FAQs

Interpreting vs translating

Since this isn't always clear to everybody, here's a brief guide:

• Interpreting: Spoken
• Translation: Written. Still often heard for interpreting, this bothers some people (not me, for information it used to refer to the transferal of bones (e.g. saints') from one place to another, please ask for price list) - the main thing is to know what you need!
• Simultaneous interpreting: The interpreter listens and speaks at the same time. Main advantage: speed and (often) matches the speakers' body language.
• Simtrans: Common abbreviation for simultaneous interpreting
• Consecutive interpreting: The interpreter waits for an appropriate moment to interrupt the speaker and translate (see what I mean!). Main issue: it's slow and bores the hell out of any bilinguals also listening, etc.
• Consec: Common abbreviation for consecutive interpreting
• Whispering: The interpreter listens to the speaker and whispers to the listener at the same time. Often used for small business meetings and politician encounters
• Machine or automatic translation: Translation using software. Very helpful for getting the general idea, if not even better. Can also sabotage communication due to lack of context, etc. Use with caution.
• Source language: The language being spoken from which the interpreting or translating is done
• Target language: The language into which the interpreting or translating is done 
• Translator scamming: Everyday scammers who buy email lists and offer cheap translation, done using google or others with zero control over accuracy, etc.. You know what they say: "if it's sounds too good to be true..."

And some abbreviations:

• CAT: Computer-aided translation, very common these days: the software enters your words and sentences into a database (attention! could be open to literally anybody! or private... check!), learns and memorizes your jargon, recognizes text strings already translated (even if long ago) and reduces both time and cost
• FG: Focus group
• IDI: In-depth interview
• MT: Machine translation
• PdN: French for prise de notes, or note-taking, where the note-taker watches the group in a facility or online and writes down the essence allowing for an uncluttered reading and analysis, as well as picking out verbatims

Interpreting in two-person teams

Around the world, interpreters work in teams of two. It's standard practice. In France, on the other hand, market-research interpreting is done solo. So don't be surprised to see your costs doubling (your clients won't - they already know) for Asian and other languages.

Interpreter Breaks

I can't remember which, but one IO (Unicef, I think) established that the average office worker concentrated to the same degree as an interpreter for between 9 to 11 minutes a day. It's tiring. And to ensure a successful day of work, breaks are needed. Unless you're working with interpreting teams, plan a minimum of 33% to 50% downtime after each session and everyone will benefit!

Customer satisfaction

Don't wanna boast, but still here since the '80s, so must be doing something right 😇

GDPR and Confidentiality

The General Data Protection Regulation has been in place since 2016. We keep documents provided to us for various missions for a maximum of 3 months before destroying them, or less upon request. As a rule, the interpreters' code of ethics requires strict confidentiality regarding information learned during our assignments. We may mention the brands and companies we have worked for, but that's all.

Fields of activity

We are a language consultancy specialized in market research. Full stop. That includes:

• Interpreting:
  • focus groups (FGs), whether online, onsite, in panels...
  • individual, or one-on-one interviews (IDIs)
  • ethnos
  • home visits
  • shopalongs
  • mall intercepts
  • car clinics
  • vox pops
  • medical research 
• Translation:
  • screeners
  • reports
  • toplines
  • moderation guides
  • logbooks
  • concepts
  • etc. 
• Transcription
  • from our own interpreting
  • or your recordings
  • timestamps
  • speaker ID (please consult us first!)
  • post-editing of AI transcriptions (ditto)
• Note-taking
  • In facility
  • on- or offline

Languages

We work with interpreters with a specialty in market research in most languages:

Primarily English ⇔ French

• to and from
  • Dutch
  • German
  • Italian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Turkish
• as well as, on demand
  • Arabic
  • Korean
  • Japanese
  • Mandarin
  • Russian

Clients

Some recent end clients...

Bic Tipp-Ex • Google on Mac • 3M Mounting Tapes • AirBnB • Spotify • Crunchyroll • Chanel • Purina One Bifensis • Google • Chanel • Airbnb • Stellantis • Google • Mondelez • Ducros • Ducros Spices • Tena ProSkin • B2B / Buses • P457 eBay • Streaming services • All-season Michelin tires • Seeberger • AI Glasses • Electric Vans • Cartier • eBay • Géodis • Chocolate icecream • Géodis • Meta Social Proof • Google • Meta • Airbnb • Iced tea packaging • DeWalt • Salesforce • Kia • Sushi Shop • Finance • Sports shoes • Micromobility • Bravecto • Airbnb • Salesforce • Nestle • Opella • Reckitt/Calgon • Huggies • Vhernier • Richemont • Fluocaril • Meta • P&G Fabric Care • Sushi Shop • Kia • ThinkPad • Kiehl • Vhernier • Nutrifriends • Cash services • Pedigree Dentastix • Waste Management • Hollywood • Omo/Surf • Reckitt&Colman • Vhernier • Flying Fish • Bears with Benefits • ADEO • Luxaflex • McDonald's • Calgon • AlUla • Nivea • Coinbase • Kinder • Garnier • Tena • Google GenAI • Threads • fb & IG • Nivea Deodorants • Lipton's • Colgate • Panasonic eyebrow removal device • Philip Morris Veev One • EuroCave • fiverr.com • L'Oréal Clear Water • Stihl iMow • Insuffisance Cardiaque Chronique • Bloom & Wild • Leucémie Lymphoïde Chronique et Leucémie Lymphoblastique Aigüe • Google Nest • Infection urinaires • Chanel • blablacar • SnapChat • Netflix • Lisibilité d'information aux patients • Facebook • Google/Android • Nespresso • Danone • Fuites urinaires • Iberdrola • Quick Lane • Ikea • Nespresso • Danone yaourts végétals • Chanel • Alibaba/AliExpress • Amazon • Google Images • LinkedIn TRUST • Amazon shopping • TMTE/Casio/Test de mix marketing • Ibrutinib en leucémie lymphoïde chronique • Psoriasis • Amazon • Analyse de dépliant de médicament • Deliveroo • Troubles dépressifs majeurs • Delonghi – cafetières à grains • IWC/Google: montres de luxe sur tél. Mobile • Habitudes de rasage féminines • Locations de vacances • PCs reconditionnés • Danone • Richemont • booking.com • Airbnb UX Study • Diabète Types I & II • Mondelez - Côte d'Or chocolat • Richemont • Etude de Dénomination: Cholangiocarcinome • L'aéroport idéal • PwC • Dolce Gusto • L'Oréal • Deliveroo - paiement de livreurs • Dove • Nespresso • Apex • Poker Stars • Achat d'électroménager • Prévention des escarres • HIV • Yamaha Niken • Airbnb • Origin HQ : Business Negotiated Rates • Boston Scientific • Viber • Deliveroo • Citroën • Spotahome • Quintuple Helix • Opticiens • Poker • Red Bull zero sugar • Eurosport • Poker Stars • Instagram...