The ATA Compass: Your guide to translation and interpreting in the global market

Want to reach more customers, grow your business, and improve your bottom line? The ATA Compass publishes articles and provides resources to show you how language professionals can help you achieve these goals.  

Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part II: Interpreting Modality and Modes

By ATA Compass | September 3, 2025

Interpreters work in a variety of settings and in a variety of ways. These are important to understand when hiring an interpreter or team of interpreters and this article explains…

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Using AI for Translation: (When) is it Safe?

By ATA Compass | April 17, 2024

If you’re a translation buyer, you’ve probably heard a lot of buzz lately about the artificial intelligence/machine translation (AI/MT) boom. No question about it, automated translation has come a long…

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Which Spanish Variant Should You Choose for Your Translation?

By ATA Compass | March 27, 2024

The Spanish language is as beautiful as it is diverse. It’s a global language with an estimated 500 million native speakers and is the official language of 21 countries. But…

Transform Your Site: English-Spanish Website Translation 

By ATA Compass | February 28, 2024

With over 559 million Spanish speakers globally, the Spanish language offers a sizeable and fast-growing customer base for businesses looking to expand their market reach. For example, about 1,900 people…

Video Translation and Subtitling: The Ins and Outs of “Subs and Dubs”

By ATA Compass | January 31, 2024

Thanks to the success of international blockbusters like Parasite and Squid Game (both originally in Korean), video translation and subtitling have now become hot topics. Lots of people are asking…

The Spanish to English Translation Process: A Translator’s View

By ATA Compass | December 1, 2023

As an ATA certified Spanish-to-English translator specializing in medical and marketing translation as well as official documents, my job is not just to change words from one language to another;…

6 Reasons NOT to Use Your Bilingual Staff as Translators or Interpreters

By ATA Compass | November 1, 2023

Your bilingual staff members carry a lot of weight on their shoulders. The pros of hiring multilingual employees are obvious: they make it easier to communicate with clients or patients.…

Brain Power for Medical Interpreters

Brain works

By ATA Compass | October 11, 2023

All translators and interpreters are bilingual or multilingual. But not all bilinguals or multilinguals can translate. It is a common misperception, especially in multilingual societies like India, that multilingual individuals…

What is Machine Translation?

By ATA Compass | September 26, 2023

Technology is moving at a faster pace today than ever before, and many people are left feeling confused. How will new technologies affect creative fields like translation? The American Translators…

Subtitle Translation and Captioning: the Key Ingredients to Successful Social Media Video Marketing

By ATA Compass | August 30, 2023

Learn how you can leverage subtitle translation and captioning to expand reach, boost engagement, ensure accessibility, and more – from a professional subtitler and captioner.  You’ve created the perfect video…

How to Hire a Translator: A Quick and Easy Guide

By ATA Compass | August 9, 2023

Perhaps you have never purchased translation services before and suddenly find yourself needing to hire a translator or interpreter. There are lots of reasons you may need to hire a…

Consecutive vs. Simultaneous Interpreting: What’s the Difference?

By ATA Compass | July 19, 2023

Linguists rejoiced at the trailer for The Covenant when it stated what many of us have been grumbling about under our breath for decades. If you’re curious about why the…

How to Translate Your Website: 3 Key Considerations

By ATA Compass | June 28, 2023

You’ve launched a website for your business or organization. Congratulations! Now, what next? If you want to reach an even wider audience for your website, consider translating it into a…

Your Four-Step Guide to Meeting the USCIS Certified Translation Requirements

By ATA Compass | June 7, 2023

The immigration process can be stressful and getting your documents translated into English should not add to that stress. This quick and easy guide will help. It explains the USCIS…

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How Much Does a Translation Cost?

By ATA Compass | May 17, 2023

If you’re looking for translation services, you’re likely wondering how much translations cost. Whether you need a birth certificate or diploma translation, a translation of documents about your family history,…

How to Recognize and Implement Quality Interpreting

How to Recognize and Implement Quality Interpreting (Hint: It Doesn’t Involve Your Bilingual Staff)

By ATA Compass | April 26, 2023

With a set of quality standards in place, it is possible to make healthcare accessible to limited English proficiency individuals without delaying patient care or interrupting your workflow. As many…

Blog banner showing a robotic hand pressing a laptop keyboard to illustrate the title "Machine Translation vs. human Translation: Will Artificial Intelligence Replace the World’s Second Oldest Profession?"

Machine Translation vs. Human Translation: Will Artificial Intelligence Replace the World’s Second Oldest Profession?

By ATA Compass | April 5, 2023

Translators pride themselves on being excellent communicators, and so they should. After all, it’s their job! But sometimes, even the best communicators can talk until they’re blue in the face…

Breaking Intercultural Communication Barriers in Business

Breaking Intercultural Communication Barriers in Business

By ATA Compass | March 15, 2023

Have you ever sensed that you offended someone in a work setting without understanding why? Or have you ever worked with someone from another culture and found their behavior confusing,…

7 Tips for Crushing an International Meeting Remotely, According to an Interpreter

7 Tips for Crushing an International Meeting Remotely, According to an Interpreter

By ATA Compass | February 22, 2023

As millions around the globe have moved their classes and even social gatherings online, international business and meetings between speakers of different languages look a lot different. In a pre-pandemic…

What’s the difference between a translator and an interpreter

What’s the Difference Between a Translator and an Interpreter?

By ATA Compass | February 1, 2023

If you’re looking to hire a language professional, the first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you need a translator or an interpreter. Although the terms are often…

5 Steps for Translating Official Documents

5 Steps for Translating Official Documents

By ATA Compass | January 11, 2023

If you’re starting the U.S. immigration process, applying to an American university, or considering a career opportunity in the United States, you will need certain legal or official documents translated…

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Recent Posts

Buying Language Services

Buying Language Services

Guide to Buying Translation Services Translators help power the global economy, working with businesses, governments, non-profits and individuals. Translators work with the written word. The ATA Guide to Buying Translation…

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Why You Should Use a Certified Translator or Interpreter

Why You Should Use a Certified Translator or Interpreter

Choosing a Certified Professional is the Smart Choice A certified translator or interpreter ensures effective, accurate, and culturally sensitive communication that truly bridges the gap between languages and cultures. Accuracy…

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Client Assistance

Client Assistance

Can I afford to hire a professional? You can’t afford NOT to. Poor translation and interpreting services can be disastrous for your business. See what’s at stake. Learn More What’s…

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What is Machine Translation?

Machine Translation

What is machine translation? Machine translation (MT) is the use of automated software that translates text without human involvement. Adaptive MT is a technology that learns and adjusts in real-time…

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The ATA Compass

The ATA Compass

Want to reach more customers, grow your business, and improve your bottom line? The ATA Compass publishes articles and provides resources to show you how language professionals can help you…

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Language Services Directory

Start Your Search ATA’s Language Services Directory includes a list of all ATA members of individuals, as well as companies. Need help finding the right professional? Professional translators and interpreters…

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