Over-the-phone (OPI) interpretation has been a staple of language services for decades. Communication technology has advanced in recent years, giving you more options for professional interpretation services. Phone interpreting services remain essential for reaching interpreters quickly, increasing language access, and facilitating effective communication.
This is especially true when you work with an experienced language service provider such as JR Language, which also provides translation services in multiple languages. Our comprehensive solutions allow us to quickly review and inform you which service best suits your needs. The benefits of OPI services include quick accessibility during emergencies, affordability, and varied applications across industries such as healthcare, legal, education, and public services.
About Over-the-Phone Interpreting Services
Over-the-phone interpretation service is an easy way to communicate between multiple parties who don’t speak the same language. Phone interpreting services are a form of consecutive interpretation: one party speaks, the interpreter relays the message, the other speaks, and the conversation continues.
OPI provides immediate access to interpretation services year-round at any given time. You’ll be connected to an interpreter in minutes with a single call. Over-the-phone interpreter services offer convenience and professionalism, especially in high-demand situations like contact centers needing immediate language assistance. With JR Language, you have language assistance whenever needed, with phone interpreting available in over 100 languages.
Understanding the Structure of Over-The-Phone Interpreting
Over-the-phone interpreting involves three parties: the English speaker, the limited English speaker, and the professional interpreter. These calls follow a structure that makes it easy for all parties to understand the format and expectations.
- Connection: The call is initiated, and the interpreter engaged
- Introduction: The interpreter introduces themselves to all parties and provides their ID number.
- Brief: The person who initiated the call explains the need to the interpreter.
- Conversation: The verbal communication between the parties with the help of the interpreter
- Conclusion: The interpreter recaps any necessary information, restates their ID number, and the call ends.
Best Practices for Preparing for an OPI Session
While OPI calls are standard and the interpreter knows what to expect, there are a few best practices that call participants can take to ensure a smooth conversation. Consider the following:
Your Environment
Being in a quiet environment is helpful for OPI calls so the interpreter can hear you clearly, understand, and give the other party your message. Somewhere with good cell service is necessary, and the stronger your connection, the better.
Your Equipment
While phone microphones are usually sufficient for phone interpreting calls, a headset is the best way to ensure you’re coming through loud and clear.
Preparation
What paperwork or materials do you need for this call? Having the necessary information ready and organized before joining the call allows you to respect everyone’s time.
Brief Background
A short overview of the situation helps give the interpreter context and encourages appropriate mannerisms. While phone interpreters don’t benefit from reading body language, having context for the call helps them adopt the proper tone and understand the situation.
Remember Who You’re Talking To
Address the other person on the call directly; don’t talk through them to the interpreter. Use the same directness you would in an English conversation. The interpreter will use the “I” pronoun when speaking on behalf of the other person.
Speak Clearly
To ensure clarity and ease, enunciate your words, speak at a normal to moderate pace, and use the same language you would use in person. Use short, complete sentences and avoid long descriptions.
Wait Your Turn
In consecutive interpreting, only one person speaks at a time. Don’t overwhelm the other party (or the interpreter) with too much information at once—get to the point. Everything you say has to be interpreted, so be mindful of how much information you’re giving the interpreter at once.
Benefits of Professional Over-the-Phone Interpretation Services
Working with professional interpretation services makes fostering effective and culturally sensitive communication simple. Effective communication through interpretation services can enhance the patient experience, improving health outcomes and overall care.
- Accurate. Professional interpreters interpret what is said faithfully – no more, no less. They do not alter, omit, or add information.
- Impartial. Interpreters are neutral without a personal connection to either party. With no emotional attachment to the conversation, they can leave any biases out of the communication, which is often not the case when the interpretation is done through a friend or acquaintance.
- Confidential. Interpreters must uphold a professional code of ethics and adhere to confidentiality best practices. Language service providers like JR Language have codes of conduct and confidentiality protocols to protect sensitive or personal information and use secure, confidential communication platforms.
- Linguistic expertise. JR Language offers over-the-phone interpretation in over 100 languages, from widely spoken languages like Spanish and French to less abroad languages like Finnish, Creole, and Slovak.
- Culturally aware. Communication styles and conversational norms are highly cultural. Interpreters relay your message in a culturally appropriate manner, particularly around sensitive topics.
- Availability. Working with a language service provider like JR Language ensures you always have access to on-demand phone interpreting in the language you need when you need it—even at odd times, off-business hours, or holidays.
- Customized solutions. Whether you have ongoing or immediate language needs, JR Language provides tailored language solutions at affordable prices with professional phone interpreters and a dedicated account manager.
JR Language: Comprehensive Interpretation and Language Services
With JR Language, overcoming language barriers is easy as we offer a comprehensive suite of interpretation services. Beyond OPI, we also provide:
Zoom Interpretation and Video Remote Interpretation (VRI)
Much like over-the-phone interpretation services, these options work when you cannot meet in person. With a growing need for remote communication, you can connect with multiple parties across borders.
Simultaneous Interpretation
This involves interpreting from the source to the target language in real-time, making it effective for large seminars and multinational meetings.
Consecutive Interpretation
In these scenarios, the interpreter waits for the speaker to finish before communicating the message. These are typically used for smaller meetings and consultations.
Conference Interpretation
Interpreting services at big conferences are crucial, especially among multi-lingual groups. These services can be used either simultaneously or consecutively.
Escort or Travel Interpretation
A professional interpreter accompanies the client to facilitate communication in different settings. This is excellent for personal tours or business trips.
We also offer a complete suite of professional translation services with expert linguists who are native speakers and industry-specific subject matter experts. Reach out to us today, and our project managers will match you with the interpreter or translator who is best suited for the project.
Break Down Language Barriers with JR Language Professional Interpreters
OPI is an excellent resource for quickly facilitating communication across diverse populations and overcoming language barriers. Using phone interpreting services is quick and easy when you work with a language translation agency. JR Language provides on-demand language services, including on-site interpreting, OPI, conferences, and video interpreting, with skilled interpreters in 100 languages and years of experience with many customers worldwide. We also have professional translators ready to assist your company or your personal needs.
Ready to upgrade your over-the-phone interpretation and increase your team’s language access today? Want to increase your team’s language access with translation services for the written word? Connect with us at JR Language for a free quote customized to your needs today. We love to support our clients and will be happy to serve you!
