In what languages do you provide interpretation services?
Our top three requested interpretation languages are Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. We can also provide you with interpretation services in: Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Dari, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer (Cambodian), Korean, Lao, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, and Tagalog. Language 411 can also coordinate any other language interpretation upon your request.

How much does interpretation cost?
Interpretation service fees vary greatly based on the language requested, the type of interpreter you need, the experience of the interpreter, their training and certification, the complexity of the assignment, the duration of the appointment, and the appointment location.

We offer all of our interpretation services at attractive market rates, and offer a discount to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate special need. Please contact us to obtain an exact price quote for the interpreter you require.

What is a Community Interpreter?
A community interpreter is a trained professional communicator that enables people who are not fluent speakers of the dominant or official language of the country (in our case, English) to communicate with the providers of public services so as to facilitate full and equal access to legal, health, education, government, and social services.

What is the background of a Language 411 Community Interpreter?
All of our interpreters have been assessed for their language skills in both the source and target languages, for technical interpretation skills, for knowledge of the terms and concepts of law and social services, and for demonstrated understanding of the ethics and practices of interpretation.

Level 1 Community Interpreters have completed 40 hours of Language 411 interpreter training in the fundamentals of community interpreting, and have up to one year of experience.

Level 2 Community Interpreters have completed Language 411 interpreter training, have more than three years of professional interpreting experience or equivalent in education, and have been certified by Language 411.

Level 3 Community Interpreters have more than five years of professional interpreting experience and/or a graduate degree in a related field and/or certification from a professional body like the Judicial Council of California, and have been tested and certified by Language 411.

How do you control the quality of your interpreters?
All of our interpreters are carefully assessed for language skills their working languages, interpretation skills, terminology and concepts, and demonstrated understanding of the ethics and practices of interpreting. In addition, we follow up with a detailed evaluation survey after each assignment is completed to assure complete customer satisfaction, and interpreter quality.

Why does the interpretation seem longer than the English explanation?
The two main reasons are grammatical differences, and vocabulary. Many languages have elaborate grammatical structures that use more modifiers, prefixes, and suffixes than English. Second, there are many words in English that do not have equivalents in the other language which require the interpreter to "paint" a word picture, describing what the word means. Generally, more words means the interpreter is thoroughly and accurately explaining what was said.

What is a "certified interpreter"?
"Certified interpreter" has many meanings. Please note, outside the courts and legal system in the United States, there is no nationally recognized standard or certification for interpreting. There are many state level certifications, and industry specific certifications, such as health care. A Language 411 Certified Community Interpreter is an industry specific certification.

What is a state certified interpreter?
In the state of California there are three types of Certified Interpreters who work in the legal system: Administrative Hearing, Medical, and Court. There is also the Registered Interpreter exam for "non-designated" languages.

What is a California "Court Certified" Interpreter?
One of the most widely recognized standards for interpretation is the "court certified" standard. The Judicial Council of California, an administrative arm of the courts, contracts with CPS to certify interpreters for the federal and state court system. A certified interpreter in California has passed a language specific exam, met educational requirements, taken a required ethics course, and registered with the Judicial Council. CPS has language specific exams in Court Interpreter certification only for the following designated languages: English and Arabic, Eastern Armenian, Western Armenian, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

What is a California "Court Registered" Interpreter?
The Judicial Council of California, an administrative arm of the courts, contracts with CPS Human Resources Services to certify interpreters for the federal and state court system.

What is the Administrative Hearing & Medical Interpreter Certification?
An Administrative Hearing Interpreter interprets during state agency hearings before Administrative Law Judges (Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Labor Relations Board, etc.). A Medical Interpreter provides interpreting services at medical exams conducted for the purpose of determining compensation or monetary award in a civil case. There are five certifiable languages: Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese. All other languages are considered "Non-designated."

What is the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification?
The Consortium was officially founded in July, 1995 by Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. There are currently 29 member states. They administer exams in Arabic, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Why is there a lack of standards for interpreting outside the legal system?
Holly Mikkelson, a leader in the interpretation and language services industry, has written an article on Community Interpreting that addresses this very question.

How can I use Language 411 interpretation services?
Call us at 510-842-3550 to set up an account. We look forward to serving you!

I have other questions. Whom should I contact?
For all other inquiries, please email us at service. One of our customer service representatives will contact you regarding your inquiry.