Abstract :
In order to know how to make the best use of translators and interpreters it is first necessary to know something about the business in which they work, and how they themselves work. The translation industry is a hidden one, indeed many people seem to be unaware that the industry exists at all, or that people can make their living by this means. This is hardly surprising, as even those who are in the industry have very little idea about how much activity it represents. Demand is for the most part sporadic, arises in unpredictable ways and is very difficult to measure. Here, therefore, the author presents an overview of translation and interpretation in an international business context