Bilingual vs Certified Interpreter: The Risks
With bilingualism on the rise, roughly 20% of the US population speaks a second language. Learning another language besides your own is a great way to bridge cultural gaps and foster cross-cultural fluency. There are certain situations, however, that benefit from being left to a professional. That begs the question, what is the difference between a bilingual and a professional, certified interpreter and in what instances are they needed?
Bilingual vs Certified Interpreter
A bilingual staffer is someone who is fluent in two languages and can perform their duties in both. A certified interpreter is also fluent in at least two languages, but has taken the required examinations and received the necessary certifications to intercede in more high stakes environments, such as legal proceedings or medical visits. These individuals can accurately interpret everyday language as well as niche terminology.
The Dangers of Confusing the Two
There is danger in relying solely on bilingual skills in situations that require professionals. One, it places unnecessary pressure on the bilingual to perform well when they aren’t trained to interpret complex information in real time. Two, the person they are interpreting for likely won’t be accurately represented, failing to provide the basic right to express themselves. Three, the outcomes of these situations may take a turn for the worse simply because of misunderstandings that could have been avoided.
Professional interpreters are bound by certain codes of ethics that must be adhered to. A bilingual person may not understand confidentiality rules and may unintentionally share sensitive info. Professionals are also more likely to recognize and navigate cultural nuances that go beyond language and are trained to handle emotionally charged situations while maintaining composure.
Solution
At Kaplan Interpreting Services, we encourage you to not leave understanding to chance, but to hire a certified professional. If you’re curious to know what a trained interpreter can do for your organization, contact us today.
CEO & Founder
Born in Dallas, Texas, Alexandra grew up surrounded by Spanish, English, Arabic, and Italian. After moving to Venezuela, Spanish became her primary language. She holds a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and is a California court certified and medical interpreter.
She founded Kaplan Interpreting Services after seeing an industry that treated interpreters as interchangeable and clients as ticket numbers. She built a protocol-driven operation where every interpreter is hand-selected and credentialed for the specific setting, every client has a dedicated point of contact, and risk management is built into every assignment.
Her career reached a historic milestone when she interpreted the conversation between President-elect Biden and Pope Francis. That assignment, along with engagements for Nike and the Summit of the Americas, set the standard for every client engagement that followed.
"The same protocols that protected that historic conversation now protect every assignment we handle."