|
|
 FAQ
Since you asked…
Here are some answers to the more commonly asked questions about our services and policies. If you have additional questions, please contact us.
The growth of the Internet and ability to reach a global audience has created no small shortage of language service companies. But NWI is no newcomer to the industry. We have been in business since 1992, serving a broad range of clients and industries with a complete range of interpretation and translation services. With a network of over 1,000 professional linguists working in more than 175 languages, we are one of the largest multicultural communication solutions providers in the country.
It has been said that an organization can be judged by the company it keeps. At NWI, our client list reads like a Who’s Who of leading businesses and manufacturers representing a wide range of industries. We have also worked with numerous agencies at all levels of government as well as several non-profit organizations.
For specific references within your industry, please contact us.
Our network of professional interpreters and translators is experienced in a wide range of fields and industries. Many have special expertise in areas such as education, healthcare, law, marketing, manufacturing and government, just to name a few.
Learn more about the industries we serve by clicking here.
For a list of references with experience in your particular industry, please contact us.
At NWI, having your documents translated is literally as simple as 1, 2, 3.
- Submit your documents for a quote by uploading your electronic to NWI. Or, if you prefer, you may fax them to 360-566-0453. You may also mail them to our corporate offices at this address:
Northwest Interpreters, Inc.
203 SE Park Plaza Drive, Suite 190
Vancouver, WA 98684 USA
- Once we receive your documents we will contact you to discuss the project. Upon your approval, we will proceed with the project.
- Once completed, the project can be delivered to you electronically or by courier service.
You can request an interpreter by phone, fax, e-mail and online. Depending on the request, we can generally confirm interpreter availability within 24 hours.
At NWI, we understand that not everyone in the world works according to the same time clock. Plus, we appreciate that the needs of today’s global businesses sometimes demand prompt response time. With our nationwide network of interpreters and translators, we can easily locate the proper language professional and provide a quick turnaround time for most multicultural communication services.
For on-site interpretation, we require a 24-hour cancellation notice for all assignments. In some cases, a 72-hour notice may be required due to the language or type of service. For more information on our cancellation policy please refer to your service agreement with NWI or contact your account representative.
While closely related, interpretation and translation are quite different. Technically, to interpret is to verbally transfer meaning between two languages. To translate is to transfer the meaning of written text from one language to another. Both are individual practices that require their own set of skills. The skills required for effective translation primarily involve reading and writing skills. Interpreters rely on their listening comprehension and public speaking skills.
With our network of professional interpreters and translators in over 175 languages worldwide, you can rely on NWI to handle all of your language needs.
A professional translator should use the full resources and vocabulary of the target language. In many cases, there may not be an equivalent word or phrase in the target language for the given word or phrase in the source language. In these instances, it is up to the skill of the translator to effectively translate the concept rather than the exact word or phrase. In short, ideas should be translated - not just words.
A certified translation is a translation that has been prepared by a professional translator to which a certificate, attesting to the accuracy of the translation, is signed before a Notary Public. It is the practice of Northwest Interpreters, Inc. to have all translations proofread and edited by a second professional translator.
Just because a person can speak more than one language doesn’t make them expert at translation. Many bilinguals simply lack the background, training, or life experience to handle the nuances of a target language. Often times, there are cultural distinctions to a word or phrase, which can only be known or understood by a native speaker. (See "Localization".)
While some incorrect translations can be somewhat humorous, most businesses can ill-afford to have incorrect translations destroy the true meaning of a message.
Simultaneous interpretation is the oral translation of a speaker's words into a second language while the speaker is speaking, usually using special audio equipment.
Simultaneous interpretation requires a special ability to listen and assimilate simultaneously the information in one language, analyze it, and render it in another language within a few seconds.
Consecutive interpretation is a mode of interpretation in which the interpreter renders his target language interpretation after the speaker has stopped speaking. This mode is commonly used in one-on-one appointments, business meetings, medical visits or when interpreting for a witness in open court. In addition to requiring excellent command of both the source and target languages, consecutive interpretation requires exceptional memory and superior note taking skills.
Conference interpretation is a specialized skill requiring one direction, simultaneous interpreting from one language to another. This mode of interpretation is commonly used during conferences, web casting or while videotaping special events.
Localization (L10N) is the art of adapting a document to regional and cultural nuances in order to enhance the reader's understanding and comprehension. Localization takes into consideration pronunciation, spelling conventions, grammatical patterns and other linguistic differences specific to each target audience.
|
