physically present in a room, they can read the body language of people speaking, as well as other visual cues that make interpreting easier.

·       In many cases, recipients of interpreted dialogue say they feel more at ease when interpreters are present who they can make eye-contact with and build a rapport with.

·       Pauses during Phone interpretation when each speaker takes turns speaking can confuse and interrupt the natural flow of conservation. By comparison, in-person interpreters can help everyone in a conversation feel more engaged and at ease.

In short, there are almost no barriers to the flow of conservation when all speakers are in one place. This is why despite the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, many politicians and major businesses are continuing to have meetings in person and not remotely.

When is Telephone Interpenetration Always the Best Option?

Despite in-person interpretation being better for ensuring the accuracy of interpreted dialogue, there are occasions where it is always better to make use of telephone interpreting services.

·       Like the present time when face-to-face interpreting is not practically possible for many people, Phone interpretation makes an excellent alternative option.

·       Whenever it is necessary to conduct a conversation quickly, Phone interpretation is the best way to do so.

·       Whenever it is not possible to have another person present in a room for privacy reasons or cultural concerns, Phone interpretation provides a suitable solution.

Of course, when privacy concerns are the main reason you might elect to hire an over the phone interpreter, it is important to remember that interpreters will still be privy to all your conversation details. However, when you use a reputable interpretation agency like Languagers, you can rest assured that all our interpreters are bound by strict non-disclosure agreements.

Do you need to hire an interpreter? Find out more about which option might be right for you, by contacting Languagers today.

 

Telephone Interpreting - Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

 

Telephone interpreting represents the easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective way to hire an interpreter in 2020. That said, you probably know that already. What you might not know, though, is how telephone interpreter services work.

Do you need to discuss important business with somebody who speaks a different language? If so, keep on reading to learn how telephone interpreting works, and how to prepare for calls.

How Does Telephone Interpreting Work?

How telephone interpreting works is simple. To start, you schedule a call with one or more parties, just like you usually would.

Once a call is scheduled, the next step is to reach out to an interpreter. At Languagers, we make this step simple, by making available a short contact form on our website.  We will connect you with a suitable interpreter. The interpreter we assign to you will then join in on your call, the same way anyone might a regular conference call.

You can also call on-demand 24/7 without scheduling.  Once you know what language you need translating and when a call will take place on-demand, you will be connected to a suitable interpreter in seconds. This can also be done the same way as a regular conference call. You can add an interpreter while you are speaking with someone on your phone.

In every case, our team at Languagers will be able to connect you with an interpreter within the time frame. All that needs to be remembered in calls where an interpreter is present, is that communication will flow slightly differently to how it might usually.

What to Expect During Calls When Working with an Interpreter

Usually, when people converse via telephone, conversations overlap and can be somewhat scattered.

During a regular telephone call, you or a party you are talking to might chip in as the other person is talking. It can also be difficult to know when it is the right time to speak.

During calls where an interpreter is present, dialogue between parties is more structured.

In calls between two parties, conversations are interpreted consecutively. One party will, therefore, speak. Afterward, there will then be a brief pause, as interpreters translate what has been said for the benefit of the other caller.

Here’s what else to expect:

l  During calls, a translator might ask you or the other party in a conversation to pause speaking or repeat what you have just said. This will ensure that what you are saying is translated accurately.

l  Interpreters will usually participate in calls using wearable headsets and mics to optimize audio quality. You can too, but doing so is optional.

l  Usually, it will not be possible to interrupt an interpreter as they are speaking. This is because most interpreters use feedback blackout technology that prevents them from hearing their own voices when speaking.

When working with a telephone interpreter during calls where dialogue from several people may need to be translated, the exact format of a call may be different. However, before calls take place, your interpreter or translation agency will brief you on what to expect.

 

How Should You Prepare for Calls with an Interpreter?

When preparing for a telephone call where an interpreter will be present, it is important to clarify the context of a call with interpreters.

As a rule, you should let your interpreter know who will be participating in a call, what their professional positions are, and what you will be discussing. When possible, it is also advisable to give interpreters copies of any documents that might be discussed.

When preparing for calls, it is also important to make sure that call sound quality will not drop during conversations. This being the case, it is always a good idea to conduct test calls to check the suitability of telephony hardware and connections.

 

What About Maintaining Client Confidentiality?

In business, details of conversations with clients and business partners must be kept strictly confidential. Thankfully, all Languager telephone interpreters are bound by strict confidentiality agreements. However, this isn’t the same for some other interpreters.

If hiring a freelance interpreter or using a different telephone interpreter service, make sure to ask interpreters to sign non-disclosure agreements. This will ensure that the details of conversations with your clients and associates remain strictly confidential.

 

 

Video Remote Interpretation Services - How Much Does VRI Cost?

Interest in Video Remote Interpreting is booming. Thanks to Covid-19, more businesses than ever before are racing to embrace remote working. As a result, interest in video remote interpretation services is spiking. More importantly, businesses are starting to realize major cost savings by embracing VRI.

Could your business save by working with a Remote Video Interpreter? Here, we’ll look at what average cost savings you can expect from VRI.

What is VRI Interpreting?

Video remote interpretation services are ideal for businesses that need to hire interpreters for client consultations and conference calls.

In the past, you might have hired an interpreter to be physically present in meetings or non-English speaking client consultations. Now, though, you might be hosting meetings and consultations 100% virtually using apps like Skype or Zoom.

When hosting meetings virtually, it makes no sense to have an interpreter be physically present in your office. Video remote interpretation services, therefore, see interpreters join meetings virtually, just like other clients and employees.

l  VRI interpreting is often used when it is necessary to translate spoken English into American sign language.

l  In many cases, business associates and customers prefer to use video remote interpretation services over standard telephone interpreter services.

l  Getting started with VRI is simple. At interpreter agencies like Languagers, you can hire a VRI interpreter the same day that a virtual meeting will take place.

How Much Can Video Remote Interpretation Services Help You Save?

When it comes to how much you can save with VRI interpreting, this will always depend on what language is being translated, industry categories and how many hours you need to hire an interpreter. However, it is possible to put a rough estimate on savings.

l  On average, hiring interpreters to be physically present during meetings and client conversations can cost $50 to $145 per hour.

l  Travel costs are additional costs paid by requestors.

l  In most cases, it is necessary to book an interpreter for a minimum period of 2-hours.

l  American sign language interpreters typically charge higher rates of (approximately) $75 to $125 per hour.

By comparison, video remote interpreters typically charge a flat hourly fee of $35 to $100. Alternatively, phone and VRI interpreters can be hired on a per-minute basis, with rates starting at as little as $0.99 to $3.

How Can You Make Sure You Hire the Right Interpreter?

Given the average cost of hiring in-person interpreters, most businesses can expect to save up to 50% when hiring video remote interpreters. However, when hiring interpreters, it is important not to choose the cheapest interpreter available.

l  While some language VRI interpreters may charge as little as $18 per hour, there will usually be a reason why rates are so low.

l  In many cases, low-budget interpreters will be freelancers with minimal industry experience.

l  In some cases, interpreters might be based overseas and/or not be as proficient in English or other languages as you might hope. 

Thankfully, at Languagers, we rigorously vet the credentials of all the interpreters we work with. This being the case, if you are looking to save by using VRI, we are ideally suited to help you get started.