How we work

Our way of working is structured
around 6 guiding principles:

1

Commitment to quality

We are convinced of the importance of our work, and are therefore committed to provinding high-quality services. The following are some of the measures we take to ensure this:
  • The interpreters that make up the Zenobia core team, our collaborators, and our technical support team all have years of experience in the field of translation and interpreting, in all the modalities we offer.
  • We are continually learning and updating our skills, and we are in active contact with the fields in which we specialize.
  • We prefer to prepare our services in advance in order to fully identify the needs and circumstances of our clients and to conduct preparatory research into the subject to be addressed.
  • We apply dramatic techniques in order to transmit the nuances and tone of the original speech.
  • We work as a team, including both the interpreters and the technical support team. In simultaneous translation (save in some exceptional circumstances) we work in pairs in order to take turns and to deal with any issues that might arise during the event. Except in special circumstances, simultaneous interpreting is always carried out in pairs to ensure the necessary relay and address any issues that may arise.

2

Preparatory research

To do our best work, we prepare every event in advance:
  • We identify the sociolinguistic context of the event and research the relevant semantic fields in both the original and destination languages.
  • We prepare a basic glossary drawn from both general and specialized literature in the field.
  • We communicate directly with the speakers/participants in the event or, if this is not possible, with the organizers or facilitators, always under a commitment of confidentiality.
  • We work as a team with a broad network of collaborators to resolve any doubts or uncertainties.

All this prepares interpreters to offer a much more accurate translation, both more faithful to the semantic fields of the original text or speech and more fluent and richer in the target language. Our goal is to combine fidelity with communicative efficiency.

3

Direct relationships

As an organization comprised entirely of translators and interpreters, we seek to cultivate close and direct relationships with both our clients and our network of collaborators, without intermediaries.
  • In our relationship with our clients, our priority is transparency. We explain in detail how we work and how we will organize the specific service requested, responding to any questions and offering an opportunity for feedback after the event.
  • In our relationship with our network of collaborators we uphold this same spirit of transparency, seeking to build relationships based upon reciprocity and mutual support.

4

Custom-designed services

We are aware that every event has its own unique characteristics that require careful considerations. For this reason, we sill study the type of event with you and explain in detail the different interpreting modalities and technical solutions, so that you can to choose the option that best suits your needs and circumstances.

5

Language justice

As translators and interpreters we are committed to language justice; our hope is to contribute to everyone having the same opportunities in communication experiences. For this reason:
  • We are continually learning and updating our skills to adapt to all different accents and linguistic variations.
  • We advise clients regarding the tools available for both online and face-to-face translation, giving relevant technical recommendations to ensure the quality of communication.
  • We are flexible and willing to adapt to the circumstances and possibilities of our clients.
  • We hold regular internal meetings to share experiences, review the coloniality of language, and propose ways of updating concepts and terminology for a changing and diverse reality. We also identify the different barriers to language justice and collectively consider how to overcome them, both from Zenobia’s position in the field of translation as well as in our broader political and social context.
  • When appropriate, we offer clients counsel on how to promote language justice within their organization or the work they do.
  • We seek long-term caring relationships, both with our clients and with our network of collaborators. We appreciate receiving feedback after each service rendered, as this helps us to improve.

6

Caring for relationships

We seek to build long-term relationships, both with our clients and with our network or collaborators. We appreciate receiving feedback after each service, as this helps us to improve.

At the same time, we are flexible and are aware of the ups and downs of the organizations, institutions and persons with whom we work. Although pragmatism and agility are important to us, we prioritize communication and dedicate the necessary time and attention that each circumstance requires.