Language Interpreting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) FAQs

Language interpreting is oral (spoken), while translation is written. These are two very different vocations with different skill sets needed and differing qualifications.

The required qualification for language interpreting is a Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting.

The most common reason that someone may require the services of a language interpreter is because they do not speak English and they need to access a service where the person only speaks English.  

This could be for someone who has a medical appointment, needs to access social care, or may need any other form of support via public services.  

The UK is a culturally diverse place which means that the number of languages that may be interpreted varies. However, due to the larger communities that have come from certain countries, some languages are more commonly interpreted compared to others.  

Some of the most commonly interpreted languages that you may find in the UK include: 

• Polish  
• Punjabi 
• Bengali 
• Chinese

Interpreters can be both certified and accredited. This ensures that they follow the rules and regulations that are set out for those working in language interpreting. By following these rules and regulations they can provide those who require interpreting with a professional service that will ensure that they are confidential, unbiased and always culturally sensitive.  

If you want to become a certified language interpreter in the UK then you are going to need to take an accredited course such as those provided by Learn Q. One main course will help you to start your interpreting career, which is the Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting.

This will help you to take the major step towards a career in language interpreting.  

Anyone who works as a language interpreter in the UK will need to ensure that they work in a way that is confidential and that is sensitive too. They should be able to ensure that the person who using their services feels that they have been treated in a way that is dignified and that they have been well respected during the process too.  

Any information that a language interpreter hears must be kept confidential. They should not discuss the conversations with anyone else and the person who has used their services should feel safe that their data, information, thoughts and feelings will be kept private at all times. 

Not only this, but an interpreter should never approach their services with any form of bias, they should remain impartial and they should simply be there to listen to and relay any messages, rather than placing their own opinions on what is being said.  

If a language interpreter wants to take on clients in a legal field, then they need have significant professional experience and a high level qualification, The Diploma in Public service Interpreting (DPSI) to allow them to do this. Legal interpreters need oral, reading and written language ability in both languages. They should have some awareness of legal systems and they should feel comfortable being able to listen to legal information and to be able to then interpret this.  

One of the main things that you are going to need to have if you want to work as a language interpreter is to be able to speak English as well as one additional language. They should be fluent, as this will allow you to be able to understand what has been said, interpret it and communicate it in the other language.  

As well as this, interpreters are going to need to have a Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting or Diploma in Public service Interpreting (DPSI) in interpreting, which will give them the ability, experience and knowledge that they need to be able to do the job to the highest standard possible.  

By its very nature, working in language interpreting means that you are going to be exposed to several cultures in your day-to-day work. One of the key things that you should do is to be culturally sensitive.  

To be culturally sensitive you need to think about what is relevant for each culture, compared to what may not be for others. By being culturally sensitive you are ensuring that every person who is a part of the conversation feels understood, valued and respected. 

If you are working as a medical or healthcare language interpreter then there are a number of challenges you will face. The main thing is that the person you are working with is going to want to ensure that their medical information is kept confidential, therefore, you need to create a sense of trust with them. 

 It is also important to remember that the details that you may be discussing or listening to can be upsetting. Particularly for the person who is the patient. This can make communicating with them even harder. 

 One final consideration is the language that is used. Medical words are require specialist knowledge to understand (and often interpret) so you need to be familiar with them so you can easily use them in a time-critical, high-pressure situation. 

The way that you are assigned to clients or cases in the UK as an interpreter will depend on the type of area that you work within. Most of the time you will be contacted to advise you that there is a client that requires your services, and then you will start to work with them/ this will often come directly from the service that the person is trying to access, via an interpreting agency or Language Service provider (LSP).

Interpreters who work with telephone or video interpreting  can also take on-demand appointments which come through as soon as they are requested by the service provider (e.g. a hospital).

The main responsibility that a language interpreter will have is to ensure that they fully listen to what is being said. Accuracy is key when it comes to interpreting, which means that any information that is shared with either party has to be completely correct without any additions or omissions. 

The interpreter should never guess or “fill in the blanks”. What they say should be an exact interpretation of what the other person has said, at all times. 

Usually interpreting agencies or Language Service providers (LSPs), will advise you on what their guidelines and code of conduct are. You will need to satisfy these while working as a professional interpreter to flourish.  

As an interpreter working alone, they are the ones who are responsible for ensuring that neutrality and impartiality in their workplace is present. They need to approach every client with the same level of professionalism and respect. 

Not only this but when they are either listening or speaking, they need to make sure that they are not giving their own opinion, but rather they need to interpret exactly what has been said as accurately as possible. 

An interpreter can work with someone who has special needs. There is no additional training that is required for this, however, it is always advisable that you have the right fit for the children and adults to work with.  interpreters who work within healthcare or mental health in particular constantly work with those who have special needs or disabilities.

That said, if you are looking to improve your interactions, then perhaps you can study some of the many online or face-to-face courses that are designed to ensure that you can provide the very best service to someone who has additional needs and is looking to use an interpreting service.  

It could be argued that sign language interpreters always work with individuals with special needs, as they interpret for those with hearing impairments.

The cost of hiring someone to interpret for you can depend on a variety of factors including location, format or interpreting, language and specialism. You may find that someone who is more specialist, or who has more experience may charge more than someone who does not have the same level of experience.  

You can also find that the rates charged will vary from area to area.  

Average rates per hour of interpreting in the UK in 2024 are from £15 – £50 per hour.

If you are working as a language interpreter then there are support groups, usually accessed via social media, where you can speak to others who are working in the same area as you. This allows you to share experiences and best practices.  

Interpreting agencies / Language Service providers (LSPs) often offer direct support for interpreters who work with them, and there are many support agencies and charities you can reach out to such as The Samaritans or Mind.

If you have a specific event or appointment and you need a language interpreter then you may wish to search online to find one in the area that you are based in. This may be someone who works alone, on a freelance basis, or you may find someone who is a part of an agency.  

Interpreting agencies / Language Service providers (LSPs) or the Chartered Institute of Linguists ‘find a linguist’ service are good places to start.

Business requires professionalism and an accurate understanding to succeed and if you want to be global with what you do, then you are going to need to rely on interpreting services from time to time. It is always recommended to use a qualified professional for interpreting. This is because it will help to ensure that you are working with someone who understands the interpreting role and can deliver a competent, professional service. If you do not use a professional you risk information being lost or changed in transit and this could have negative impacts on your business and/or customers.

Using a professional also creates a sense of trust and quality in what you do and, no matter what needs to be interpreted, you can be sure that it is always going to be done to the very highest of standards. No matter the situation, no matter the language.  

If individuals are looking to communicate, but cannot due to a language barrier, then they may book a liaison interpreter. These interpreters can work in smaller groups, such as casual conversations, meetings or business negotiations. They ensure that there is a more conversational tone during the interpreting, even when the same language is not being spoken.  

Whilst the main focus of a liaison interpreter is always to ensure that key messages are relayed accurately, there is also a focus on ensuring that all parties feel that a rapport has been built during their time talking.  

Working within conferences and meetings (mostly those which are international) a conference interpreter will usually perform the same role as a simultaneous interpreter.  

It is vitally important, due to the speed at which they must work, that they can understand the subject matter (even better if this can be in-depth). However, having advances interpreting and language abilities is paramount.

Conferences can be tricky to work on, especially when they are scheduled for multiple days, and simultaneous interpreting is mentally tiring, so it is quite common for a conference interpreters to work in pairs or as a part of a larger team.  

A court interpreter will help anyone who is not an English speaker in a court or legal situation. They are there to ensure that everyone who is in that court understands what is happening, and what is being said and is also understood too. This applies to both witnesses and defendants.  

One of the key aspects of working as a court interpreter is accuracy. They play a crucial role in the justice system, which means that they have to be able to listen effectively and interpret what has been said extremely accurately.  

Another key consideration for those who are working as court interpreters is to hold a strict code of confidentiality and ethics.  

If an interpreting assignment is in a healthcare setting then it will be delivered by a medical interpreter. The nature of a medical interpreter is to ensure that patients and healthcare providers can effectively communicate with one another.  

A key aspect of medical interpreting is to ensure that the confidentiality of the patient is maintained at all times. The interpreter is there to help with understanding the medical history of the patient, deliver their diagnosis and also to discuss potential treatment options between the medical professional and the patient.  

Medical interpreters are a vital part of delivering effective healthcare.  

Whilst much interpreting work is related to languages, there is also a need to have sign language interpreters. These people will help those who are deaf or hard of hearing, by converting spoken words into sign language and back again.  

Sign language interpreters can work in a variety of fields. This includes medical, educational and community settings.  

To fully support inclusion and accessibility the interpreter must follow a specific language system, more often than not British Sign Language (BSL) in the UK.  

If someone does not speak a local language then they may require an escort interpreter. This service is most commonly used by those who are travelling for business, or who are tourists in an area. They may help with communication with those around them as well as daily tasks that need to be completed.

An escort interpreter can also serve as a cultural guide, which means that the person who is visiting a foreign country has as smooth an experience as possible.

Telephone interpreting represents a large proportion of interpreting assignments completed every day in the UK, in specialisms including medical, welfare, charities and local government. 

Telephone interpreters are usually chosen because they are remote, which means that they can be called upon 24/7, usually at short notice. More often than not they provide an on-demand service and are a go-to for those who need an interpreter quickly, for instance in an emergency.  

A business interpreter will help to ensure that international business communication is effective. This could be in trade events, global meetings, negotiations and others.  

A business may call on business interpreters to help build relationships with foreign partners, which can be tricky to do if you are not able to speak the same language. This is particularly effective when they can help to bridge both language and cultural gaps.  

A business interpreter is useful if you are running a business and want to expand and grow into a more global market, however, many businesses employ individuals for certain roles (e.g. sales) who already have the required language abilities as opposed to employing individuals in an interpreting role.

The role of a diplomatic interpreter is to ensure that high-level meetings and negotiations run as smoothly as possible and that they are operated and interpreted sensitively and confidentially.  

A diplomatic interpreter will need to ensure that they understand diplomatic protocol fully to be able to deliver the service as well as having an in depth understanding of the political landscape in both countries. Diplomatic interpreters form a key part of both international relations and peace negotiations.  

A remote interpreter will offer their language services from a distant location that is not there on site. This will usually be via a telephone or video conference software. Remote interpreting is becoming increasingly common as technology improves. 

Due to the Covid pandemic, remote interpreting has become more popular, as the situations faced then helped people to understand how this type of software can work and how effective it can be, particularly in terms of  flexibility, convenience and cost.  

An on-site interpreter will be physically present at a location where the conversation is happening. However, in comparison, a remote interpreter will not be present; and will need to use technology to help to provide their service.  

A key benefit to an on-site interpreter is that they are there as a physical presence, however, a remote interpreter will usually cost less. You also need to consider that it can be harder to find a book an on-site interpreter compared to a remote interpreter – with a longer lead time being needed for on-site (face to face) interpreting appointments. 

Face to face or remote interpreters may be used for different situations depending on what is needed in the appointment. For instance, medical appointments often use the convenience of remote interpreting, particularly for appointments such as GP appointments when it is not known beforehand that an interpreter is needed, while the nature of mental health appointments, which are booked in advance, may need a face to face interpreter.

A video remote interpreter utilises video conferencing technology to provide the interpreting service. VRI has previously been viewed as a back up when an onsite (face to face) interpreter is not practical / available (for instance in a remote location or for a rare language), however, it is increasingly being recognised as an effective way to save costs.

Video remote interpreting is commonly used in both legal and healthcare settings, as interpreters are often needed at short notice and VRI can provide quick access to language services as and when they are needed.  

Interpreters who practice whispered interpreting interpret what a speaker is saying at the same time that they are saying it (simultaneously) softly, so as not to be heard by others in the same room. Whispered interpreting occurs, for example, with a defendant in a courtroom who needs to understand what the judge is saying while he or she is saying it. Whispered interpreting saves huge amounts of time compared to turn based interpreting, also known as consecutive interpreting.

Relay interpreting is not particularly common, but mainly used when an interpreter is needed for an unusual or rare language combination, where an interpreter who can interpret directly from one language to another is not available.

Relay interpreting requires more than one interpreter working in a ‘chain’. The first will interpret what has been said to a particular language, which will then allow the subsequent interpreter to translate into the target language.  

Accuracy is more important than ever during relay interpreting so that nothing is misunderstood or misinterpreted during the process,.