Difference Between Interpreter and Translator

The terms interpreter and translator are often used interchangeably. It is popularly believed that they are synonyms or that they mean the same thing, however, the truth is that they are words with different meanings and care must be taken not to confuse them so as not to give way to misunderstandings. Difference Between Interpreter and Translator

If you have doubts about the difference between interpreter and translator or are simply looking for a little more information to complement what you already know, then continue reading, because below we explain everything you want and need to know around this interesting topic.

INTERPRETER Difference Between Interpreter and Translator

An interpreter, is as its name suggests, a person in charge of interpreting a message. That is, it does not repeat what has been literally said or written; rather it extracts the essence of it and makes it known.

Interpreters explain the meaning of things , therefore, they go beyond the mere fact of repeating the same message; their work often involves deep research. Sometimes interpreters end up translating things, for this reason they are often confused with translators; However, if you pay attention to the other details explained at the time of making a certain translation, it is possible to understand why it is an interpretation.

One of the main characteristics that differentiates an interpreter from a translator is that the former takes into account the context in which a message is produced.

TRANSLATOR

On the other hand, although in certain cases a translator has to use interpretation to make himself understood, in general his work is only limited to literally translating the message in question. The occasions in which a translator uses interpretation is because some languages ​​are difficult, if not impossible, to translate word for word into another language . There are phrases and words that can only be understood when the context in which they occur is taken into account.

Regardless, a translator does not always require a deep general understanding of a text or message in order to translate it; which an interpreter does need to have.

Finally, although technically a person can be both; interpreter and translator, it is not always the case that this is the case. Interpreting requires more skills than those required to translate, for example, greater willingness and attention when listening, deeper investigations and being able to synthesize information.

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