Voices Interpreting Company

Voices Interpreting Company A unique language service offering solutions to all your interpretation and translation needs.

Our interpreters are highly trained in various settings such as medical, legal, educational and human services. We do our best to serve our clientele by offering competitive rates and are available to travel wherever your services are needed.

In Japan, the cat is considered a symbol of fertility, wealth, and prosperity...annnd luck, protection, mystery, and com...
08/07/2026

In Japan, the cat is considered a symbol of fertility, wealth, and prosperity...annnd luck, protection, mystery, and companionship! Few nations celebrate cats as deeply and symbolically as the people of Japan. For centuries they have appeared in temples, in artwork, are mentioned in literature, featured in artwork, and now are apart of everyday practices - they are more than pets. BUT cats are not native to Japan! They are believed to have been brought by Buddhist monks from China and Korea to protect sacred texts from rodents in their Japanese libraries.

Maneki Neko (招き猫), the “beckoning cat” - the MOST famous Japanese cat symbol. The little ceramic cat with one paw in the air, that's Maneki Neko. What do the raised paws mean?
Left paw raised = welcomes customers and invites wealth
Right paw raised = offers good luck and general fortune
Both paws raised = attracts both wealth and people

There are several cultural factors that explain this enduring bond. Japanese culture emphasizes coexistence with nature. Cats fit naturally into this philosophy with their quiet presence and independence. Their subtle affection aligns with Japanese reserved emotional expression. 猫の鳴き声が心地よいです。 (Neko no nakigoe ga kokochi yoi desu.) [The sound of a cat’s meow is soothing.] 💜😸

いい週末を (Ii shuumatsu wo) [Have a good weekend!]

Language lang•guage | ˈlaNGɡwij |1 the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured...
08/05/2026

Language
lang•guage | ˈlaNGɡwij |
1 the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture
2 a system of communication used by a particular country or community

August is National Language Month in the Philippines! We love language (duh!) so we're observing! This month is an annual observance dedicated to promoting and preserving language diversity... A reminder of the importance of language and how it shapes cultural identity and encouraging unity among diverse communities - including indigenous languages and dialects.

“Every world has its distinct lingo, you gotta catch the right chord. Same language evokes different feelings, based on time and age of the world.”
― Abhijit Naskar, The Divine Refugee

"Ang tunay na kaibigan ay nakikilala sa kagipitan." A Filipino proverb translating to "A true friend is known in time of...
08/03/2026

"Ang tunay na kaibigan ay nakikilala sa kagipitan." A Filipino proverb translating to "A true friend is known in time of need."

During difficult times, the loyalty and support of friends are highlighted, tested, and proven when challenges arise. Genuine friendships will outlast any hurdle put in your path. This is a fundamental principle of Filipino interpersonal relationships, known as ‘pakikisama’ (camaraderie).

Sunday was we hope you celebrated your friends and they celebrated you! ANNNNNDDDD you keep the celebration going!

"Ang tunay na kaibigan ay yung hindi ka iniwan sa panahong iniwan ka ng buong mundo." 💜
[A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.]

Yup! At first glance, you may think the debate over translation vs. interpretation is redundant. After all you want to d...
07/30/2026

Yup! At first glance, you may think the debate over translation vs. interpretation is redundant. After all you want to deliver a message from one language into another - they both do this - does it really matter which term you use, when? Yessiree, Bob!

Translation = focuses on written content, such as (but not limited to) documents, websites, and brochures. It requires a high level of accuracy in which translators possess the ability to immerse themselves in the text to find the correct words to capture the meaning of the original document.

Interpretation = an IRL process. The goal of interpretation is to accurately convert a message in the moment. It requires nimble thinking and excellent language skills – an interpreter must possess the ability to quickly and accurately convert spoken words from one language to another.

Why is it important to know the difference between these two trades? Even though the terms are used by some interchangeably, if you or someone you know requires language services, knowing the type of support needed is essential in order to make sure the message or goal is understood. Being an excellent interpreter doesn’t necessarily make one an excellent translator – and vice versa, btw.

Learn more about it!
Voices Blog ➡️ https://bit.ly/voicesblog-translation-vs-interpretation

We’re a voice where it’s needed.💜

"Finding love is like making Crème Brûlée. It may take a few tries before you get it right." – Crystal WoodsEggs, cream,...
07/27/2026

"Finding love is like making Crème Brûlée. It may take a few tries before you get it right." – Crystal Woods

Eggs, cream, sugar and water (...and maybe a small flame-thrower); all the ingredients you need to celebrate . This rich custard topped with caramelized sugar is a mouth-watering dessert with uncertain roots! Just like many renowned delicacies everyone wants to claim it as theirs. France, Spain, and England all say it originated with them. A similar burned-sugar dessert from England was enjoyed during the 15th century and Spain's version dates all the way back to medieval times! The FIRST printed recipe of our current crème brûlée is featured in the 1691 edition of the French cookbook “Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois” by Francois Massialot, a cook at the Palace of Versailles. Sooooo... we're not making the decision on who gets to claim this one, we'll just eat it!

Crème Brûlée possibly made its debut in the U.S. via Thomas Jefferson as there are records of him serving it during his stint as President. James Beard mentioned the dessert in an LA Times article in the 1970's and versions of it were found in several early 1900's cookbooks. The delightful dish gained major popularity when a famous high-end restaurant in NYC, La Cirque, put it on their menu in the 80's solidifying it as an "elite dessert" at the time. Now it can be found just about everywhere and for everyone!

A recipe to try out 👩‍🍳 tasteoffrancemag.com/recipes/classic-creme-brulee/
Régale-toi bien! [Enjoy!]

අයෙකුගේ මග යන එක අයෙකුගේ ඉලක්කය නොවේ(Ayekuge maga yana eka ayekuge ilakkaya nowe)Translation: “Someone else’s path is no...
07/22/2026

අයෙකුගේ මග යන එක අයෙකුගේ ඉලක්කය නොවේ
(Ayekuge maga yana eka ayekuge ilakkaya nowe)
Translation: “Someone else’s path is not your destination.”

Focusing on each of our own unique journeys is encouraged by this Sri Lankan message. Not only should we respect that everyone is moving along via their own path, but that we ourselves are also on our own voyage... It's soooooo hard not to compare ourselves to others in life, but in order to make sure we have success we have to maintain what's true to ourselves by going at our own pace; maybe trust that this trail (with maybe a few detours) will get us where we need/want to be!

හොඳින් ඉන්න
(Hondin Inna)
Translation: Take care / Stay well

First and foremost, love yourself - you are your best asset and you cannot be replaced! ...
07/20/2026

First and foremost, love yourself - you are your best asset and you cannot be replaced!

¡Es viernes![It's Friday!]We're heading into the weekend and once it ends, we'll be saying "chau" to our international f...
07/17/2026

¡Es viernes!
[It's Friday!]

We're heading into the weekend and once it ends, we'll be saying "chau" to our international friends here for the FIFA World Cup! We are so glad you came and will miss your faces!

With that said we'd like to say good luck 🇬🇧 or "Bonne chance" 🇫🇷 to the French and English National teams playing Saturday in their 3rd place match. ANNNDD "¡Buena suerte!" 🇪🇸 and "¡Mucha suerte!" 🇦🇷 to both the Spain and Argentina teams on Sunday in the WC Finals! (We're not picking sides - Gooooo teams!)

Happy Friday friends!

🥵 "Un soleil de plomb"A French idiom that literally translates to "a sun of lead". In other words the sun is a blazing! ...
07/15/2026

🥵 "Un soleil de plomb"
A French idiom that literally translates to "a sun of lead". In other words the sun is a blazing! It's intense this week around here and the heat seems to feel like a lot of extra weight - like lead is weighing us down! That's summer, friends!

Stay safe out there!

Cooling Info:
☀ polkcountyiowa.gov/community-family-youth-services/senior-services/polk-county-warming-and-cooling-centers/
☀ kcci.com/article/iowa-weather-dangerous-heat-des-moines-polk-county-cooling-centers/71727951
☀ cbs2iowa.com/news/local/list-of-cooling-centers-across-eastern-iowa-to-get-relief-during-dangerous-heat
☀ nchh.org/information-and-evidence/learn-about-healthy-housing/emergencies/extreme-heat/cooling-centers-by-state/

There are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, almost 430 of those languages are spoken in the U.S.! The number of ind...
07/14/2026

There are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, almost 430 of those languages are spoken in the U.S.! The number of individuals in various communities where English isn't their primary tongue, is often higher than one would expect. We definitely need interpreters. They are so essential to easing the flow of communication as well as bridging the cultural gaps that can exist between people - they are intercultural mediators.

Being understood is critical! With a skilled interpreter, you reduce the odds of misunderstandings, something that can be crucial depending on the setting. Medical, legal, business... even casual conversation; making a mistake can cost plenty - and does. Avoiding these difficulties is so simple. Call us! Our team consists of native speakers who bring their culture with them wherever they go. They are professional, are sensitive to the settings in which they interpret, and know they are the links between at least two worlds.

We’re a voice where it’s needed.💜

Want to learn more about interpreting? Voices Blog ➡️ https://bit.ly/weAreEssential

Address

P. O. Box 40
Des Moines, IA
50301

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Voices Interpreting Company posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share