American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most common language used in the US, after English and Spanish. It’s a visual language that uses body movement as opposed to sound.
You may think that it’s simply English words being turned into hand and body gestures, but actually it has more similarities to Japanese and Navajo than it does to English.
Having the capability to communicate in ASL allows you the opportunity for business growth and to be an inclusive employer.
At LinguaLinx, as a Language Services Provider (LSP), we know that a lot of organizations want to provide ASL as an option. We help our clients regularly with ASL needs, but we also know that they’re running businesses, so everything has to be considered with a budget in mind.
Frequently, we’re asked, “how much do ASL services cost?” Unfortunately, providing a straightforward answer is challenging, as the cost is shaped by a myriad of factors, each playing a crucial role.
In this article, we’ll explore at these factors to give you a better understanding of what affects the cost of ASL interpretation. We’ll also give you a ballpark range so you get what you came here for.
Do you need English to ASL? This is pretty straightforward, and the most common ASL interpretation request. But what if that’s not the case? This will have a bearing on cost because you’re drilling down into a more niche request that needs to be facilitated by a smaller pool of ASL interpreters.
Maybe you need to communicate with one of the 42 million Americans who speak Spanish as their native tongue? This won’t be such an unusual request either, but what if you need Burmese interpreted into ASL? Now that will take a little more planning and probably a little more budget.
Do you need a face-to-face interpreter? Are you based in a big metropolis, or will the need be in a remote location? Does the interpreter need to be there in person, or could the interpretation be done through Video Remote Interpretation (VRI)?
The cost here varies depending on the logistics of physically getting the right interpreter into a situation where they can work for you and deliver effective interpretation.
Every industry has its own terminology, jargon, and abbreviations. Certain industries, however, are more complex than others. Take the legal industry, for example; it has "legalese," which the Oxford Dictionary defines as "the sort of language used in legal documents that is difficult to understand."
So naturally, ASL interpreters should also have experience within your industry to ensure the interpretation is contextual and accurate. If your industry is very specialized, then this will affect the number of ASL interpreters that are qualified to help you.
Once again, a smaller pool of linguists can lead to a higher rate.
The best way to keep costs down is to have some planning time so your LSP partner can put the right people in place to make it happen. But sometimes, this isn’t possible.
Sometimes you need it right away, and that does, of course, come at a premium. You might have to pay for anti-social or overtime hours just to get a linguist who ticks all the boxes to help you at a moment’s notice.
Is this a one-off occurrence for your business? Or will you need constant and frequent communication with a hard-of-hearing group of clients, partners, employees, or suppliers?
Economies of scale can work to your advantage if the need is a regular one. If you can schedule ahead, your LSP may be able to provide you with a package option to reduce the hourly rate.
We never want to shy away from actual figures because that’s what you’re after, so here it is: the rate you’ll pay for an ASL interpreter will probably be between $25 and $50 per hour, depending on the amount of experience the interpreter has and all the factors we’ve talked about here.
This is just a guide because, for certain situations, the rate has been known to be as high as $125 per hour.
Also, don’t forget any extra costs if in-person interpretation is necessary, such as subsistence, travel, and accommodation expenses. All are worth understanding ahead of time and factoring into your budget.
Some of these questions might make you think that it’s quite a specialist subject to dip your toe into.
And it is, but that’s why your LSP should guide you through it, use their wide network of certified linguists, and make the journey painless for you. That’s their job.
This doesn’t have to be difficult. As you can see, as long as you’re armed with the answers to some simple logistical questions, getting an accurate quote from your LSP should be easy. Really, it’s not different to most other forms of interpretation.
As long as you know the target and native languages, where it’ll take place, how quickly you need it, how often you need it and the level of complexity of your industry, you’ll know where you stand financially when it comes to ASL interpretation.
Navigating ASL interpretation costs is simpler with the right knowledge and guidance. Understanding the key factors that influence these costs helps in effective budget planning.
For your ASL interpretation needs, consider LinguaLinx. With our ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 compliance and over twenty years of expertise, we ensure accurate and reliable interpretation services.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with us to discuss your requirements.
Trust LinguaLinx to deliver clear and precise ASL interpretation, tailored to your specific needs.