Languages and dialects
Finding interpreters for rare languages and dialects: a practical guide
How to identify the exact language and dialect someone speaks, why the match matters, and how to book an interpreter for a less widely spoken language.
Blogs
Field notes on interpreting, translation and language analysis
Practical guidance from SILA Linguists®, a language services company working in 350+ languages: how to choose and work with interpreters, what official translations involve, how language analysis works, and what it takes to work as a linguist.
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Languages and dialects
Finding interpreters for rare languages and dialects: a practical guide
How to identify the exact language and dialect someone speaks, why the match matters, and how to book an interpreter for a less widely spoken language.
For linguists
How to become a remote interpreter: what language agencies look for
Qualifications, registers, checks and home set-up that agencies look for in telephone and video interpreters, and how to make your application stand out.
Interpreting in practice
Telephone, video or face-to-face interpreting: how to choose
A practical way to decide between telephone (OPI), video (VRI) and on-site interpreting, based on risk, complexity, the people involved and the setting.
Translation and documents
What is a certified translation? Certified, notarised and apostilled explained
What a certified translation is in the UK, what UK authorities expect it to contain, and how it differs from notarised and sworn translations and the apostille.
Language analysis
What makes a reliable LADO report? A guide for lawyers and caseworkers
What language analysis for the determination of origin (LADO) can and cannot show, what a sound report contains, and how to read one critically.
Interpreting in practice
Working with an interpreter in legal, asylum and healthcare settings
How solicitors, caseworkers, clinicians and public service staff can brief an interpreter, run the session and avoid common mistakes, step by step.