What Does an Accompanying Translation Do? How to Be a Good Accompanying Interpreter?

Accompanying translation or accompanying interpretation, refers to the provision of interpretation services in business accompanying, traveling accompanying and other activities. It involves foreign language tour guides, shopping escort, tourism interpretation, business interpretation and so on. Personnel engaged in accompanying translation is called accompanying interpreter.

Then what are the specific work contents included in accompanying translation?

1. Reception and introduction: accompanying translation requires the interpreter to receive clients and provide them with services. Introduce the local cultural characteristics or company situation to them.

2. Arranging itinerary: when the clients or visitors arrive, the accompanying interpreter needs to understand their needs and arrange the relevant schedules and itineraries to ensure that the whole trip goes smoothly.

3. Communication: when facing foreign clients, the accompanying interpreter should utilize good speaking and translation skills to help both parties communicate effectively.

4. Cultural interpretation and guidance: accompanying interpreters sometimes need to provide cultural guidance and interpretation services to help clients understand the cultural differences of different countries and regions.

Compared with simultaneous interpretation, the difficulty and requirements of accompanying translation are relatively low, but to do a good job of escorting translation, you still need to have rich translation experience and language skills. How can we do a good job of accompanying translation?

1. With cross-cultural communication awareness: most of the accompanying interpreters are often involved in foreign affairs activities, and foreign affairs activities often bring together people of different cultural backgrounds. Accompanying interpreters need to have cross-cultural communication awareness, understanding of different countries and cultures, customs, values and so on. Take the initiative to adapt to the new environment.

2. Have a wealth of knowledge reserves: accompanying interpreters and clients spend a long time together. And the content involved in accompanying translation is often more casual and flexible than conference interpretation. The content of the conversation is completely random, so the interpreter’s knowledge base should be rich in order to answer the customer’s questions.

3. Strong sense of responsibility: after receiving the accompanying interpreting assignment, the interpreter will make a lot of preparations before the work, including understanding the identity of the host client, hobbies and other background information. Moreover, accompanying translations are often carried out in different places. The interpreter should be conscientious and responsible during the whole working process and should not slack off.

The above is a brief introduction to accompanying translation. In addition, accompanying translation also needs the interpreter to show good manners, play the role of an excellent “diplomat”, to leave a good impression on the customer.