If you’ve ever talked to someone over a faulty phone line or cell phone connection riddled with static and phantom voices, you know how infuriating it can be. Communication must be clear and understandable.
Imagine our world today, when air travel has shortened physical distances and the Internet has reduced air travel altogether. Business, tourism, culture, education, entertainment, and diplomacy are no longer limited by physical borders. But they can’t thrive if language is a barrier. Not everyone can be a linguist. This is where translation and interpretation services come in.
The work of interpreters and translators is somewhat similar, but they work in different fields.
Translate services
Basically, translators interpret the written text.
Translators must be fluent in the source language of the text (the source language) and the culture of the country where the source originated. Next, they must perform an accurate translation into the target language.
Linguistic and cultural experience is essential. The ability to write well in the target language is no less. The translation should flow smoothly and feel like it was originally written in the target language.
Translations of scientific, medical, legal material, etc. subject matter expertise is required. In such fields, a translator will also have to be a good researcher.
Literary translations need a different look: the soul, as well as the body of matter, needs to be translated or the work will have no flavor.
interpretation services
Interpretation is an oral form of translation in which the interpreter listens, captures the content, and then rephrases the matter in the target language. An interpreter must be able to translate in both directions immediately; the luxury of dictionaries or reference materials is not available to him/her.
Interpreting services need to be experts and understand that meaning and words need to be conveyed in the context in which they are used to be effective.
Interpretation can occur in a variety of settings, from conferences, meetings, outings and diplomatic interactions, and even over the phone.
The interpretation can be of two types:
Consecutive interpreting means that the interpreter listens to parts of the speech and then translates that segment into the target language while the speaker remains silent during that time.
Simultaneous interpretation requires equipment to help interpret as the speaker delivers the speech.
Since interpreting services do not have the luxury of rewinding and referencing, interpreters must be thorough on the subject and intimately familiar with both cultures. Their vocabulary in both languages must be extensive, and they must be able to express themselves clearly. Consecutive interpreting requires that the interpreter also have excellent note-taking technique.
Both translators and interpreters need to have a strong love of languages and a deep understanding of more than one language.
The similarities
Interpretation and translation work involves a source/original language and a target language.
In both types of work, the source or target language is usually the mother tongue.
Both works foresee extracting a message from the source language and transmitting it to the target audience correctly and faithfully in the target language.
Interpreters and translators are essentially linguists
Both jobs require professionally qualified people.
The differences
The main difference is that a translator works with the written word while the interpreter’s job is oral.
An interpreter’s job requires him/her to jump between both languages. This is not true for translation services.
Interpreter services do not have the luxury of time. Translation services have to be timely, without a doubt, but there is time to reference, consult and test more than one translation version to arrive at the most optimal product.
Translators use dictionaries, computer tools, etc. An interpreter, on the other hand, may use headphones, a notepad and pen to take notes, and a microphone. A performer must also have a deep memory to draw upon and the gift of instant recall to be effective.
The complexity of today’s life makes interpretation and translation a complex skill. If communication has to be effective, be it for business, pleasure or intellectual pursuit, it cannot be taken lightly. Translation and interpretation services are specialized fields and need qualified, trained and experienced professionals.