It takes more than just the ability to understand two languages.

Professional translators and interpreters have the education, experience, and expertise to understand the nuances in one language and transfer them to another. The right professional will have solid knowledge of your industry and will know how to culturally adapt your content for the target audience you are trying to reach. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it counts.

Why Should I Hire a Professional?

Can I afford to hire a professional?

You can't afford NOT to. Getting your message wrong can cost money, ruin your image, and even cost lives. Whether you’re having a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign translated or need an interpreter to communicate treatment options between a doctor and patient, it pays to hire a professional to get the job done right.

Instead of hiring a professional, this restaurant used machine translation and did not realize the result was an error message.

Understanding what’s at stake

ATA publishes articles to illustrate why it is critical to hire qualified translators and interpreters.

Guide to Buying Translation Services, Part II: Working with a Translator

By ATA Compass | September 2, 2024

Working with a Translator Properly preparing to work with a translator is key to a positive outcome. The more information you are able to provide upfront, the more successful your collaboration will be. Follow the guidelines below to get started.  1) Identify your Target Audience What language do they speak?  Where do they live?  Where are they from?  What is…

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Guide to Buying Translation Services, Part I: Finding and Choosing a Translator

By ATA Compass | August 1, 2024

Translators help power the global economy, working with businesses, governments, non-profits and individuals. They are an integral part of global communication. Translators work with the written word, adapting text from one language to another. The American Translators Association (ATA) has developed a Guide to Buying Translation Services as a resource to help clients identify, select and work with translators.  Finding…

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Inclusive Language Speaks to Everyone

By ATA Compass | July 3, 2024

When it comes to your marketing strategy, it’s important that your content speaks to as many people as possible. A powerful way to achieve this is to ensure that you use inclusive language. Translating your messages into other languages is a great way to make them more accessible. But knowing your audience and speaking to them in their language, both…

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Demystifying the Difference Between Simplified Chinese vs. Traditional Chinese 

By ATA Compass | June 27, 2024

Simplified Chinese vs. Traditional Chinese, Mandarin vs. Cantonese⏤there are plenty of myths and misconceptions when it comes to the Chinese language. Many such misconceptions even persist in the language services industry, where seasoned language services providers (LSPs) make factual mistakes that they could avoid with a little more knowledge (and asking the right questions). One such misconception: Simplified characters are…

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How to Build Digital Accessibility into Your Products and Services

By ATA Compass | May 9, 2024

Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day by eliminating linguistic barriers! May 16, 2024, marks the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Around the world, legal, medical, and scientific organizations along with governments, universities, and businesses will host events to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion.  Is your business doing its part? Read on to learn how…

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Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese Interpreter Under the Microscope

By ATA Compass | April 19, 2024

Interpreting, ethics, and the importance of professionalism in language access Given that language professionals often work behind the scenes, it’s uncommon for the outside world to take an interest in what interpreters do. Ippei Mizuhara, the now fired and disgraced former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar player Shohei Ohtani, has been thrust into the spotlight and is finding it…

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Why Hire an ATA Member?

ATA members have a commitment to continuing education and are held to the highest professional standards. Feel secure knowing if you’re hiring an ATA member, you’re hiring the best in the business.

Expertise

ATA plays a crucial role in helping members pursue the knowledge and skills necessary to help clients reach their goals. Through their membership in ATA, translators and interpreters signal the importance they place on professional education in the service of their clients.

Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

ATA members share a commitment to the ethical business practices that hold their services accountable to the highest possible standards. ATA's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility is the basis for a member's honest, confidential, and responsible interaction with clients.

It’s easy

ATA’s Language Services Directory is the largest of its kind in the world. It’s free to use and lets you customize a search for translators, interpreters, and companies that meets your requirements.

Find a Professional Translator or Interpreter

When you are committed to quality, the language professional you need is an ATA member.

The ATA Compass

Our outreach publication provides up-to-date information and resources about the translating and interpreting industry.

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What's the difference?

Translators do the writing. Interpreters do the talking. ATA helps you find the right language professional.

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Can't a computer do all this?

There are times when machine translation is useful, and times when it's not. Learn when to use Google Translate, and when to hire a professional.

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