i-Passage language interpreting services

Do you need an interpreter?

Where can I find an interpreter ?

The easiest way to get an interpreter is through a service specializing in that service — normally, a “language services” or “Translation and Interpreting” agency. These agencies can be big or quite small, with the respective advantages of each. Actual services offered vary.

How do I choose an interpreter ?

The interpreters themselves all have niche specializations — no single interpreter is ready for all possible contents and task-modes. So, you need one with the right skill set. You also need one who is available.

What are the advantages of finding an interpreter through an agency?

An agency is the common intermediary between client and (freelance) interpreter. The agency knows which interpreter is suitable and deals with logistics such as finding the interpreter, scheduling, technical resources and convenient payment modes.

Is an interpretation agency expensive?

Use of an agency means a middle-man fee. You can avoid this by seeking an interpreter either from the ATA (American Translators Association) website or simply web-searching (“googling,”etc.). You can also opt for an agency, but contact more than one to see what they offer at what cost, and choose the one that seems the most competent, ethical, cost-effective and easy to deal with.

Can I get an online interpreter?

Online interpreting is now common. For the individual end user, all the tech required is on a smartphone, though computers are preferable.

Interpreting Applications

Context	In-Person/Online	Main Mode	Applications
Medical	Mostly in-person	Consecutive	– consultation – teledoc pre-screen – nurse interview
Legal	In-person / Online	Consecutive	– client consultation – deposition – immigration interview
Academic	Mostly online	Simultaneous	– conferences – seminars – workshops
School district	Mostly online	Consecutive	– IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting – parent outreach initiative
Business	Mostly online	Mostly simultaneous	– promotional presentation – negotiation meeting – employee performance review

Services We Provide

We provide Interpreter services between Spanish, Portuguese, French and English, for conferences, business meetings, outreach events by government-sponsored organs, legal depositions, immigration review cases, education meetings for school districts (such as for parents for individual education plans [IEPs]) and for various informal needs.

If you are an individual or a business without a professional account for electronic meetings (Zoom, Google, etc.) we can provide this as needed.

Our interpreters are trained to work in consecutive and simultaneous modes and for sight translation of documents (see more on this below)

What Sets Us Apart

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of interpreting do I need?

The main modes of interpreting are called consecutive and simultaneous.
In consecutive mode the speaker pauses periodically for the interpreter to render her/his phrases. In simultaneous mode, the speaker does not wait; the interpreter delivers the verbal translation of what was just said while also listening to what is being said.

What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpreting? Are there other modes? Is it really possible to listen and speak at the same time? Which mode is more accurate?

In consecutive mode the speaker pauses periodically for the interpreter to render her/his phrases.
In simultaneous mode, the speaker does not pause to wait for the interpreter; the interpreter delivers the verbal translation of what was just said while also listening to what is being said now in order to then deliver (“render”) the new language-chunk. The interpreter is trained to attend these two cognitive tracks simultaneously.
A variant of simultaneous is “whispered simultaneous.” Here, usually, the interpreter escorts a single beneficiary person who is attending a meeting and is mostly listening to a foreign language rather than speaking, but may then also participate in conversations with the interpreter’s assistance (in consecutive mode).
While the main modes of interpreting are consecutive and simultaneous, another mode of interpreting is “sight translation.” Here the interpreter renders a written text (such as document being presented by an expert to a client) into another language.
In general, consecutive affords a more complete rendering of what was said. But it also impedes the sort of long discursive flow needed for a speech, for example. Simultaneous attempts to enhance the psychological experience of listening to a single lead speaker. Consecutive is usually used for the linguistically accurate transmission of a dialog. Each mode has advantages and disadvantages.
Other issues also come into play, such as the option between precise objective, literal rendering such as is required in legal contexts, and collaborative interpreting where the interpreter can verify meaning and comprehension and suggest aids to bridge a communication gap.

In what contexts is consecutive interpreting typical?

Consecutive is used for testimony, whether in court or depositions. In the legal context, objectivity is paramount; even if the interpreter realizes that the response of a witness, lawyer or judge means they misunderstood the prior comment, s/he must reproduce what is said. Consecutive is also the norm in non-objective “collaborative” interpreting, as in community interpreting, in business, and to a degree in medical interpreting.

In what contexts is simultaneous interpreting used?

Simultaneous interpreting is used for the long-sustained discourse of a main speaker, such as in a speech or a presentation at a conference. Courts use simultaneous to apprise a defendant of what is being said by others provided the defendant is not participating in a dialogue on record (as with testimony or declarations).

Are there situations where it is useful to use both ?

These contrasting modalities are really the poles of various continuums. Most situations involve some combination of the two.

o   Theoretically, legal interpreting is completely objective (with no “helper” additions from the interpreter), but in reality some contextual tips are sometimes given to avoid possible misunderstandings.
o   In a school meeting between teachers, administrators and the parents of a Special Ed child, needs can flow between consecutive as the main mode, sight translation as a complement, and a little simultaneous.
o   Business-meeting interpreting often requires dynamic movement between modes because saving time is key and getting people on the same “page” can involve unexpected leaps (conventional consecutive mode could slow things down and break the creative flow, and does not allow very well for things the speaker has already grasped through his/her limited knowledge of the speaker’s language, familiarity with the technical context, the use of graphics and other mostly non-verbal instruments, etc.). In short, dialog-management in business benefits from improvised adjustments responding to the rapidly changing dynamics of the dialog.

Every context has its particularities.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of remote versus traditional in-person interpreting?

Remote and on-site interpreting: each has its strengths and limitations.

Remote interpreting has become predominant due to its overwhelming logistic advantage. But it also means some loss of finesse of discernment of body language and overall presence. Where this is important, such as in court, there is resistance to remote interpreting.

Conversely, remote interpreting allows for integration of certain technical aids not allowed or encouraged in-person. Medical interpreting is a good example of variability: for many examinations it is essential that the doctor be present with the patient and also with the interpreter; nevertheless, tele-consultations are growing and, with COVID, are increasingly required as a pre-consultation step by large HMOs.

Cost Basis for Interpreting Service

How It Works