Spanish Interpreter

What is a Spanish Interpreter?

Spanish interpreters must be focused, detail oriented individuals with outstanding communication skills. They have to be quick on their feet in order to keep pace with the speaker, and as the profession is inextricably intertwined with a diverse group of people, they generally must be tactful, quick on their feet and possess solid interpersonal skills. Compensation is on par with median incomes in the United States, however job satisfaction is generally high in this career due to the opportunities available to move around within the field, pleasant working conditions and the close nature working with people. Most interpreters work full time during regular business hours.

In the course of their jobs, Spanish interpreters typically fulfill the following responsibilities:

• Correctly and efficiently impart the meaning, tone and style of the original language
• Relay spoken language with accuracy, speed and clarity
• Take sentences, words or concepts in one language (Spanish) and convert into the equivalent in the target language (English)
• Take notes and create a database of terms to be used in future situations

Day In The Life

Interpreters assist with communication by converting language, either verbally or in the case of sign language, visually, from one language into another. It is not uncommon for people to function as both translators (the written word) and interpreters at the same time, but within the purview of interpretation, it is strictly a ‘spoke’ communication at work. An interpreter functions to provide ease of communication between two or more parties as if it were in the original language.

There are two common methods of interpreting – consecutive and simultaneous. The former involves interpreting the words of the speak only after they have spoken or signed a series of words or sentences. As you might imagine, notes are critical in this particular method. For the latter, the interpreter operates at the same he person is speaking or signing. This necessitates exception focus on the part of the interpreter, and as the difficulty level is quite high, teams will often operate, taking turns with breaks every hour or two. Familiarity with the subject matter is common under this particular method.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

Spanish interpretation services are in high demand across nearly every occupational field. Although it is not necessary to focus on any one particular industry, many Spanish interpreters choose to do so in order to maximize their value, pursue particular interests and heighten their level of expertise.

Local community interpreters provide services to families at government bureaus such as the social security office or DMV, immigration court, school conferences and apartment rentals or home purchases.

Conference interpreters provide services to attendees who do not speak the dominant language. This is often in the service of diplomacy or global business. For some high level organizations, such as the United Nations, it is required for the interpreter to be able to convert from a minimum of two languages into one native tongue and is typically simultaneous interpreting.

Health care interpreters work in medical settings and assist doctors, nurses,  medical staff and patients. Interpreters in this setting must have a thorough command of medical terminology and must also be extremely sensitive to a patient’s situation, such as during child birth or treatment of a terminal illness. Interpretation is often done over the phone or through video relay.

Tourists, government workers or business travelers all have great need of an escort interpreter as well as foreign visitors from Spanish speaking nations coming to the United States.  These liaisons ensure that the travelers can communicate effectively during their trip. As might be expected, frequent travel is a hallmark for escort interpreters.

Legal interpreters typically work in the courts, providing assistance to those in need at trials, depositions, arraignments and hearings. In the same vein as medical interpreters, a comprehensive understanding of legal terminology is required. Legal interpreters are required to occasionally read court documents aloud in a language other than what was written, a job known as sight translation.

Sign language interpreters enable communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear. Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), a combination of body language, finger spelling and signing, is required. which combines signing, finger spelling, and specific body language.

JOB GROWTH

Spanish interpreters are currently in high demand and the profession is expected to grow significantly over the next ten years, at a rate much higher than the national average for all occupations. A more diverse population is partly to account, as is the ever increasing nature of a global business world, but technological innovations will also present a mysriad of new opportunities, such as with the use of video relay services, which will allow for online video calls with the use of a sign language interpreter.

TYPICAL EMPLOYERS

Spanish translators are in high demand and as such there are a myriad of potential employers. A typical destination might include working in a courtroom, corporation, hospital or school.

Some interpreters are self-employed, which can result in lengthy periods of little to no work followed by periods of intense, lengthy work. It has the added incentive of allowing them to choose which assignment they will take, as well as providing opportunities to travel for work. Around twenty percent of Spanish interpreters identify as self-employed.