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.  

The High Stakes of Legal Interpretation: Why You Need a Certified Court Interpreter in Colorado

By ATA Compass | March 31, 2025

By Jennifer Nielsen Why accurate legal interpretation matters In the legal system, language accuracy is a matter of justice. Court proceedings rely on precise communication to ensure fair trials, protect…

Automation Doesn’t Solve Everything

By ATA Compass | June 6, 2016

Six Things You Should Know About Machine Translation Taco Bell’s return to Japan in 2015 was widely anticipated, but the company’s launch of its Japanese-language website spawned a media frenzy—but…

Certified Translation vs. Certified Translator

By ATA Compass | May 25, 2016

What is a Certified Translation? In the United States a certified translation consists of the following three parts: The source-language (original) text The target-language (translated) text A statement signed by…

Hello, World! Quality Website Translation is Your Entry Pass to a Global Market

By ATA Compass | May 1, 2016

What stands between your business and world domination? Language, for one. Whatever your native language is, most of the world doesn’t understand it. So if you want to reach most…

Transcreation: Translating and Recreating

By ATA Compass | April 20, 2016

Sometimes translating a text isn’t enough: you need more than just a copy of the original text in another language, you need a text that is specifically aimed at your…

Five ways to increase translation quality while keeping costs under control

By ATA Compass | April 1, 2016

Many translation clients wonder how to obtain a high-quality translation within the constraints of a project’s budget. While it’s important to acknowledge that in any industry, quality work is never…

Ten steps to make your technical translation projects a success

By ATA Compass | March 1, 2016

This article describes ten effective steps technical writers, publishers, or communications managers can take to ensure that translation projects go smoothly and to everyone’ s satisfaction. Steps to take before…

What do Translation Buyers and Fourth Graders Have in Common?

By ATA Compass | February 20, 2016

Most translators and interpreters care deeply about the future of their professions and welcome the opportunity to talk to students of any age about their jobs. This was why I…

What is the Difference Between Translation and Interpreting?

By ATA Compass | February 5, 2016

The American Translators Association represents both translators and interpreters; in fact, our tagline is “The voice of interpreters and translators.” Translators and interpreters work with languages, but in very different…

Looking for a Professional to Handle Your Translation or Interpreting Job?

By ATA Compass | January 20, 2016

ATA’s Language Services Directory features the profiles of thousands of translators, interpreters, and companies. You can customize your search by language, specialties, location, credentials, and more. First, a few helpful…

How to Choose a Translation Vendor: 9 Tips to a Successful Experience

By ATA Compass | January 5, 2016

The thought of purchasing a new product or service can seem overwhelming at times. If one doesn’t know much about languages, there can be a sense of uncertainty at first…

Creative translation solutions: Making the most of your translation budget

By ATA Compass | December 20, 2015

A US-based precious metals investment company was considering investing in a mine in West Africa. However, they were concerned that the mine’s environmental standards might not be acceptable to their…

Translation as a Tool for Understanding

By ATA Compass | December 2, 2015

Legal firm saves on discovery costs by partnering with translation company We’ve all seen the images on the evening news: federal agents hauling computers and file boxes into the back…

Healthcare Interpreters: Replacing Myth with Fact

By ATA Compass | November 25, 2015

If you had a bad experience with an incompetent doctor, would you give up on the entire medical profession? Of course not—but that’s the attitude many doctors have toward healthcare…

Export or Die

By ATA Compass | November 1, 2015

“Export or die,” The Economist warned American businesses in an April 2010 special report on rebalancing the US economy. In a recent interview with The ATA Compass, Rosetta Stone CEO…

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Recent Posts

Exploring Translation and Interpreting Services

Exploring Translation and Interpreting Services

Why Are Language Services Essential in an Internationalized World? In a world where communication knows no bounds, effective language services are paramount. ATA helps you find professional translators and interpreters…

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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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Translator vs. Interpreter: What's the difference?

Translator vs. Interpreter

Watch a Day in the Life of Translators and Interpreters See how translators and interpreters work in this short animated video. Translators do the writing Translators work with the written…

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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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What is a certified translation?

What is a Certified Translation?

What are the basics of a certified translation? In the United States, anyone can certify a translation. A translator does not need to be certified in order to provide a…

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