What’s the difference between translation and interpretation?
Whenever I tell relatives that I studied languages for my degree, their first question would always be, “So do you want to be a translator?”. This is then followed by “Does that mean you’ll translate live for important people at events?”.
While I’m flattered that my relatives believe in my language abilities, I often had to explain that a degree in languages is not the same as a degree in translation, and that being able to translate does not necessarily mean that I could also interpret.
At Jala, we’ve discussed what translation processes look like, how technology is integrated into the field of translation, and what tips and tools use aid our work — but what about interpretation?
How similar or different are translation and interpretation? Why aren’t they the same thing?
Translation vs Interpretation
Indeed, both an interpreter and translator share a common purpose, that is, to convey a message to the target audience in their native language. This requires both roles to have a good command of the languages they work in.
While they are closely related disciplines in linguistics, there are some distinct differences — the key being the medium they render the translation in.
To put it simply: an interpreter translates orally, and a translator translates written text. Because of this, the roles require different skill sets.
As interpreting occurs live and often with an audience, an interpreter must also have good presentation and communication skills. It is also important for interpreters to have good listening, memorisation and note-taking skills.
If you’ve seen the hit Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, then you might notice Marie Kondo’s talented interpreter, Marie Iida, who coincidentally has the same first name. During the course of filming the show, Iida pointed out that it was challenging to portray Kondo’s personality and character accurately. Besides translating her words, Iida also made it a point to pay close attention to Kondo’s tone of voice, posture, facial expressions and even humour, as that could change the feel of an entire conversation.
Meanwhile, translation requires exceptional writing prowess. To translate text in a way that is comprehendible to people of different cultural backgrounds, it is crucial to accompany good writing skills with an understanding of how a text is read to a native eye. A good translator must therefore understand the thinking and context behind the text while paying attention to the style and nuances of the writing.
The processes of interpretation and translation differ in time and method as well. Translators have the benefit of having more time and access to reference materials and other people to help review, edit and proofread their work.
Translators and interpreters also use different tools to aid them with their work. While translators have computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, while interpreters use shorthand notes to keep track of their work.
So why can’t we lump translation and interpretation as one thing?
Translation often allows the translator to exercise their creative flair to elicit similar nuances to the source text, even when it might not be entirely accurate. This can be seen in the French translation of the popular Harry Potter series, where he cleverly kept the author’s use of word play and translated the name of the wizarding school, Hogwarts, into “L’École de Poudlard” (a play on “poux-de-lard”), meaning “bacon lice”.
On the other hand, the interpreter has to maintain accuracy of what is spoken in the source language to prevent any misunderstanding, which is extremely crucial when interpreting in a legal conference, or in asylum hearings. A classic example is 1977 U.S. president Jimmy Carter’s visit to Poland, where his interpreter turned Carter’s opening remarks from “I left the United States this morning” into “I left the United States, never to return”, insinuating that he abandoned his nation.
With a common purpose to bridge language gaps, both translation and interpretation have contributed to the world by aiding the exchange of knowledge and cultural ideas. By understanding the differences in their method and medium, we can better appreciate the expertise and skills that go into the fields as two separate forms of cross-linguistic communication.
Written by Chrystal Hooi
