Translation & Interpreting FAQs
Here are answers to some of the questions my clients most frequently ask about my Italian translation and interpreting services.
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Translators transfer the written word from one language to another, while interpreters deal with spoken language. Depending on their area of specialization, a translator might translate a business document, legal text, drivers’ license, contract, or blog article from one language into another. An interpreter, on the other hand, listens to someone speaking and then interprets this speech into a second language.
I offer both translation and interpreting services — please contact me for a quote.
No! Although translators and interpreters both need to be bilingual, translation and interpreting are two very different skills. While translators typically work behind the scenes from their offices, interpreters travel frequently and often work in front of large audiences at conferences and events.
It takes years of training and practice to become a professional translator or interpreter, and not all language professionals can or want to offer both services.
I translate and interpret from English into Italian, from Italian into English, and from French into Italian.
Translation FAQs:
The turnaround time for your translation depends on the length of the text, its subject matter, and my current schedule. I can generally translate a 1–2-page document within 2 business days, and I also offer urgent and same-day translations subject to availability.
Longer texts such as annual reports, meeting minutes, business plans, PowerPoint presentations, and so on will take longer. Please contact me for a quote and I will be happy to provide you with an estimated completion date.
I specialize in translating texts on the subjects of :
- Finance (presentation for the pitch by finance promotion teams, funds)
- Legal (certifications, sworn translations, contracts, mergers and takeovers, due diligence, disputes, legal opinions and similar documents)
- European Works Councils- minutes of multinational meetings
- Banking
- Healthcare, medical, pharma
- Marketing
- Energy and environment
- Media (press releases)
- Marketing
Over my 20-year career, I have gained experience in many other topics, ranging from biotechnology to gaming and (almost) everything in between! If you would like to learn more about how I can help with your translation project, please get in touch.
I can work with a variety of different file types, including PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, Adobe InDesign, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, etc. However, some formats (particularly PDF) require time-consuming preparation before I can begin the translation. In general, it is quicker for me and less expensive for you if you can provide me with a Word document rather than a PDF.
In some cases, you may only have a handwritten document available, as is sometimes the case with medical case files or very old official documents. It is possible to translate this type of document, but because it is much more time-consuming to read the original, the cost of the translation will be considerably higher than for a typed document. If you would like to learn more, feel free to contact me. Please note that I will need to see a scan of the document in order to provide a firm quote.
In order to provide you with a fixed quote, I will need the following information:
- Language of the original document
- Language to translate into
- Desired completion date
- Subject of the document
- Any specific stylistic guidelines you might have
- An electronic copy of the document or file
When I send you a quote, the prices it shows will not include value added tax (VAT).
The following groups will have VAT included on the final invoice according to European law:
- Private clients residing anywhere within the European Union
- EU-based companies without a VAT number
- All Italian individuals and businesses
Once you confirm your translation project, you will receive an invoice from me via email. It will include all the details you need to make your payment. In general, I accept the following payment methods:
- Credit cards
- Bank transfers
You can also make the payment here!
Interpreting FAQs:
The answer is yes, via Remote Simultaneous Interpreting.
RSI is a gamechanger for our industry. As meetings, conferences and events have moved to online hosting, this interpreting mode is having its finest hour, offering a modern, fuss-free solution to help organizations continue doing business with each other. Whilst it’s not a new technology, RSI has ensured business continuity for organizations that still need interpretation services without the luxury of face-to-face contact.
Its big benefit for clients is that it’s so quick and easy to set up, as well as more cost-effective. All you need is your smartphone or laptop as a receiver. All I need are my laptop, browser, and headset. No software and no travelling necessary! Complete real-time, remote support from a highly proficient interpreter.
I’ve been offering RSI services for a number of years, but this corner of the market is growing quickly and I’ve partnered with a number of RSI platforms to learn more about them, test them out and become a certified user where the option is in place.
In remote interpreting, the interpreter joins the event via phone or video rather than attending in person.
This is ideal for events like webinars, Skype meetings, online summits, and many other virtual events. The costs for the organizer are significantly lower, as there is no need to pay for travel, hotels, or interpreting equipment. All that is needed are a headset, a laptop or tablet, and a stable internet connection. See my answer to What technology do you use? in this section for some examples of how I work remotely – although every event is different
To find out more about RSI and how it works, just click here. And if you’ve got any questions about RSI, drop me an email and I’ll be more than happy to help.
I specialize in interpreting in business, legal (international arbitrations – hearings), banking & finance and medical sectors. I also work frequently at European Works Council events and provide business interpreting services for multinational companies.
In my 20-year career, I have interpreted a variety of other subjects as well, so if you have a project in mind, please get in touch and I will be happy to help.
You can learn more about the different styles of interpreting here, but the main differences are as follows:
Simultaneous interpreting is when I interpret into a microphone as the speaker talks. The audience members who need my interpretation wear headphones that allow them to hear me. The audience generally doesn’t see me, because I work from a soundproof interpreting booth (for live events or from my studio for virtual events) which I share with a colleague. Simultaneous interpreting is a mentally intense task, and so guidelines are that my colleague and I will switch approximately every 30 minutes to maintain a high-quality service.
In consecutive interpreting, I am on stage or at a podium in front of the audience, during live events. The speaker and I take turns speaking. I wait for them to pause, then interpret what was said. This obviously increases the length of time it takes for the message to be delivered, so it is usually better suited to shorter speeches. However, it has the benefit of being very low-tech — all I need is a microphone. Because interpreting requires such intense concentration, it is recommended that I take a break approximately every 30 minutes. If the event or speech is longer, it may be advisable to book two interpreters who can organise shifts with each other.
My interpreting services are not calculated at an hourly rate because of the extensive preparation time that is required prior to the event. Because the topics and questions that come up are unpredictable, interpreters must do a great deal of work in advance to make sure they are ready to handle any eventuality. It takes just as long to prepare for a one-hour meeting or a six-hour conference.
I will be happy to provide you with an estimate or a detailed quote for your upcoming event. Please get in touch using my contact form. For the most accurate estimate, please provide as much of the following information as possible:
Date and type of event
Schedule or purpose of each day of the event
Starting and ending times
Languages for which interpretation is required
Event and/or company websites
Any interpreting equipment required
Dress codes/special requirements
Interpreters need a detailed brief in order to prepare for assignments. The more information you can give me in your brief, the more smoothly things will go on the day of the event.
The following information will help me make sure that all my i’s are dotted and my t’s are crossed:
- Date of the event
- Type of event
- Schedule or purpose of each day of the event
- Starting and ending times
- Languages for which interpretation is required
- Size of the location or room
- Number of attendees/ background etc.
- Drafts of the speech, preparatory materials, or related information
- Event and/or company websites
- Any interpreting equipment required
- Dress codes/special requirements
- Key contact/team leader/on-site coordinator
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