Section VI: Interpreters & Translators
Although it is increasingly common to find both US and Chinese business executives and government officials that speak the other's language, many formal business meetings are conducted through interpreters. You may choose to take your own interpreter to China or hire one in China. Many executives prefer to take their own interpreters when complicated negotiations require a mastery of sophisticated legal and technical terms, or when they want the interpreters to report back on what is discussed in Chinese. It is recommended, however, that you avoid using a translator who is also a colleague and who is expected to be a substantive contributor to the discussion. Translating can be a taxing responsibility. Regardless of your decision, having a good interpreter is important. Good translators will catch mistakes and correct them in the translation. A good translator will also, if necessary, be sensitive to wording that might be counterproductive or offensive if translated literally. Finally, it is important to debrief translators and find out how specific statements were worded, in order to avoid ambiguity and understand the Chinese party's full meaning.
Speaking Tips
- Pause frequently: Pausing after every 1-2 sentences is particularly important if you are communicating through an interpreter.
- Use simple language: This prevents misunderstanding on the translator's part and safeguards against misinterpretation to your Chinese counterparts.
- Avoid slang: Slang and colloquialisms run the risk of being mistranslated.
- Address your counterpart: Speak to your Chinese counterpart(s), not the interpreter.
The following is a list of several interpreting and translating service providers in the United States and China.
United States Beijing Guangzhou Shanghai Hong Kong
List of English/Chinese Translators
United States
Organizations
|
Abacus Chinese Translation Services
ATA (American Translators Service)
Foreign Translations, Inc.
Language Alliance
Lionbridge |
Merrill Translations/Merrill Corp.
Pegasus Consultants
Transnational Services, Inc.
Transperfect Translators
MFM Conference Interpretation |
Individuals
|
Mr. Feng Chen
Mr. I-Chuan Chen
Ms. Lam Chung-Pollpeter
Ms. Grace Gao-Sheppard
Dr. Gu Weiqun
Mr. Chen-Hao Hsu
Ms. Marilyn Luong |
Ms. Barbara (Hong) Li
Ms. Diana Li
Ms. Lily Zhao Pitt
Ms. Vicky Segal
Mr. Hongzheng (John) Xie
Mr. Andrew Xue
Mr. Bin Zhu |
China
Commercial Translation Services
BEIJING
|
Beijing Language Bridge Translation Agency
Global Bridge Translation Co., Ltd.
Golden Olive Translation Center
Beijing Chinese Foreign Translation and Information Service
Beijing Huayun Translation Center
Beijing Oriental Friendship Translation Co., Ltd. |
Beijing Hanhua Translation Services
D & J Translation (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
EPK Translations
E-C Translation Ltd.
Herald Translation Services |
GUANGZHOU
|
Global Bridge Translation Co., Ltd. |
SHANGHAI
|
CTC Translation Center
E-C Translation Ltd.
Global Bridge Translation Co., Ltd. |
President Translation Service
Jia & Xin Translation Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Wonderful Translation Co., Ltd. |
HONG KONG
Last Updated: 30-Dec-09