08 Jun Translators are NOT interpreters!
Posted at 16:17h
in Article
As a language service provider, on a daily basis we face what might be the most common misconception in the translation field: believe it or not, translating and interpreting are actually two very different jobs.
Our long-term partner, the American Translators Association*, has published a thorough piece on this topic. Here are the main takeaways:
Similarities
- Both need language proficiency in the language pair they are working with, the target language being their mother tongue
- Both can be either full-time employees or freelancers
- Both earn certifications and specialisations as quality assurance
- Both have to face the challenges of idiomatic and cultural differences when conveying metaphorical ideas or analogies
Differences
- Translators work on written documents while interpreters work on spoken or signed languages
- For quoting, translators often focus on word count and language pairing, whereas interpreters use the type of service provided and the duration of the assignment
- For delivery, interpreters provide their services live on the spot, while translators may deliver the translated document a while after the order went through
- Translators may use supportive machinery such as AI or CAT tools, while interpreters use high-tech headphones and note-taking technologies
Source :
HTTPS://ATANET.ORG/ADVOCACY-OUTREACH/ATA-CELEBRATES-INTERNATIONAL-TRANSLATION-DAY-2018/