In some situations, interpretation over the telephone is preferable over classic in-person interpretation. Phone interpretation has advantages as well as drawbacks. Also referred to as telephonic interpretation and OPI (over-the-phone interpretation), this method can be more time and cost effective. So what are some of the pros and cons of telephonic interpretation?
Pros of Telephonic Interpretation
- Telephonic interpretation is definitely preferable in situations in which one party is already calling the other on the phone. You can often call the interpretation service and they will connect you and the interpreter to the desired other party in a conference call. When a telephone is already being used, OPI is much more convenient.
- Telephonic interpretation can be accessed virtually immediately. In time-sensitive situations, using telephonic interpretation can eliminate the delays that come from the contact and travel of a physical interpreter. For example, a witness’ statement may be needed as quickly as possible in a missing person’s case. Or, a case in the emergency room may require immediate surgery and consent must be acquired without delay. Whenever possible, people with limited English proficiency (LEP) should receive interpretation services as soon as possible instead of having appointments rescheduled to a later date when an in-person interpreter is available. In fact, this is required by law in the case of medical treatment – Title VI of the Civil Rights Act mandates that medical care may not be delayed because of an LEP’s need of interpretation.
- OPI can provide access to interpretation services in languages that are much less common. Many establishments have on-hand interpreters in commonly spoken languages in the region, like Spanish or German. But if there is a speaker of a rarer language such as Punjabi or Malay, the nearest trained interpreter may be hours away. This is especially true for rural or isolated areas. With telephonic interpretation, interpreters for almost any language are available because a telephone call can reach every corner of the country.
- When an appointment is scheduled to be very short – perhaps a follow-up or signing – telephonic interpretation is usually more cost-effective. This is because it is much more time-effective, so there is less waiting time and traveling time involved.
- In a study conducted by researchers at the Cambridge Health Alliance, the majority of medical patients preferred remote interpretation methods like telephonic or video interpretation to traditional methods. Many people prefer not to have a stranger present in the room with them when talking about sensitive or private matters.
Cons of Telephonic interpretation
- The most obvious drawback of OPI is that the interpreter cannot see any of the nonverbal visual cues that accompany speech. Body language, facial expressions, and tone can convey even more than someone’s words. This may not be an issue when the two parties are in the same room and can see each other’s body and expression. Plus, interpreters can still observe tone and intonation through the phone.
- Telephonic interpretation also is not suited for conversations that focus on a visual thing or a demonstration because the interpreter cannot see the item or procedure of interest. When OPI is the only interpretation service available in this kind of situation, the interpreter must constantly request clarification from the speakers about what cannot be seen so as not to misunderstand or mistranslate anything.
- Telephonic interpretation is extremely dependent on the quality of sound of the phone service. If the call is full of static or breaks in connection, the interpreter will constantly need to ask for repetitions and clarifications, which will degrade the quality of the interpretation and waste a lot of time. A bad connection also may prevent the interpreter from hearing nonverbal cues like tone and intonation, which can be very important when body language and facial expressions are not visible.
- Telephonic interpretation in not preferable in very lengthy meetings or conversations due to strain on all involved parties.
- If security and secrecy are an issue, OPI may not be ideal because it requires an external connection. In these cases, in-person interpretation may be a more secure and dependably confidential option.
Have you ever used a phone interpretation service? What did you think about it? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
_____________________________________________________________________
You may also be interested in the following:
Ebook: A Resource for Working With Interpreters & Simultaneous Interpreting Equipment
Article: Five Things to Remember During Simultaneous Interpretation
Article: 6 Traits to Look for in a Conference Interpreter
_____________________________________________________________________
