We live in an increasingly complex world, where not everything fits into a clear category. Chances are some people will need assistance with elements related to languages, texts or communication, but not exactly translation or interpreting. Some common tasks are copywriting, proofreading, and multilingual DTP, but don’t be surprised if what you need is something entirely different.
The following are some of the issues that can be addressed with language consultancy, but by no means the only ones:
Variety adaptation: Can I use this text in Spanish in Argentina, this one in German in Switzerland, and this one in Asturian in Cangas del Narcea?
Creative collaboration: I have all the information for my CV, but I don’t know where to start. I have to prepare a speech and a presentation and I know what I want to say, but not how.
Marketing and social media: Is it better to make one bilingual post or two posts—one in each language? What if someone sends me a private message in a language I don’t speak?
New technologies: What do I need to consider when creating a multilingual website?
Inclusion and anti-discrimination: How can I adapt my content to include people of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, etc.?
Language assessment: I need to hire someone who speaks a language I don’t know. How can I determine their level of proficiency?
Style manuals: In my organization there are a number of people creating content and we need to unify our voice.