Services

Interpreting or translating

The two terms get mixed up in everyday use, but they describe different work. Interpreting covers spoken language, in real time, during the appointment. Translation covers texts, meaning certificates, official decisions, medical reports or contracts.

This page describes interpreting. If you need a document that an authority will accept, please say so in your request. That is a different process with different deadlines.

The three fields

• Healthcare

  Practices, hospitals, medical centres, rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Conversations with consent character and dense terminology.

• Court and authorities

  Court dates, hearings, police and public offices. Situations with a formal procedure and a written record.

• Youth welfare and social services

  Care planning, child protection, parent meetings. Emotionally charged conversations with a clear imbalance of power.

Ways we work

• On site

  The interpreter is in the room. Necessary wherever body language, physical examinations or several speakers play a role.

• Video

  Available at short notice and without travel. Not permitted everywhere, the institution or the court decides.

• Phone

  For short, clearly defined occasions. Without a picture context is missing, so not for consent or child protection conversations.

What we do not take on

We do not advise, we do not mediate between the parties and we do not act as an advocate. An interpreter who starts explaining or representing leaves their role and damages how usable the conversation is afterwards.

Nor do we replace a social worker, legal advice or cultural mediation with a mandate of its own.