13 Steps to Achieve Quality Interpretation on a Budget

Ensuring high-quality interpretation without breaking the bank is tough. Many businesses and organizations are facing this challenge. Whether you are in the legal, medical, or corporate sector, the need for accurate and effective interpretation is a must. 

However, budget constraints often make it difficult to achieve the quality you want. This article lays out 13 practical steps to help you get the best quality services without breaking the bank.

Step 1: Understand what a qualified interpreter is

A qualified interpreter is someone who has the right skills, education, and experience to interpret accurately in a specific context. The definition of a qualified interpreter varies by industry, but it usually includes fluency in both the source and target languages, understanding of the subject matter, and the ability to convey meaning accurately without omissions or distortions. Understanding this definition helps you ensure that you're hiring someone who meets the standards.

When choosing an interpretation provider, it’s essential to ask: What is a qualified interpreter? and What is the definition of a qualified interpreter? Making sure interpreters have the proper qualifications is crucial to avoiding costly mistakes and ensuring that communication is clear and effective.

Read more: How can a translator become an interpreter?

Step 2: Know what a certified interpreter is

Certification is a way of showing that an interpreter has met specific professional standards. Certified interpreters have passed rigorous exams and adhere to a code of ethics, ensuring that they deliver high-quality interpretations. Hiring certified interpreters is crucial if you want interpretations to be accurate, especially in specialized fields like legal or medical interpretation. Certification not only guarantees the interpreter’s proficiency but also gives you peace of mind that you are working with a professional.

Knowing what is a certified interpreter and what they can do for you will help you make better decisions when choosing your interpretation solutions. Certified interpreters are especially important in settings where precision and reliability are critical.

Step 3: Pick the right vendor for you

Choosing the right service provider is crucial to ensuring high-quality interpretation. When you are choosing a vendor, think about their qualifications, experience, and areas of specialization. Make sure to look at their track record and ask for references. 

We recommend that you choose experienced and specialized interpreters with specific subject matter expertise. This thorough selection process will help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure that you receive top-notch service.

It is also important to consider whether the interpreters are certified and qualified, as these credentials directly impact the quality and reliability of the services you will receive.

Step 4: Use technology to streamline processes

Using technology in your interpretation can help you work more efficiently at a lower cost. In event interpretation, the integration of various tools and hardware is essential to ensure smooth communication before, during and after the event. 

Interpreting and videoconferencing software enables real-time communication across multiple locations, while speech recognition tools support live interpretation by converting spoken language into text, which can be particularly useful in complex, multilingual environments. 

Transcription software ensures that all spoken content is accurately documented, and high-quality microphones and headsets are essential for clear audio transmission.

During the preparation phase, we recommend using translation management systems (TMS) to manage and coordinate all language-related aspects of the event, from creating glossaries to distributing reference materials to interpreters. AI-powered tools can help with the initial translation and localization of event materials, ensuring that everything is tailored to the specific audience. 

For post-event documentation, you should use Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) to quickly produce draft translations of transcripts, which can then be refined by human editors for accuracy and cultural relevance.

These technologies not only streamline the preparation and delivery of interpretation services, but also increase the accuracy and efficiency of post-event documentation. However, it is important to think about the ethical issues of using AI tools, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare or legal proceedings. In these settings, the risk of misinterpretation due to the nuances of language and culture can have serious consequences. Therefore, while AI can be a useful tool, you should use it with caution, and always have someone oversee it to ensure accuracy and ethical standards are followed.

Read more: AI and ChatGPT: How to Thrive in a Changing Language Sector Job Market

Step 5: Make quality assurance (QA) your priority

Quality assurance is a critical part of any interpretation service. A solid QA process usually involves multiple steps, like proofreading, editing, and a second look from a translator or subject matter expert. Thorough QA checks are essential for delivering high-quality interpretations.

You can try effective QA techniques such as blind testing and error analysis. Blind testing involves having interpreters work without access to certain information to ensure that they can accurately interpret without relying on contextual cues that might not be available in real-world situations.

On the other hand, error analysis is the systematic review and categorization of mistakes to identify patterns and prevent them in the future. Implementing these techniques can further enhance the reliability and quality of interpretation.

Try our new Translation Quality Assurance Tool

Step 6: Invest in training and support

Giving ongoing training and support for your interpreters can significantly improve the quality of interpretation. Regular training ensures that they stay updated on industry standards, new technologies, and best practices. Providing resources such as glossaries, style guides, and access to subject matter experts can also help interpreters perform at their best. By encouraging continuous learning and providing the necessary tools, you can maintain high interpreting standards within your budget.

Step 7: Prioritize cultural accuracy

It is important to be culturally sensitive when you are interpreting content. Even small cultural nuances can have a big impact on how the content is understood. Adapt your content to fit the cultural norms of your target audience. This goes beyond just making sure the language is right—it is also about ensuring that the message is culturally relevant and appropriate.

For example, in legal contexts, the concept of "good faith" can vary a lot between cultures, affecting how contracts are interpreted. In healthcare, understanding cultural attitudes towards illness and treatment can influence how information is conveyed and understood. Prioritizing cultural accuracy in your interpretation projects can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the effectiveness of communication.

Step 8: Work together with your interpreters

Good communication between you and the interpreter is the best way to get great results.  You should be involved in the interpretation process by providing context, clarifying expectations, and participating in the review stages. 

This collaboration helps interpreters understand the nuances of the content and ensures that the final interpretation aligns with your needs. By building a strong partnership, you can minimize the risk of errors, avoid common issues that arise from misunderstandings or misaligned expectations, and improve the overall quality of the interpretation.

Step 9: Evaluate the project at the end

Evaluating the quality of your services after finishing the project is an often overlooked but essential step. Post-project evaluation involves gathering feedback, analyzing outcomes, and refining processes for future projects. This helps you to keep improving your work over time. 

If you have a process for identifying what went well and what could be improved after each project, you can make sure that your interpretations are consistently high-quality. This step is crucial in maintaining the quality of services over the long term, ensuring that each project builds on the success of the last.

Step 10: Explore cost management strategies

It is important to find a good balance between keeping costs down and maintaining quality. You need to plan strategically and budget smartly to make this work. Think about using technology wisely, outsourcing non-critical tasks, and setting clear budgets from the start. By using these strategies, you can get the quality you want without spending too much.

Good cost management is the best way to get the most out of your interpretation services without overspending, helping you deliver great results all the time.

Step 11: Meet specialized interpretation needs

If your industry has its own unique terminology, like in the legal or medical fields, it is a good idea to work with interpreters who know that lingo. These interpreters know the terminology and context of the industry, ensuring that the interpretation is accurate and appropriate. Choosing the right experts and ensuring compliance with industry standards can help you enhance the quality of service.

Understanding the qualified interpreter definition in these specialized contexts is crucial to make sure that the interpreters you select meet the specific needs of your project. Additionally, adhering to industry-specific standards or certifications, such as HIPAA compliance in healthcare or courtroom certification in legal settings, is essential for maintaining professionalism and quality.

Read more: How to Become a Certified Medical Interpreter

Step 12: Use a checklist

Using a checklist or step-by-step guide is a great way to ensure that all aspects of the interpretation project are covered, from start to finish. We recommend using structured approaches to assess and maintain translation quality. Checklists ensure consistency across projects and help catch potential issues before they become problems.

To make this approach even more effective, create tailored checklists for different types of interpretation projects. For instance, a legal interpretation project might include checks for legal terminology accuracy and compliance with relevant laws, while a medical interpretation project might focus on patient confidentiality and the accurate communication of medical terms.

Step 13: Think about what is right and wrong

When it comes to interpretation, there are a few ethical considerations to keep in mind such as fair treatment of interpreters, ethical sourcing of services, and maintaining confidentiality.

These aspects are often overlooked, but they are really important for making sure that the interpretation process is not only high-quality but also ethically sound. Discussing these ethical aspects can set your services apart and show that you are committed to integrity and professionalism in the industry.

Ethical sourcing and fair treatment of interpreters not only contribute to the overall quality of the service but also ensure that your business operates with integrity and professionalism. This is particularly important in sectors like healthcare and legal, where the implications of unethical practices can be severe.

Conclusion

You can maximize the quality of services without breaking the bank if you have the right strategies in place. By following these 13 steps, you can ensure that your interpretation services are both affordable and high-quality. From understanding what makes a good interpreter to doing post-project reviews, these strategies cover all parts of the interpretation process. 

To get the best out of interpreting solutions, discover how you can enhance your interpretation processes by contacting us.