When you get two people together that speak no common languages, communication is difficult. Sometimes, recognition of the miscommunication happens quickly. One person tries (in their own language) to ask if the other person understands what they are saying. In the opposite direction, the same question (in the second person’s language) follows sincerely puzzled looks from both people.

What happens next?

You probably have been in these situations when seemingly the only resort is to use sign language. Our hands start waving and fingers start pointing. Occasionally, accompanying the gestures, we speak slower and louder as if that makes the language clearer. Through the pantomime, amazingly, we often get enough information to take our next step. Inefficient and fraught with negative possibilities, nevertheless it sometimes works.

How valuable would a translator be at those times?

Pretty valuable, because their expert services would significantly reduce the risk of misunderstanding. Both parties would walk away more confident that they have been understood. Whatever the next steps, they would not be left hanging with a question of whether or not they had made the best choice based on the clearest information (something that a good translation could have easily provided).

Business communications and its issues are not much different.