What do you do if you have doubts about your Interpreter?

“I said about 3 sentences and the interpreter came back with just one word”.

I hear this all the time in conversations with people who work with interpreters.

Translation and interpreting is not a regulated industry in this country. Therefore, standards vary tremendously. The best you can do is ensure you book your interpreters through reputable agencies with strict linguist registration criteria and high-quality standards.

In settings where interpreters are typically used (courtrooms, police stations, hospitals, etc.) it is vital that foreign service users are understood. It’s a human right and can mean the difference between life and death. As the professional leading the conversation, you need to have full confidence in the interpreter.

Here are a few tips on what to do if you are not 100% certain the interpreter is interpreting faithfully.

1/ Stop the conversation immediately.

Ask the interpreter to explain to the service user that you are going to take a short break and will return as soon as possible. Step outside the room and explain your concerns to the interpreter. There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why the interpreter’s translations in the foreign language are expanded or reduced. Some languages do expand or reduce in translation.

2/ Rebook the session requesting a different interpreter

If, after raising the issue with the interpreter you still feel uneasy, tell the interpreter you would prefer to rebook the session with a different interpreter and ask them to relay this to the service user. It’s not ideal to have to rearrange an appointment, but it’s the safest option for both parties.

3/ Provide feedback to the agency.

Let the agency know you were not satisfied with the interpreter, providing examples. Request that the same interpreter is not assigned to projects at your organisation again. The agency will then know not to send that particular interpreter to you again. They will also investigate the issue and decide whether or not to continue working with the interpreter at all.

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At Give Me Your Word, we only work with highly qualified interpreters who are experts in their respective fields, have over 400 hours of evidenced experience and a commitment to a code of professional conduct. In the rare event that we receive a complaint, we take it very seriously and follow it up with the interpreter, before deciding on the appropriate course of action. And we always update the client with the outcome of our investigation.

For more information or to book an interpreter, get in touch with our team.