Breaking down the language barrier with qualified linguists

When it comes to accessing public and social services such as education, healthcare, and housing, non-English speakers often face several challenges, the most significant of which is the language barrier. To help overcome this, government agencies and public bodies rely on skilled translators and interpreters who, by breaking down this barrier, enable people to access and engage with the services they need.

 

At Translate UK, we not only work closely with courts, Councils and Local Authorities to provide essential linguistic support for non-English speakers, but also ensure that our extensive network of interpreters are listed on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). This proves that our members have the right qualifications, skills, and experience to carry out their roles competently and professionally.

 

The NRPSI is a not-for-profit organisation which was called into being in 1994 by the judiciary because of some terrible miscarriages of justice due to shocking interpreting in the courts. It is the key contact point for the professional public service interpreting profession and its core role is to protect the public by ensuring that they receive quality interpreting services. The organisation maintains a public register of professional, qualified and accountable interpreters which is free to access and searchable online.

 

Why use a registered interpreter?

 

Often, non-English speakers will be wary of interpreters and may prefer to use a family member or friend when dealing with certain issues. However, using someone who is unqualified, no matter how well-intentioned, can lead to altered or embellished language, or to important information being omitted. In turn, this will lead to people acting on incomplete or inaccurate information.

 

When it comes to accessing certain services, such as social, legal, healthcare, and law enforcement, the use of qualified interpreters is vital to promote understanding and provide equal access to ensure understanding, fairness, and justice.

 

Interpreters registered with the NRPSI have the recognised qualifications, meet the set benchmark standards, and abide by a code of professional conduct, the latter meaning that any alleged breaches can be investigated. This ensures that the integrity of the profession is maintained, and that clients using any of Translate UK’s NRPSI-registered linguists can be confident that they are qualified, competent and security vetted.

 

Additionally, using a professional interpreter offers significant benefits. These include: 

·      Professionalism

·      Cultural awareness and sensitivity

·      Specialist knowledge

·      Accuracy and consistency

·      Quality assurance

·      Impartiality

·      Confidentiality

 

Being able to communicate effectively is central to the successful provision of services and support across the UK, and interpreting and translation services have the potential to facilitate this. 

 

At Translate UK, we deliver services in more than 200 common and rare languages, with an extensive pool of specialised translators and interpreters who can offer critical language access, wherever and whenever it is needed.