What is the difference between translation and interpretation?
Answer 2 Translation usually refers to the written word, whereas interpretation is always oral. There are different ways of interpreting depending on the type of event and number of listeners. – Simultaneous interpreting: The interpreters will sit in a soundproof booth and the audience will follow the conversation in their own language through headphones. Suitable for large groups.
Translation refers to written material, whereas interpretation is done orally. These skills are not necessarily connected. A good translator may not be a good interpreter, and a good interpreter may not be a good translator. There are three different kinds of interpreting: simultaneous (or conference), consecutive, and escort. Simultaneous interpreting takes place at conferences, such as at the UN. The interpreter sits in a booth and speaks into a microphone, interpreting at virtually the same time as the speaker. People hooked up by headphones to the interpreter’s microphone listen to the speech. Consecutive interpreting is when one person speaks, pauses to allow the interpreter to interpret what was said, and then continues. Escort interpreting is when the interpreter accompanies the client to various locations, often acting as a tour guide.
The term ‘translation’ as it is broadly used refers to the process of changing something that is written or spoken into another language. In the translation industry however, we often use the term ‘translation’ to refer to written translation while interpretation refers to spoken or verbal translation.
Translation is the transferring of written materials from one language into another. Interpretation is the transferring of oral messages from one language into another. There are many modes of interpretation. For a consecutive interpretation, the interpreter listens to a short message, possibly taking notes, and the speaker pauses to allow the interpreter to relay the message in short pieces. Simultaneous interpretation is done at the United Nations, for example, when interpreters sit in booths with headsets and speak in the target language while listening in the source language. Telephonic interpretation is what its name indicates, interpretation done over the phone so clients need not all be in the same place. Liaison interpretation is when an interpreter accompanies a client to meetings or other events. Whispering, or chuchotage, is when an interpreter is only needed for one to three people and simply simultaneously passes the message on to the clients without the use of any equipme
