Main types of Professional Interpreters?

The need for professional interpreters is growing exponentially in today’s global marketplace. Whether you are a business owner who needs to speak with international investors, a clinician in an emergency room or urgent care setting, or an attorney who needs to communicate with witnesses who are not native English speakers, professional interpreters are an essential part of a successful business.

Here is an overview of some of the different types of interpreters and what they do:

Medical Interpreters

In a healthcare setting, it is extremely important to have clear communication between clinicians and patients. Medical interpreting provides that communication between patients and their doctors, nurses and other staff to ensure medical providers understand the patients’ symptoms for accurate diagnoses, as well as to ensure patients understand their treatment plans.

Quality medical interpreting requires intimate knowledge of medical terminology, as well as the ability to communicate medical concepts clearly and simply. An understanding of cultural differences is also a necessity. Medical interpreters must be able to convey complex medical information in a way that is understandable to the patient while also capturing the nuances of the patient's condition as described to the medical provider. They play a critical role in ensuring high quality care.

Legal Interpreters

A legal interpreter can work in trials and hearings, as well as in law offices at depositions and attorney-client meetings. Legal interpreters need to understand both colloquial vocabulary and specialized legal terminology. They also need to be able to make that terminology understandable to a lay person. Interpreting testimony accurately and objectively is essential for legal proceedings.

Sometimes a legal interpreter may also be asked to translate written documents aloud (sight translation) in trials, hearings or arraignments. Understanding legal protocols and procedures is a must.

Sign Language Interpreters

Sign language interpreters help ease communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing people and hearing people. They primarily use American Sign Language, but can be asked to interpret using English word order or even to make things clearer for people who lip-read. Some sign language interpreters specialize in tactile signing for those who are both blind and deaf. Sign language interpreting requires deep knowledge of deaf culture and sign language linguistics.

Conference Interpreters

Usually fluent in more than two languages, conference interpreters are highly skilled and are commonly found at the United Nations doing simultaneous interpretation. They interpret speeches, presentations and meetings happening in real time, requiring extreme concentration. Conference interpreters must have broad general knowledge, as topics can vary widely.

Community Interpreters

Community interpreters work with immigrants and refugees accessing social services, enrolling children in school, interfacing with law enforcement and other essential daily tasks. They interpret in fields like housing, banking, transportation, education and more. Cultural sensitivity is key.

Guide Interpreters

Also known as escort interpreters, guide interpreters accompany visitors to the U.S. in order to facilitate communication. Some professional interpreters prefer this specialty as it involves frequent travel, special events and locations and is often more informal. Guide to interpreting assignments can run for days or weeks at a time.

These are only some of the interpreting specialties that might appeal to bilingual individuals looking for careers as professional interpreters. As our world becomes more interconnected, the need for skilled interpreters in all settings will continue to grow.

Educational Interpreters

Educational interpreters work in school settings with deaf and hard of hearing students to facilitate communication and learning. They interpret teacher lectures, conversations, assignments and other classroom activities.

Military Interpreters

Military interpreters assist armed forces in communicating with local populations when operating in foreign countries. They interpret meetings with officials, gatherings with civilians, and other situations.

Translation Interpreters

Translation interpreters convert written materials from one language into another. This includes things like books, manuals, websites and other documents.

Telephone Interpreters

Telephone interpreters provide interpretation services remotely over the phone or video conferencing. They work in healthcare, legal settings and other fields to bridge communication gaps.

These are some of the main types of professional interpreters working today. As our world becomes more interconnected, the need for skilled interpreters in all settings will continue to grow.