Translators and interpreters are both valuable members of any organization or group. They help make connections between people who speak different languages and cultures, which makes them essential to any operation that deals with people from diverse backgrounds.
Both translators and interpreters play an important role in making sure information is communicated clearly and efficiently. But what’s the difference between translation and interpretation? How can you tell if your job requires you to be a translator, interpreter, or both? What sort of challenges will you face as either one of these professionals? Let’s take a closer look at these two fields so you can find out if they are right for you!
What is translation?
Translation refers to the process of changing information from one language to another. A translation may be written or spoken, and translation is often used to describe both of these types. When written, translation is often done using a computer program.
If you work as a translator, you might be translating marketing materials, instructional manuals, contracts, or other forms of written communication. You may also translate correspondence or speeches. Translation is often a one-way process. You take information from one language and create the same information in another language.
So, if you’re translating from English to Spanish, you’re creating a new piece of Spanish content based on the original English. Translation is most commonly used for languages that are very different from one another. For example, many languages like English, Spanish, and French are Indo-European languages and share a lot of similar vocabulary and syntactical structures. These languages are usually more easily translated than more distant languages.
What is interpretation?
Interpretation refers to the process of converting spoken or sign language into written or spoken language. Interpreters may work in a number of settings, including courtrooms, hospitals, and international relations. Interpreting is usually a two-way process.
Interpreters take one spoken or sign language, and then “translate” that into a written or spoken language. For example, if an interpreter is working between English and Spanish, they will take what’s being said in English and write it in Spanish. Interpreters often take notes on the spot so they can refer to them while translating.
When working in a legal setting, interpreters may also provide a summary of what has been said so far. This helps lawyers and judges follow the conversation and make decisions based on what has been said.
How are translation and interpretation different?
There are several key differences between translation and interpretation. First, translation is often one-directional. Interpreting is always two-directional. Even when working with a fairly similar language, like Spanish, an interpreter will take information in one language and then create content in another language.
When working with a more distant language, like Japanese or Chinese, interpreting may require more creativity and flexibility.
Language directionality Interpreting and translation also differ in the level of formality and context in which they are used. When working as an interpreter in a courtroom, for example, you want to be as formal as the environment requires. You may want to use “please” and “thank you” often in your interpreting so that you are polite to the other speakers. Interpreting also relies more heavily on cultural context and shared knowledge. If you’re interpreting between two people who share a common cultural background, you can use your shared understanding of the world and not worry as much about misinterpretation.
Translation vs. interpretation: which is more important?
The truth of the matter is that translation and interpretation are equally important and serve very different purposes. Translation relies on shared cultural concepts and knowledge. If you take a piece of information from one language and try to interpret it into another language, you are relying on your understanding of each culture to make sure the information is accurately transferred.
Interpretation relies on shared cultural concepts and knowledge as well, but it has an added component. An interpreter relies on their own understanding of both cultures. Interpreters try to anticipate possible misinterpretations or gaps in knowledge and adjust their interpreting accordingly. This is why interpretation is often shorter than the original speech. Interpreters often try to summarize what is being said so they can make sure they don’t leave anything out and also don’t use too many words that may be unfamiliar to their audience.
The skills translators and interpreters need
Both translators and interpreters need excellent language skills. You need to be very fluent in the source language and the target language. This means you need to understand the grammar, syntax, and cultural nuances of both languages. Translation and interpretation go hand-in-hand with excellent listening skills. You have to be able to concentrate on what’s being said while also taking notes and trying to understand the context.
Translation and interpreting also require a deep understanding of culture. This goes beyond just knowing the obvious differences between cultures. It means understanding the nuances of each culture and the ways they interact with each other.
Translation also requires an excellent grasp of editing and proofreading skills. Even though you may not be editing your own work, your translation has to be as clear and cohesive as possible. You have to find the right words and structure so that the information is presented clearly and concisely.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are some key differences between translation and interpretation. However, translators and interpreters both work to bridge communication gaps between different cultures and languages.
Translation is most useful for languages that are quite different from one another. For example, English and Chinese are very different languages. This means that translation is often one-directional: You take information from one language and create the same information in another language.
Interpreting is most useful for fairly similar languages. When working with fairly similar languages, you also take information in one language and create content in another language. Translation and interpretation work together to create connections and foster understanding between different peoples.
