ASTM F2089-01

Standard Guide for Language Interpretation Services

SCOPE
1.1 This guide identifies the components of quality language interpretation services and establishes criteria for each component. These criteria define the minimum standard of quality services in the language interpretation industry with reference to distinctive characteristics of specific settings. The needs analysis identifies a procedure for making an informed choice of interpretation services. In the language industry, translation refers to the translation of a written text, whereas interpretation refers to the translation of spoken or signed communication.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-2001
• ICS: 01.140.10 - Writing and transliteration
• ICS: 03.080.20 - Services for companies
• Technical Committee: F43 - Language Services and Products
• Drafting Committee: F43.01 - Language Interpreting

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F2089-01(2007) - Standard Guide for Language Interpretation Services
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2007
• Referred By: ASTM F2889-11(2020) - Standard Practice for Assessing Language Proficiency
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F2575-23e1 - Standard Practice for Language Translation
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F3516-22 - Standard Guide for Testing Interpreting Performance
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F3130-18 - Standard Practice for Language Service Companies
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F 2089 – 01
Standard Guide for
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Language Interpretation Services
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 2089; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Consecutive interpretation is likely to take longer than simul-
taneous, because the interpreter does not interpret while the
1.1 Thisguideidentifiesthecomponentsofqualitylanguage
speaker or signer is speaking or signing.
interpretation services and establishes criteria for each compo-
nent. These criteria define the minimum standard of quality
4. Referenced Documents
services in the language interpretation industry with reference
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4.1 ASTM Standards:
to distinctive characteristics of specific settings. The needs
F 1562 Guide for Use-Oriented Foreign Language Instruc-
analysis identifies a procedure for making an informed choice
tion
of interpretation services. In the language industry, translation
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4.2 ISO/IEC Standards:
refers to the translation of a written text, whereas interpretation
IEC 60914:1998 Conference Systems: Electrical and Audio
refers to the translation of spoken or signed communication.
Requirements Conference Systems: Electrical and Audio
2. Professional Judgment Caveat Requirements
ISO 2603:1998 Booths for Simultaneous Interpretation—
2.1 This guide offers an organized collection of information
General Characteristics and Equipment Booths for Si-
and does not recommend a specific course of action. This
multaneous Interpretation—General Characteristics and
document cannot replace education or experience and should
Equipment
be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all
ISO 4043:1998 Mobile Booths for Simultaneous
aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances.
Interpretation—General Characteristics and Equipment-
This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the
Mobile Booths for Simultaneous Interpretation—
standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional
General Characteristics and Equipment
service shall be judged, nor should this document be applied
4.3 Other Documents:
without consideration of a project’s unique aspects. The word
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
“Standard” in the title of this document means only that the
Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary or Artistic
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus
Works
process.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
3. Definitions of Interpretation Executive Order 13166, August 11, 2000
Guidance Memorandum; Title VI Prohibition Against Na-
3.1 interpretation—the process of understanding and ana-
tional Origin Discrimination—Persons with Limited En-
lyzing a spoken or signed message and re-expressing that
glish Proficiency, Office for Civil Rights, Department of
message faithfully, accurately and objectively in another lan-
Health and Human Services, August 2000
guage, taking the cultural and social context into account.
Patient’s Bill of Rights, American Hospital Association,
3.2 simultaneous interpretation—a highly complex cogni-
1978
tive activity that requires the interpreter to listen, analyze,
Universal Convention on Copyright
comprehend,convert,edit,andreproduceinrealtimeaspeaker
U.S. Department of Justice: Enforcement of Title VI of the
or signer’s message while the speaker or signer continues to
CivilRightsActof1964—NationalOriginDiscrimination
speak or sign, in a specific social context.
Against Persons With Limited English Proficiency, “LEP
3.3 consecutive interpretation—a highly complex cognitive
Guidance,” August 11, 2000
activity that requires the interpreter to listen, analyze, compre-
28 U.S.C. § 1827 Federal Court Interpreters Act (1978
hend, convert, edit, and reproduce the original message after
the speaker or signer pauses, in a specific social context.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
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This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.34 on Language the ASTM website.
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Interpreting. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Current edition approved March 10, 2001. Published June 2001. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F2089–01
A
TABLE 2 Levels of Listening Proficiency
Court Interprete
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