It could be intimidating to use a phone interpreter for your multilingual discussions at first. It’s possible that you’re simultaneously planning how to coordinate the Limited English Proficient (LEP) person, the interpreter, the calling equipment, and your complex circumstance. Sometimes the unknown factors surrounding a new encounter seem more scary than they actually are. The truth is that on-demand Telephone Interpreting is a flexible service that may be customized to your unique needs.
For your brief or simple interactions with LEP people, Telephone Interpreting has emerged as the finest alternative because not all circumstances call for an on-site or virtual interpreter. Examples of situations where it is appropriate include a medical facility calling an LEP patient to confirm an appointment or a logistics company having a brief talk with an LEP employee.
To get the most out of your interpreting sessions and make your first calls simple, we advise using the following advice. If you’re utilizing our on-demand Telephone Interpreting service for the first time, don’t be afraid to let the interpreter know. They can offer you advice and provide you with process insights1. If you wish to communicate any important information, let the interpreter know before the conversation.
Depending on your circumstance, speak to the interpreter first and, if necessary, notify them of any crucial information before the session. This background information can help the interpreter anticipate the kind of conversation to have and can help them know how to speak to the LEP person on your behalf. A more meaningful dialogue is the result of this.
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2. The interpreter will just verbatim repeat what is said.
Interpreters are taught to participate in conversations in a neutral manner. They won’t participate in the conversation because they are merely the conduit for communication between you and the LEP person.
When interpreting on behalf of the LEP person, the interpreter will use the pronoun “I”. There’s no need to be baffled or bewildered! Keep in mind that the interpreter is addressing the LEP individual and not speaking for themselves.
3. Speak in a natural voice and with clarity.
Be deliberate and conscious of your speaking tempo, just as you would in a first-time discussion. It may be simple to begin paying attention to these things only to quickly discover that you are speaking too quickly in the middle of a conversation. If so, be sure to create checkpoints so that you’ll remember to maintain a clear, consistent tone throughout your session. If you have any doubts, you may always check to see if you are being understood by the interpreter.
4. Give interpreted communication sessions more time.
Since the talk is repeated twice—once in your language and again by the interpreter in the LEP’s language—the sessions will last longer than a regular engagement. Make the required time in your calendar to allow for this information exchange. As you wait for the interpreter, try not to rush and be patient.
5. Steer clear of acronyms, slang, common phrases, and idioms.
Use clear, concise language that can be translated readily. Not all concepts are easily translated into several languages. For instance, even though it is frequently used in English-speaking nations, the expression “break a leg” is meaningless in other languages.
It’s best to stay away from these kinds of expressions and substitute them with succinct explanations of your points in order to make sure you are understood.
6. Keep in mind to pause after each complete thought or sentence.
Be courteous, just as you would if you were speaking with a patient, employee, or client. Do not interrupt the LEP or the interpreter while they are speaking. The interpreter who is speaking on behalf of both parties will be less likely to become confused if this is done. Pay close attention to what is being interpreted. Additionally, the interpreter will pause to signal when they are done.
7. Don’t use the interpreter; speak directly to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) individual.
The most important advice for a fruitful Telephone Interpreting session, in our opinion, is to establish a rapport with the LEP speaker rather than the interpreter. Even though the interpreter is there to facilitate and direct the dialogue, your attention should always be on the LEP person’s needs. When the LEP feels understood and at ease enough to ask questions to clarify any topic, the session will always be far more effective.
8. Ensure that there is never more than one speaker at once.
Interject briefly and pause the session if the LEP person is speaking over the interpreter. Ask the interpreter to ask the LEP if they have anything to add or say.
Concluding
Your linguistic demands are met with our on-demand Telephone Interpreting services, which are available around-the-clock in more than 200 languages. It is available at any time for a straightforward per-minute fee with no setup costs or minimum commitments. You can utilize this scalable solution as required, whether you deal with hundreds of multilingual discussions each month or only sometimes communicate with people from LEP communities.
