Language services

The key to unlocking your potential

You may have decided that you need extra support in your foreign language communications, but where do you go to find it? And how do you decide who is best placed to help you? RLN London can point you in the right direction, with a range of guidance materials and on-line services which will find the right supplier for you. You should only engage qualified professionals in any of these areas - failure to do so may result in embarrassing and costly mistakes!

There are two key sources of support. RLN London can help you search for expert language and cultural service providers in London. CILT, the National Centre for Languages and the RLNs have also published a range of How To guides for businesses, which give detailed guidance on every type of language service. Go to our Publications section for more.

Language services can be broken down into the following categories. Click beneath each paragraph to find out more.

Language training

Learning a language doesn't happen overnight - but even a smattering can make a huge difference in business dealings. There are lots of different ways of getting language training which suit you and your organisation.

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Translation

This is the conversion of written material from one language into another - the target language. You may need to translate leaflets, brochures, website content, contractual documentation and much more.

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Interpreting

This is the conversion of speech in one language into another, and usually takes place during meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Increasingly, telephone conferencing makes this service readily accessible.

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Cultural understanding

If you are dealing with people or markets with a different cultural background, you need to understand better where they are coming from. Cultural briefings and intercultural skills can help you do this.

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Localisation

This is a term which is commonly used to describe the process of adapting a website for the local market - and involves translation and comprehensive cultural adaptation.

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Media

You need to think about the medium you're using when you start to communicate in different languages - different scripts and traditions can present real difficulties.

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Recruitment

Your best option to improve your potential to communicate in different languages may be to take on staff who either as natives or through experience speak the languages you need already.

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