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.  

From Roncando to the Record: Best Practices for Forensic Transcription/Translation (FTT)

By ATA Compass | February 17, 2026

At 2:09 p.m. on October 29, 2024, Damian Valdez-Galloso, a Cuban man living in Hialeah, Florida, was interrogated by a Miami homicide detective for allegedly killing Jose Manuel Carbajal Zaldivar,…

(Bilingual) Help Wanted

By ATA Compass | April 10, 2018

Janet, a personnel manager at a fast-growing start-up, hoped to give her company a competitive edge in an international field by recruiting bilingual employees. She got some unexpected results. Her…

Customs Clearance for Your Content Marketing: How to Get Your Message Across the Border

By ATA Compass | December 8, 2017

The U.S. may be the largest consumer market in the world, but did you know that 96% of the planet’s consumers don’t live here? With purchasing power on the rise…

When It Comes to Communication, More Is More

By ATA Compass | November 9, 2017

In our world of information overload, less is often more. This old adage still applies in the world of communications—think website or marketing copy that is best short and sweet.…

Not Connecting with Consumers? Maybe You’re Not Speaking Their Language

By ATA Compass | August 1, 2017

You may think your company’s products and services speak for themselves, but building a brand beyond borders takes more. If you don’t speak your customer’s language and understand their culture,…

Going International from the Inside Out: Making the Most of Multilingual and Multicultural Staff

By ATA Compass | May 25, 2017

Last year, a mid-sized manufacturer took their brand international with a multilingual campaign that opened the company to orders from rapidly growing markets in Asia. In the process, their accounting…

Arriving at the Right Type of Language Professional

By ATA Compass | March 13, 2017

Business people don’t have to communicate with extraterrestrials (yet), but they can still learn a few things from the sci-fi thriller Arrival. The blockbuster film put a language professional in…

The Importance of Hiring Qualified Technical Translators

By ATA Compass | January 24, 2017

Occasionally, an enterprise client comes to our firm for post-translation help. The scenario usually looks like this: they needed a technical text translated, they had someone in the company fluent…

To Translate or Not to Translate? 5 Tips for Knowing When You Need Professional Translation

By ATA Compass | November 28, 2016

“A little knowledge goes a long way.” That’s what Michael, the owner of a fast-growing company, said to his business partner when discussing the process of taking their U.S. success…

Global Expansion Can Be Hindered without Proper Translation Services

By ATA Compass | October 14, 2016

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the Atlanta metro area, 146 languages are spoken at home. As more businesses expand globally, it is no surprise that the U.S. Bureau…

Legal Risks in Translations: Hanging On Every (Foreign) Word

By ATA Compass | October 5, 2016

Janel and her business partner Kevin go all in on their wearable-tech startup. They even get foreign patents translated into English to make sure there are no conflicts with their…

The High Cost of Cheap Translation

By ATA Compass | August 3, 2016

Why You Shouldn’t Skimp When Leaping the Language Barrier You pay for the best product development and manufacturing. Your legal and administrative people are top-notch. You choose your advertising and…

5 Tips for Taking Your Business Global

By ATA Compass | July 19, 2016

The Coca-Cola Company is the leading beverage maker in China’s $69 billion soft drink market, but the story might have been quite different if it weren’t for some smart and…

Don’t Get Lost in Translation. Get It Right!

By ATA Compass | June 14, 2016

We’ve all seen them: eyebrow-raising “translations” that leave you either shaking your head or slapping your knee. Just ask Google and you’ll find countless examples, such as a no smoking…

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…

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Recent Posts

From Roncando to the Record: Best Practices for Forensic Transcription/Translation (FTT)
Best Practices for Virtual Interpreting: What Clients and Language Service Users Should Know
Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part V: Interpreting Terms to Know
Translation and Educational Publishing: Creating Language Access in Education
When AI Doesn’t Replace Jobs: The Case of Visual Dubbing in Watch the Skies
Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part IV: ATA’s Credentialed Interpreter (CI) Designation
Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part III: Working with an Interpreter
Using AI for Language Translation: Context is Everything
Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part II: Interpreting Modality and Modes
The Value of Human Translation

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…

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…

Find a Translator or Interpreter Near You

Searching for a Nearby Translator or Interpreter? Whether you require accurate document translations, real-time interpreting for an event, or specialized industry expertise, finding the right professional near you has never…

Why Should I Hire a Professional?

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…

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…

Know Your Rights to Language Access

Is English Not Your Primary Language? If you have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English, you are considered to be Limited English Proficient (LEP). As an…