Difference between a Translator and an Interpreter

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Both the Translator and Interpreter perform the same task, conversion of one language to another. Even though they carry out the same task, their job settings and nature of job differ in many aspects. Translators are those people who interpret the written material of source language to the target language. Interpreters are those who translate the spoken component of one language to another.

Translator Course and Career opportunities

Translation is closely related to the linguistic discipline and is concerned with the translation or conversion of a written material in one language to another. Translators are the individuals who perform these tasks. They interpret the written text to another language. Translation is performed in various forms of written works which include newspapers, literature, software interfaces, contracts and websites. Translators usually work with their primary language and translate it into written form. They must have good analyzing ability and incredible sentence structure.

The main responsibility of the translators is to convert the documents into two diverse languages. They can take extra time to think about the words or sentences that are being conveyed in one language, before translating it into another language for new document. They must have the ability to understand the source language and the culture of the country from where the text originated and must convey the accurate meaning of the text to the target audience.

Interpreter Course and Career opportunities

Interpretation is also a linguistic discipline which is related with performing the translation of spoken material in one language into another language. Interpreters are those who carry out these tasks. Interpreting may occur in various setting including meetings, conferences and over the telephone. They may have to translate the message in both ways, from speaker to listener and from listener to speaker. So they need knowledge in more than two languages.

Interpreters need outstanding listening ability especially in the case of simultaneous interpretation. They need to memorize the words or sentences and understand the proper message and then interpret it to other language. Besides all, interpreters need good public speaking skills and interpersonal ability in order to transform the source language into an understandable target language for the audience. Interpreters are mostly recruited in reputed firms or organizations to carry out conversations with the other organizations in foreign countries.

Key differentiators between Translator and Interpreter

  • Translators are those professionals who interpret the written form of document in one language to another language whereas Interpreters perform the translation of oral material in one language to another
  • Translators usually work with two or three languages whereas Interpreters need knowledge in more than two languages

Although Translators and Interpreters carry out the same kind of work, their work settings and skills required differs a lot.

 
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