Meet Gabriela Sosa of Gift of the Gab Interpreting & Translating in Los Feliz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Sosa.

Gabriela, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started at the Bilingual Foundation for the Arts where many of the actors where interpreters as well. Since I worked as a conference interpreter in Panama, the decision was an easy one. My foreign language preparation at the Diplomatic Academy Vienna served me well – instruction was in German, English and French and we were required to learn 5 of the 6 languages of the Security Council. A fellow actor/interpreter encouraged me to cover one of his depositions and I was off and running. Since then, I became a State and Federal Certified Interpreter and have travelled the world interpreting for politicians and major brands, like Jaguar, Oakley, Harley Davidson and Glaukos. My interpreting skills have allowed me to interpret for visiting directors in film festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival and to do the live broadcast of E! Live on the Red Carpet for the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys. Rarely does one see or notice the interpreters as we are usually in a booth or backstage but you may have seen me on Judge Judy as one of her regular interpreters on the show.

Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest struggle as an interpreter was when Governor Schwarzenegger changed the law and suddenly only certified interpreters could work. The certification exam is only held rarely and one has to pass a written portion before moving on the oral portion which is offered a year later. While I waited to take the tests, I had to look for other employment but luckily, I passed all exams on the first try.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Gift of the Gab Interpreting & Translating story. Tell us more about the business.
I provide Spanish and French interpretation and translation. On a daily basis I interpret at the Federal Courthouse or in many of the State Courthouses in and around Southern California. My assignments in court cover everything from child custody cases to serial murders. I also work in law firms for depositions or in clinics for doctor appointments.

My conference interpreting takes me primarily to convention centers around the world, although sometimes I have had the good fortune to interpret on cruise ships.

I am approached to translate subtitles for films and to do dubbing. Similarly, I have been the Spanish Language interpreter for the Spanish Film Festival at the Egyptian Theater for over 10 years.

What makes me proud on a daily basis is when my clients say “you are the best interpreter I’ve ever had!”

One of the things that sets Gift of the Gab Interpreting & Translating apart from the others is our use of interpreting equipment to make the process as quiet and seamless as possible.

I also have broad network of seasoned and verified interpreters to call upon when the job requires multiple languages.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There will be more and more video interpretation.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.giftofthegabinterpreting.com/
• Phone: 323-377-2667
• Email: info@giftofthegabinterpreting.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giftofthegabinterpreting
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gift-of-the-gab-interpreting-and-translating-los-angeles
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-sosa-27b0001a/

Image Credit:
Armando Arorizo
Two Dudes & a Photobooth

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