Translation Companies: Which One Speaks to You?

HOW THEY PERFORMED: We tested the companies by asking, "How much is admission to the Capital Theater in Dongcheng, and how can we get tickets?"

The chinaONEcall interpreter could not get through to the theater immediately but researched the answer and called us back several times. His supervisor sent an e-mail saying that the 72-cent fee for a theater tour was recently dropped and that show ticket prices vary greatly. Per a subsequent request, a second e-mail provided a Web site in English to book entertainment in China. Total elapsed call time and charge (including research): Less than three minutes, about $4.40. However, 22 hours passed between first call and final answer.

An operator for Language Line Services dialed the theater with a U.S.-based interpreter (and us) on the line, for a three-way conversation. The interpreter asked the theater the questions, then repeated the answers for us in English: Productions run $14 to $42, but "bigger" (meaning very popular) ones can cost up to $129. We also received bonus information, including advice to book far in advance. Total elapsed call time and charge: Five minutes, $19.75.

Advantage: Language Line

BOTTOM LINE: For "in-person" translations between English and Chinese speakers, both services work equally well. However, when the company or customer must make the call to China, chinaONEcall is the better value, at about $1.48 a minute. On the flip side, Language Line has the pay-as-you-go advantage, a better deal for less-inquiring visitors. Also, because the company's translations occur in real time, there is less wait time between question and answer.

-- Sue Kovach Shuman