Monterey Language Services provides all types of translation and interpretation services, and we feel that it’s very important to keep an eye on best practices for all language services.

Subtitle translation is a very useful way to relay information, as subtitles are shown alongside videos. Like all media, it can range from simple entertainment, to scientific, political, or anything. We’ve collected some best practices for subtitle translations below.

First, be mindful of the length of translations. You have to remember that subtitles only have a set amount of time and space to be displayed on screen. You should try to be as concise as possible while also staying as true to the speaking character as possible. If you think you need more space to say something, consider how long the character is talking for. Would it be possible to separate the sentence into two or more parts? Let’s say that a character is talking for ten seconds. You could possibly split a line into two five second segments. That should ensure that you get the viewer has enough time to read the entire line without being too distracted by the length of the line.

Furthermore, do not ever exceed two lines on the screen at a time. Standard practice is at most two lines, but any more than that and it becomes a huge distraction and an eyesore to the viewer. The aim of subtitling is to avoid being intrusive while providing viewers a way to comfortably enjoy the media.

Also be sure to use the right kind of software. There’s a lot of different programs out there that subtitlers use, and it really depends on how you’d like to go about it. For example, while not industry standard, many people enjoy using AegiSub for its easy use and features that aren’t too heavy on resources. Other people may use other programs such as Adobe Premiere or even MemoQ. It all really depends on how you work and if your employer has a preference.

Most subtitlers come across a dilemma between “soft” and “hard” subtitles. Soft subtitles are subtitles that aren’t hard coded to the video. The best way to think of it is to imagine a picture. If you try writing on it, the writing will be permanent, unable to be removed. With soft subtitles, however, imagine taping your text onto the picture. It’s not permanent, and you can remove it whenever you like. The advantage to soft subs is that you can give the user more freedom. If they want to turn off the subtitles, then they can. If they want to use a different language subtitle, they can easily swap them out.

Hard subtitles on the other hand are hardcoded to the video. Once you use hard subtitles, they are not coming off of that video unless you manually edit them out. The advantage to hard subtitles is that people won’t have to go through any extra steps to load subtitles. They can easily just use one file to and enjoy the subtitles. Of course, they will lose the freedom of being able to turn them off, but that’s what the tradeoff is.

The last thing to be mindful of is that subtitling is, in most cases, localization. You are not expected to do a 1:1 translation of what characters are saying. You are expected to give characters their voice in another language. That being said, you should be careful of over-localizing to the point that the character is completely different than what they sound like in the original version. This is where it’s useful to have editors and QAers to help review your subtitles and make sure that they’re good to go.

There’s a lot to keep in mind while subtitling, but one good way to keep in mind what best practices are is to review other websites’ guidelines. For instance, many people follow Netflix’s guidelines for subtitling when doing their own, even if they aren’t employed by them.

Subtitling is fun, but it takes time to become familiar with the process. The good news is once you get it down, it’ll be second nature.

Monterey Language Services specializes in medical interpretation for hospitals and clinics. Therefore, we are conscious about health and energy related information and would like to share some of our ideas on how to manage your energy levels, so you can increase not only the quality of your work, but your day-to-day life as well.

1. Get a Routine

Get lots of sleep—really! Sleep is integral to how we function and rest our bodies. Getting into a personal routine for your sleep schedule is important. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, missing sleep, sleeping too much, or sleeping at the “wrong time” for your body can upset your biological rhythm and leave you tired for days.

Humans thrive off of routines. Having a set time for meals, work, play, etc. can help us rest and recharge in a way just as important as sleep. For example, continuously chugging away at your computer drains on your mental energy—but if you take a good break when you start to feel down, you can come back feeling much more refreshed.

2. Synergize with Your Coworkers

Nothing really energizes you like a job well done. The sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing work to hand off to a partner is fulfilling to many people, and gives you a goal to work toward during your shifts.

Human beings, being social creatures, can thrive off of collaboration. Even if we’re tired, we can get a burst of energy from our peers—like cheering each other on. If you tend to work alone, try bouncing ideas off of a friend, or attempting a collaboration if possible.

3. Eat Well

This should go without saying, but eating well and avoiding certain types of food help keep your physical energy up. Vegetables, fruits, and protein are all very important for keeping human bodies going.

Don’t forget to pack healthy snacks as well if you’re heading out of the home to work, but try not to rely on sugary or carb-heavy snacks like donuts or pastries for these snacks. They might give you a boost, but sugar boosts don’t last long and leave you crashing. A healthy snack avoids the crash.

4. Relegate Work to Certain Spaces

This is difficult to do when so many of us have to work from home nowadays, but separating spaces for work and play helps keep our brains from mixing things up. If we view our homes as a place of rest, it’s harder to get in a mindset to work. If possible, setting up an office space in your home might help tremendously. And, very importantly, keep your work desk as a place of work only—avoid social media, videos, and other distractions, even while on breaks. Breaks should take place in other places than at your desk.

5. Exercise (Yes, Really)

You might think that exercising will make you more tired, but keeping up a good exercise routine will keep endorphins pumping throughout your body. It will generally help you sleep better as well, and given enough regular exercise, you will get more stamina for your energy reserves.

6. Take Breaks (Again: Yes, Really)

Continuously whiling away at your work can wear down your mental energy. Taking breaks allows your brain to get some time to rest and reset, allowing you to come back to your work with a fresh perspective. In fact, matching your break time with exercise time might help you even more. Lots of people like to exercise first thing in the morning and “get it out of the way,” but an afternoon or even a mid-morning workout during your work break can get your blood pumping. You might even get inspiration for your work.

7. Make Time for Yourself (and the Ones You Love)

The old English saying “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” still applies in today’s world, all work and no play not only takes away from your time to broaden your mind, but also makes you burnt out, with no energy left for anything.

Making time for your hobbies and loved ones—real, quality time—is essential for your energy reserves. Doing what makes you happy outside of work refreshes you and allows you to enjoy life to the fullest, and might help to keep you aware of what matters to you, giving you purpose when you come back into work.

So far, 2022 has been a roller coaster — and not a particularly fun one for many. As we go into the second half of 2022, we can make a few predictions for how the year might turn out, and how translators and interpreters might want to prepare for it.

We mentioned in our last post that gas prices have been soaring this year, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be dropping any time soon. Luckily with the general trend toward remote work, many have the option to work from home and save on travel and gas in the tank. However, this doesn’t mean that translators, and interpreters especially, should just exclusively hole up in their homes. For instance, the gas price increase will affect low-income households terribly, especially those that don’t speak English, or speak limited English.

Similarly, the American baby formula shortage has left parents struggling with increased costs for formula—at least, the formula that they can find. We’re not expecting the issue, or the ramifications, to be resolved overnight. Once again, low-income families could easily be hit the hardest, with non-English speaking families having another barrier to entry concerning information from news outlets, supermarkets, and doctor recommendations. We suggest keeping a close eye on news concerning this event. Even if formula were magically restocked and prices dropped to normal tomorrow, there would still be long-lasting effects, especially concerning the health of children.

It would be best for translators and interpreters to be prepared to travel for assignments concerning low-income households and LEP (Limited English Proficiency/non-English families). These low-income households might not have easy access to the technology needed for remote translation or interpretation. Even access to email and cell phones might be limited or impossible. Given the tendency for low-income families to have a lower quality of health compared to medium-income households, they could very likely be in need of in-person interpretation at a clinic or hospital. In-person interpretation activities may gradually rise again.

Sadly, the Russian war with Ukraine is unlikely to end any time soon. Many Ukrainians have fled, looking for refuge, and numerous translators and interpreters have stepped up to the plate. Yet still, the need for translations and interpretations into and out of Cyrillic-based languages will likely only rise. We suggest that any translator or interpreter able to help do so.

Lastly, while there has been some return to “normalcy,” Covid-19 is still a danger to many and will likely stay that way going into the end of 2022. We hope you use lots of precautionary measures, and stay safe and healthy.

It’s no secret that gas prices are rising, making transportation a much more difficult and costly process for anyone who needs to drive to get to their destination. But also, everyone has been experiencing the effects of inflation. What would have cost maybe a dollar or two previously is maybe double its price. As a result, we’ve all had to learn how to cope with it. This is just as true for translators and interpreters. Here are some things you can do to make sure that you are able to keep up with inflation.

First, understand that if you’re feeling the effects of inflation, so are your clients and companies that you’re working with. You should try looking at your rates compared with other translators and interpreters and know where you stand.  Everyone’s situation is different, however everyone is in the same inflation. This means the best way to cope with the uncertain times is to make sure that you stay in a good position without losing any of the business that you currently have. You should always be sure to do your best to honor your rates with your current clients. Even to lower your rate to attract more business may be also a good idea!

Next, the world has gone through a lot of changes over the years and we all have had to learn and adapt in order to stay afloat. Before the pandemic, the majority of work was done in-person, but now, there are more and more remote interpretation opportunities. Be sure to also widen your reach to other parts of the country. If you are working from home, that means you can work anywhere. Someone in a completely different area from you may be looking for someone with your experience. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

If you’re going to be working more from home, it may be time to reassess your internet, phone plan, and current equipment. Investing in better internet, phone service, and equipment will make you a more attractive interpreter or translator because you will not have as many technical difficulties as others may have. For that matter, be sure to educate yourself on how to connect to the various video conferencing services. For example, try setting up Zoom, Google Meets, or Webex on your own and test having a call with yourself to make sure you know how to quickly connect and also that your audio equipment is good. Connection means work and livelihood in today’s work place!

Finally, we do hope the world will be back to normal where we can also provide both remote and in-person interpretation without worrying about the inflation nor the pandemic. After all, a balance of in-person and remote work would be the ideal model for clients, interpreters and language service providers!

Monterey Language Services is looking for 3-4 Spanish medical interpreters to provide in-person interpretation services to federally funded productive health care facilities in Richmond and Antioch, CA.

Requirements:

1. Have completed 100 hours of CCHI approved interpreter training
2. Experienced with in-person medical interpretation
3. Have reliable transportation to and from Richmond or Antioch
4. Enjoy working with young children and particularly mothers
5. Familiar with OBGYN or prenatal services
6. Female interpreters preferred; male interpreters welcomed as well
7. Entry-level is welcome
8. Culturally competent
9. Professional in conduct and appearance
10. Authorized to work in the US

What to Expect:

1. We need someone who is living or willing to relocate to the Richmond/Antioch areas in California for in-person interpretation
2. This will be a 2-year contract
3. Part Time (15 hrs or more per week)
4. Be available to stay on-site for blocks of time to be designated every week
5. Able to work on a team and work well with others
6. May need to shadow physicians and nurses and provide interpretation when necessary
7. Occasionally interpret remotely (via phone or video)
8. Willing to undergo a background check and health screening/immunization
9. Willing to undergo some training to ensure that all guidelines will be followed
10. Willing to follow hospital immunization and safety procedures

If you are interested in joining us, as a first step, please go on our website and in particular answer the questions about your medical interpreting experience, so we can follow up with you. Please also feel welcome to refer entry-level colleagues by sharing this email. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

https://www.montereylanguages.com/send-a-resume.html

Some of the most critical languages to interpret for are those that are indigenous, especially given how rare native speakers of these languages are. In today’s post, we will be listing several of Mexican Indigenous languages and where they are from and where they are most commonly spoken in the US.

1. Triqui
There are about 25,000 speakers of Triqui, with most of the speakers being indigenous people of the western part of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The language is also spoken in Baja California; native speakers are typically ethnically Trique. Somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 Triqui speakers have immigrated to the US, with communities in California, New York, and Washington state. There are four major varieties for Triqui: Triqui Bajo, Triqui Alto, Triqui Media, and Triqui de Copala with Triqui de Copala having the most speakers. There are also Triqui-language radio programs based in San Quintin, Baja California, and XETLA (an indigenous community radio station).

2. Mixteco
This is another Oto-Manguean set of languages, and is spoken by about 530,000 people from Oaxaca, Peubla, and Geurrero, Mexico. Immigrants from these areas can typically be found in New York, Arizona, and throughout California such as Baja, San Diego. Though people might think of Mixteco as a single language, some estimate that there are thirty or fifty variations of the language. Typically when they speak to each other though, they use Spanish, so even if they do not speak the same variation, they can communicate with each other.

3. Zapotec
Zapotec has about 490,000 native speakers with the majority of speakers in the United States based in California and New Jersey. The Mexican government officially recognizes sixty Zapotec dialects, and since there can be so much variance between them, it can be difficult for different dialect speakers to understand each other. However, most Zapotec speakers know Spanish as well, so they are still able to communicate with each other.

4. Purepecha/Tarasco
This is an indigenous language that is centered in the northwestern region of Michoacan, Mexico with a total population of about 141,177. In the United States, you can find most speakers in California, Oregon, and Washington. Purepecha is considered an endangered language due to the rate of speakers becoming bilingual rising with less than 10% of speakers being monolingual. Tarasco is another name for Purepecha, which comes from the fact that Tarasca is an exonym for Purepecha culture.

5. Nahuatl
This is a language where most of the speakers are in Central Mexico, but there are speakers of the language in the United States as well, primarily in California where it is the fourth indigenous language of Mexico, trailing Mixteco, Zapotec, and Triqui. The communities that speak the languages are mostly scattered and in rural areas, but there are over a million speakers, most of whom are Mexican immigrants from indigenous communities and Chicanos. Overall though, the exact number of speakers is unknown.

6. Chatino
Similarly, Chatino is another subset within Oto-Manguean languages, and it also originates from Oaxaca, Mexico. Chatino is at a high risk of disappearance, with between 30,000 and 45,000 native speakers. There are three languages that are a part of Chatino: Zenzontepec, Tataltepec, and Easter Chatino. Overall, the Chatinos have cultural and linguistic ties with Zapotec and is recognized as a national language in Mexico.

From time to time, an interpreter may get a voiceover assignment, such as providing the voice track for a new exhibit at a museum in an audio guide. Being able to record this new audio in a professional studio is of course the best option, but modern technology has progressed to the point where it is completely possible to produce studio level recordings from the comfort of your own home. It’s possible that one day, producing recordings remotely may even become the standard. Additionally, in a pinch, you might have to use your own computer and microphone. In that case, how do you get the best out of your on-hand equipment? We’ll give you a few tips.

1. Stay about 6 inches away from the microphone.

Speaking too close to your microphone or too loudly can increase the audio gain too much–you can see this when your audio capture goes up into the red. However, speaking too far away from the microphone will prevent the microphone from picking up your voice clearly. A good estimate is to stay about 6 inches away from your microphone, although your microphone might have a nice “sweet spot.” One good practice is to make sure that you use a standing microphone, and make sure that it is not touching anything that would cause any unintentional noise. So for example, if you have a microphone that touches the floor, make sure it is on a carpeted surface to prevent any loud scraping or knocking noises.

2. Try equipping a pop filter

Pop filters help to dampen the sound produced when saying words with P and T. If you do not have one, then you can try making one with the materials available to you.

3. Limit background noises.

Spinning fans, beeps, vibrations, key clacking, and the like can be picked up by the microphone. Try to turn all distracting noises off, or move to a room where these distracting noises are not.

4. Dampen the echo of your voice.

Hard surfaces around you, like tables, walls, desks, and so on, reflect the sound of your voice when you speak. You might not always be able to hear the echo normally as our brains can filter out those faint echoes, but your microphone will certainly pick it up. To avoid this, you can cover these surfaces with cloth, or hang up curtains or clothes in a pinch.

5. Post-edit

If you are not too pressed for time, taking the time to edit your sound clip can result in a completely different sounding recording. It may take some learning, but there are a wealth of programs out there that have the potential to make your recordings sound on-par with professionals. For instance, Adobe Audition has various functions that can eliminate background sound, fine tune your voice, and even eliminate certain sounds from your voice completely.

In the end, it’s understandable that many people have reservations about home recordings, but with the current state of technology, it is not impossible to deliver professional, or near-professional level work to your clients. We hope these tips will help you record to the level that you want without having to use a professional studio. Good luck recording!

Happy New Year to everyone from Monterey Language Services! We wish you good health, happiness and success in the coming year!

2022 will be a new, fresh start for all of us to accomplish even more than we were able to in 2021. We wish that all your dreams come true in the new year!

Please join us in greeting the year 2022 wholeheartedly with all our colleagues, friends, and loved ones! Happy New Year!

In 2016, the California Legislature approved a bill that would help improve the amount and quality of medical interpretation services in the state.

In accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 635 (Atkins, Chapter 600, Statutes of 2016) which was passed with little objection, and Senate Bill (SB) 165 (Atkins, Chapter 365, Statutes of 2019) which passed unanimously:

On August 31, 2021, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that Medi-Cal beneficiaries will be receiving increased interpreter support in several regions in California, including Contra Costa County. The aim of this was to ensure that all patients, no matter what language they speak, are able to receive the care that they deserve without having to worry about communication.

The project is called Medical Interpretation Pilot Project. Through the legislatively mandated project, medical interpreters in the following languages are needed or will be called upon. This is to cover Medi-Cal assignments in the area either on-site or remotely, either via phone or video conferencing.

Arabic
Armenian
Cambodian
Cantonese
Dari
Farsi
Hindi
Hmong
Japanese
Korean
Laotian
Mam
Mandarin
Mien
Mixteco
Pashto
Punjabi
Russian
Spanish
Tagalog
Thai
Vietnamese

Monterey Language Services is proud to be part of the MIPP team, providing interpretation services in Richmond/Antioch area.

Monterey Language Services is looking for medical interpreters in Richmond/Martinez area in the following languages. This is to cover our assignments in the area on a regular basis.

Language List:

Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Farsi, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mien, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese

If you are interested, could you briefly let us know your language, experience, rate, and how far you are from CA 94553, so we can follow up with you. Please also feel welcome to refer colleagues.

Emails can be sent to Director of Translation, Mei-Ling Chen at the following address.
mei-ling@montereylanguages.com

Thank you!