Many local companies and institutions are finding themselves searching for Boston interpreting services in order to allow them to connect with key parts of the city’s market. However, there are a few things you should know before you begin your search…
Fact: Boston Interpreting Services Are Needed Everywhere, From Multinational Corporations to Community Services
Unlike translation services, interpretation services are very much a location-bound service. While the client may not realize it, the availability and cost of a professional interpreter can be influenced by his or her location and proximity to the event.
If you do business in Boston you may run into some difficulties locating interpreters for certain languages, or even specialized in certain fields, simply because the demand isn’t present.
However, as companies and communities alike look to increase interaction with international and limited English proficient (LEP) individuals, the need for a professional interpreter to facilitate communication will only continue to increase.
What does this mean?
You need to be aware of the demographic landscape of the Boston area, and partner with a reliable language service provider in order to procure the best interpreter for your needs.
The need for interpreting is inevitable for many professional organizations. Knowing what to expect when looking for professional interpreting services will increase the efficiency with which you are able to procure them – it can also help you prepare budgets and expectations when it comes to planning your events.
Boston Interpreting Services | What Languages Are Commonly Spoken in Boston?
If you’re looking to enter the Boston market, you should be aware of the multitude of languages spoken by its population. Your clients may speak some languages more than others; it all depends on the nature of your business and who you’re targeting. However, as 37.7% of residents speak a language other than English it is necessary to be prepared to accommodate different languages if you hope to communicate on a more direct level with key parts of the Boston market.
Boston interpreting services can help you connect with speakers of the most commonly spoken languages in the city currently (aside from English):
- Spanish
- Chinese
- French Creole
- Vietnamese
- Portuguese
- French
- African Languages
- Russian
- Arabic
- Italian
If you happen to be looking for a language pair that is less common in the Boston area, you may have to abandon the search for local interpreting services, and look outside of the city (or even state) limits to find a professional for your needs.
For example, and based on our own experience, if you were looking for a Korean conference level interpreter (more on that later) you’d be hard-pressed to find one in the Boston area.
What Industries will Benefit From Boston Interpreting Services?
Anyone familiar with Boston knows that within its small city limits lies a plethora of world-renowned academic and medical facilities. People come from around the world to attend universities, receive specialized training, obtain healthcare services, and even to work in institutions like Harvard, Brigham and Women’s, the Dana Farber Institute, and Children’s Hospital (to name a few).
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that both of these industries will require interpretation services in order to interact with their multilingual or LEP client base. Aside from these industries, other service based sectors, such as Legal, Banking & Financial, and Local Government, can anticipate the need for regular interpreting services in Boston.
Where Does Interpretation Come Into Play In Academia, Healthcare, and Service Based Sectors?
What Level Interpreter Do You Need?
If you’re looking for Boston interpreting services, it is important to keep in mind that there are many different levels of interpreters.
What does this mean?
Interpreters can be trained in varying degrees, and for various scenarios. You can contract services from conference level interpreters – UN level professionals who have experience providing services at multinational delegations – to interpreters who work primarily with the community.
Commonly contracted interpreters include the following:
- Conference Level Interpreters
- Medical Interpreters
- Legal Interpreters
- Community Interpreters
Based on our experience providing interpreting in Boston, community and medical interpreters for Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese are among the most common in the area. This should come as no surprise based on the aforementioned industries in need of interpretation, and the most common languages spoken in the city.
If you want to ensure that you are getting an interpreter with proven training and practice, you can look for certified interpreters in Boston.
Certification is generally required by medical institutions and court systems. The certification indicates that the interpreter has passed a specific examination – usually administered by boards or independent entities – that indicates the interpreter is qualified in both their language ability, and the technical and professional aspects of interpreting for their specified industry.
Those looking for interpreters in Boston should note that an increased qualification demand will limit the pool of interpreters to choose from. Depending on your needs, your interpreter may have to travel to your location.
This is common when contracting interpreting services, so it’s best to partner with a language service provider that has built up a large network to increase the chances of finding an interpreter that meets your qualifications, as close to your venue as possible.
Partnering with a good LSP also ensures that you’re not sacrificing quality in language and interpretation skill level.
The Different Modes of Interpreting
Along with the different areas of expertise for interpreters, there are also different modes of interpretation that professionals can specialize in. The most common are as follows:
- Simultaneous Interpretation – performed while the speaker is talking, often requires specialized interpreting equipment
- Consecutive Interpretation – performed during pauses in speech
- Bilateral Interpretation – consecutive interpretation performed in a two-way manner
- Whispered Interpretation – simultaneous interpretation performed directly into the listener’s ear
- Escort Interpretation – performed in meetings or cultural experiences where interpreters act as assistants or cultural liaisons
Although not quite modes, there are also the common method-based interpreting services including telephonic interpreting and video remote interpretation.
Each mode is distinct in the manner in which the interpreter presents the orally translated speech to listeners. Your event or the nature of the situation for which you need interpreting will determine the optimal mode of interpretation you should choose.
Want more info on the modes of interpretation?
Check out our 4 Minute Crash Course on the Different Types of Interpreting.
How Do I Determine What Interpretation Services Are Right For Me?
Anyone looking to interact with the increasingly multilingual community in the Boston area, or looking to do business abroad will likely need to contract interpretation services at some point.
The best way to construct a plan for your Boston interpreting service needs is by contacting a language service provider with a large network of professionals, and experience coordinating interpreting for your industry.
They will go over the information discussed here, as well as work with you to find a solution that fits within your specified budget.
Language Connections has been providing Boston interpreting services for over 20 years. We work with established institutions including Harvard, The Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, Akamai Technologies, DLA Piper and more.
About Language Connections:
Language Connections is one of the top language service companies in the US. Over the last 30 years, we’ve focused on providing the best business translation services, interpreting services, as well as interpreter training and customized language training programs. In addition to top-tier corporate language training, we offer certified corporate interpreters and professional business translation services in 200+ languages. Our network includes linguists with backgrounds in all major industries. They’re ready to meet your needs, whether they’re for technical translation services, legal translation, government translation services, international development translation services, education translation services, life sciences translation, or something else. Reach out to us today for a free quote on our cost-efficient and timely translation services, interpreters, or other linguistic services.
Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com
