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.  

Empowering LEP Communities with Language Access Cards

By ATA Compass | April 2, 2026

Millions of people in the United States have limited English proficiency (LEP), which can create barriers when accessing healthcare, legal services, education, and other essential resources. To help LEP individuals…

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

Empowering LEP Communities with Language Access Cards
Translators as Cultural Consultants: Why We Bridge More than the Language Gap
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

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…

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…

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…

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…

Language Services Directory

Start Your Search ATA’s Language Services Directory includes ATA members offering professional translation and interpreting services. Need help finding the right professional? Professional translators and interpreters make it possible for…

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…