New Industry Standards for Interpreting Service Adopted

Wednesday, May 9, 2001

May 9, 2001 New Industry Standards for Interpreting Service Adopted A multi-sector collaboration has recently led to the adoption of ASTM F 2089, Standard Guide for Language Interpretation Services, according to NFLC Associate, William Rivers. Developed by a committee of interpreting services industry members and consumers under the sponsorship of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), with assistance from the NFLC, Berlitz International, Language Line Services , and the Monterey Institute for International Studies, the Guide has been formally adopted.

The new Guide provides the first US-based, industry-wide standard for interpreting services. Served by these new standards will be end-users in the government, courts, public services sector, and globalized industries. The Guide provides concise, up-to-date information and guidelines on the analysis of language needs and the procurement of services to meet those needs.

Commenting on the completion of the standards, Richard Brecht, Director of NFLC, observed that "this new Guide will enable the language services industry to accelerate its growth by assuring the consumer and the public of the quality of services and by providing a standard reference for excellence in contracting and procurement."