Well, what you need to know if you live in the United States of America. Your own country probably does have a similar organisation who will be happy to provide you with the information you need.
This is a long article. If you are not an interpreter or a translator, you will find this article quite hard to take in all at once. But it does have useful information. Remember the information. You may need to use it one day. You may need to pass on the information to someone you know.
An interpreter conveys the spoken word from one language to another bidirectionally.
A translator conveys the written word from one language to another.
Now, I am glad that we have cleared that one up once and for all!
There are many different kinds of interpreters. Translators, too, work in very many different fields. And, of course, there are many, many different language combinations. You have to choose the right person for the job.
For example, I would not be the right person to choose for a Russian<>Danish interpreting job. Why? Because, for a start, I am a translator, not an interpreter. Some people are both; I am not. The other slight hitch is that I know no Russian, and what I know about Danish is confined to confectionery.
Seriously, the point I wish to make is that when you do engage the services of an interpreter or a translator, please remember that:
- Interpreters and translators are professionals and will be charging a fee for their work.
- The fee and payment arrangements are always agreed before work starts.
- What the work entails should be clarified by both parties before the work begins.
- You will get precisely what you pay for. Do not go hunting for bargains or asking for discounts; this is false economy. I am acquainted with a lot of translators. To my knowledge, none of them charge too much. Some could do with charging a lot more. Give credit where it is due.
That is all I am saying, for the moment!
Allison
That elusive pair of jeans 
Say something here!