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Why is it important to consider an interpreter during the planning phase of a project?
Organizations can spend an inordinate amount of time and money negotiating a deal or pitching for a huge project only to leave the choice or engagement of an interpreter to assist with an important meeting or presentation to the last minute, or rely on the unknown and usually inadequate skills of an interpreter accompanying the visitors from their home country. Consequently, an experienced interpreter may not be available and furthermore the interpreter will have little time to prepare for the assignment by background reading, research and discussions and development of vocabulary lists. The outcome is almost certain to be less than satisfactory.
Whatever the goal of the presentation or meeting at least 50% of responsibility for getting the message across, appropriately and fully, lies with the interpreter. If the interpreter is unequal to the task and only gets 20 or 30% of the message across, or worse, makes errors, a negative outcome may result. It may not be the interpreters fault having been engaged at the last minute and told "just do your best". So planning and preparation time are critical and the organization must allow sufficient time for the interpreter to prepare.
Organizations can spend an inordinate amount of time and money negotiating a deal or pitching for a huge project only to leave the choice or engagement of an interpreter to assist with an important meeting or presentation to the last minute, or rely on the unknown and usually inadequate skills of an interpreter accompanying the visitors from their home country. Consequently, an experienced interpreter may not be available and furthermore the interpreter will have little time to prepare for the assignment by background reading, research and discussions and development of vocabulary lists. The outcome is almost certain to be less than satisfactory.
Whatever the goal of the presentation or meeting at least 50% of responsibility for getting the message across, appropriately and fully, lies with the interpreter. If the interpreter is unequal to the task and only gets 20 or 30% of the message across, or worse, makes errors, a negative outcome may result. It may not be the interpreters fault having been engaged at the last minute and told "just do your best". So planning and preparation time are critical and the organization must allow sufficient time for the interpreter to prepare.