What to Expect When Working with a Professional Interpreter
Understanding the Interpreter's Role
Whether you're meeting with a healthcare provider, lawyer, educator, government agency, community organization, or business, a professional interpreter helps ensure everyone can communicate clearly and confidently.
Interpreters do much more than translate words. Their role is to accurately and impartially interpret everything that is said so that every participant can fully understand the conversation.
Understanding what an interpreter does—and doesn't do—helps appointments run more smoothly and ensures a better experience for everyone involved.
The Role of a Professional Interpreter
A spoken language interpreter's role is to faithfully communicate everything that is said between individuals who do not share a common language.
The interpreter is the communication bridge, not the decision-maker, advisor, advocate, or service provider.
A professional interpreter will:
Interpret everything that is said accurately.
Remain neutral and impartial.
Maintain complete confidentiality.
Convey the speaker's intended meaning without adding, omitting, or changing information.
Work equally on behalf of all parties involved.
What You Can Expect From Your Interpreter
Professional interpreters follow recognized standards of practice to ensure every interaction is accurate, respectful, and confidential.
Your interpreter will:
Be fluent in both languages and professionally tested.
Follow ethical and professional standards.
Interpret everything that is said without giving personal opinions.
Ask for clarification if something is unclear.
Take brief notes only to improve accuracy.
Introduce themselves and explain their role before the session begins.
Why Professional Interpretation Matters
Professional interpreters help reduce misunderstandings and ensure everyone has equal access to important information and services.
Whether the conversation takes place in a doctor's office, courtroom, classroom, community agency, or workplace, professional interpretation helps people communicate with clarity and confidence.
Need Professional Interpretation Services?
KW Interpreters provides qualified spoken language interpreters across Ontario for healthcare, legal, education, government, business, and community organizations.
Request an Interpreter today and help make every conversation clear, accurate, and accessible.