FAQ

The following are answers to questions we frequently receive about our interpreting services.
Please contact us by phone (248-344-0909) or e-mail if you need further clarification.
See also the following resources, which describe how to use an interpreter effectively.

1. If I need to consult by telephone about a project, may I do so in English or Japanese?
Yes, all of our staff can speak both Japanese and English, and we welcome inquiries in either language.

2. Do you offer interpreting services for remote meetings?
Yes, we do. Please let us know the date and time of the meeting, and we will provide a free estimate for this service. Please contact us by e-mail.

3. Suzuki, Myers & Associates is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. Can you provide interpreting services in other U.S. states, or in Japan, Canada, or Europe, etc.?
Yes, we can basically provide interpreting services anywhere in the world. Please contact us by e-mail for a free estimate for the services you require. We also have a number of interpreters in various locations who can provide local interpreting services as needed.

4. Are 2 interpreters necessary for 8 hours of interpreting?
If it is consecutive interpreting, usually only 1 interpreter is needed for up to eight hours. If it is simultaneous interpreting, 2 interpreters are necessary, but this can vary somewhat depending on the level of difficulty of the conversation and other circumstances.

5.  What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous interpreting?
Consecutive interpreting is a mode in which the speaker speaks for a short period, then the interpreter interprets what was said, the speaker again speaks for a short period, the interpreter interprets what was said, and so forth. The interpreter may sometimes interrupt the speaker when the content of the presentation is complicated or of a particularly high level. Most interpreters follow this practice.
For simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter sits in a booth and interprets what is said as the speaker speaks, so that it is not necessary to interrupt the speaker. The interpreter speaks into a microphone connected to a system through which listeners can hear the presentation in their own language. Suzuki-Myers can provide simultaneous translation equipment and booths, and assist with their set-up.
(※Click here for information about how to arrange for the equipment required for simultaneous interpreting.)

6. Do you provide interpreting for Michigan driver’s license road tests?
Yes. We assist with checking in for the test, and interpret into Japanese for the client, for both the parking and on-road portions of the test. The fee for this service is based on our basic bilingual service fee rather than our standard interpreting fee.

7. What is the difference between the Net 30 Rate and the COD rate noted on the confirmation (estimate) sheet?
The Net 30 Rate is the rate charged when the client pays within 30 days of receiving an invoice by e-mail from Suzuki-Myers after the job is completed. The COD Rate is a discount rate that is charged when we receive credit card information from the client before the job is carried out and the credit card is charged for the cost of the work at the time it is completed. A receipt for the amount charged is sent to the client by e-mail.