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 V: Interpreting Terms to Know

By ATA Compass | December 3, 2025

Interpreters help power the global economy, working with businesses, governments, non-profits and individuals. They are an integral part of global communication. Interpreters work with the spoken or signed word. The…

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

Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part V: Interpreting Terms to Know
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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
Guide to Buying Interpreting Services, Part I: Finding and Choosing an Interpreter
Fluent Isn’t Enough: The Value of Trained Educational Interpreters
Why Should I Hire a Professional?

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…

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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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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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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 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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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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