Translators and interpreters play an important role in global business. They enhance communication by conveying information accurately from one language to another in different countries across the world. These translators and interpreters provide different services. Interpreters deal with verbal communication while translators deal with written communication.

Role of interpreters and translators in global business:

Interpreters and translators provide services in a number of business areas, and they specialise in specific fields. Some of the business areas in which translators and interpreters play a key role are:

•    Medical interpreters and translators:

Medical interpreters help promote communication between hospital management and patients. Medical translators also help translate patients’ journals and hospital information brochures into patients’ languages. Medical interpreters and translators will have strong knowledge of medical and conversational terms in both languages, as well as the cultural aspect relating to how the patient receives the information.

•    Localisation translators:

Localisation involves the complete adaptation of a product for use in a different language and culture. A translator possesses a high degree of knowledge regarding the local users of the product. The main goal of localisation translators is to adapt the product as if it had been originally manufactured in the country where it will be sold and supported.

•    Specialised business translators:

Specialised business translation involves specialist translation in various fields such as, finance, economics, marketing etc. An interpreter or translator will have sound knowledge of the respective businesses and markets and current events. An example of this type of service is specialised business translation in financial markets. This involves the translation of documents such as financial statements, mutual funds reports, regulatory statements and reports etc. into the target language.

•    Conference interpreters:

Conference interpreters work in international fora such as WTO, the World Bank etc. where the participants come
from around the world. Some times, these interpreters are also used as mediators among international businesses that operate in foreign countries. Conference interpreters often have the ability to interpret from at least two passive languages to one active language, for example, from Spanish and French into English.

Translators and interpreters assist cross-cultural communication among businesses by converting written or verbal language into the target language. Thus, interpreters and translators play a vital role in global business.