Interpretation is a critical aspect of communication that enables people to communicate effectively across language barriers. It plays a crucial role in facilitating communication between people who speak different languages, particularly in business, education, healthcare, legal, and social services settings. However, interpreting is a complex and challenging task that requires a high level of skill and proficiency in both the source and target languages.

Despite the importance of interpretation, interpreters can sometimes make mistakes that can lead to miscommunication, confusion, and even conflict. These mistakes can arise due to a lack of preparation, inadequate language skills, and cultural misunderstandings. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common mistakes made by interpreters and provide practical tips on how to avoid them. Whether you are an experienced interpreter or just starting in the field, these tips will help you to improve your interpreting skills and deliver accurate and effective interpretation services.

 

Common Mistakes of Interpreters

Interpretation is a challenging task that requires a high level of language proficiency, cultural competence, and communication skills. Even experienced interpreters can make mistakes that can undermine the effectiveness of the communication and lead to misunderstandings. In this section, we will explore some of the most common mistakes made by interpreters and how to avoid them.

Not preparing adequately:

One of the most common mistakes made by certified interpreters is failing to prepare adequately for the interpretation task. This can include a lack of knowledge about the subject matter, failure to research the client or audience, and inadequate preparation for specialized vocabulary. To avoid this mistake, interpreters should research the subject matter, get to know the client or audience, and brush up on any specialized vocabulary that may be used in the conversation. Adequate preparation can help ensure that the interpretation is accurate, effective, and free from errors.

Failing to communicate clearly:

Interpreters must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in both the source and target languages. However, interpreters can sometimes speak too fast or too slowly, fail to articulate clearly, or lack proficiency in one or both languages. To avoid this mistake, interpreters should speak clearly and at an appropriate pace, practice articulation, and work to improve their language proficiency through training, practice, and ongoing professional development.

Making assumptions:

Interpreters must be careful not to make assumptions about the speaker’s intent, cultural norms, or meanings. This can include assuming that the speaker shares the interpreter’s cultural background, jumping to conclusions about the meaning of a word or phrase, or making unfounded assumptions about the speaker’s intent. To avoid this mistake, interpreters should clarify meaning, avoid jumping to conclusions, and seek feedback from the speaker to ensure that they have correctly understood the message.

Interpreters can make mistakes due to a lack of preparation, inadequate communication skills, and cultural misunderstandings. By taking the time to adequately prepare for the interpretation task, communicating clearly and effectively, and avoiding assumptions, interpreters can improve the accuracy and effectiveness of their interpretation services.

How to Fix Common Interpreter Mistakes

In the previous section, we discussed some of the common mistakes made by interpreters. In this section, we will explore practical tips on how to fix these mistakes and improve the accuracy and effectiveness of interpretation services like Court Room Interpretation, Police and CPS Interpretation, telephone interpretation and video interpretation.

Preparation:

To avoid mistakes due to inadequate preparation, interpreters should research the subject matter, get to know the client or audience, and brush up on any specialized vocabulary that may be used in the conversation. Interpreters should also arrive early to the interpretation session to set up their equipment, test their technology, and get oriented to the setting.

Communication:

To communicate clearly and effectively, interpreters should speak clearly and at an appropriate pace, practice articulation, and work to improve their language proficiency. Interpreters should also use appropriate body language and facial expressions to convey meaning and help the speaker understand their message.

Avoiding Assumptions:

To avoid making assumptions, interpreters should clarify meaning, avoid jumping to conclusions, and seek feedback from the speaker. Interpreters should also be aware of cultural differences and seek to understand the speaker’s cultural context to ensure that they are interpreting accurately.

In addition to these tips, interpreters can also improve their skills and avoid mistakes by participating in training and ongoing professional development programs. These programs can help interpreters develop their language proficiency, cultural competence, and communication skills, and stay up-to-date with best practices in the field.

By adequately preparing for the interpretation task, communicating clearly and effectively, avoiding assumptions, and participating in ongoing professional development, interpreters can avoid common mistakes and deliver accurate and effective interpretation services.

 

Bottom Line

Interpretation is a challenging task that requires a high level of language proficiency, cultural competence, and communication skills. However, interpreters can sometimes make mistakes that undermine the effectiveness of the communication and lead to misunderstandings. Common mistakes include inadequate preparation, poor communication skills, and making assumptions. To avoid these mistakes, interpreters should adequately prepare for the interpretation task, communicate clearly and effectively, and avoid making assumptions. Additionally, ongoing professional development can help interpreters improve their skills and stay up-to-date with best practices in the field. By taking these steps, interpreters can deliver accurate and effective interpretation services.