In my previous articles, I talked about translation and the work of a translator. Now, ‘interpreting’ enters the scene. Many clients asked for a translator when they are on a business trip to a country of which the language they cannot speak. Is it the correct term? Well, yes and no. Let us delve into both terms. Both interpreter and translator work with communication and conveying a client’s message. They transfer the information into the target language. So, how do we know whether a person is called an interpreter or a translator? And do they work differently?
In the most general way, an interpreter works with spoken communication while a translator deals with texts. Most of the time, clients mistakenly call an interpreter as a translator since the latter is a relatively more familiar and popular term than the former. For example, on a business trip, the client might need both services: he needs the interpreter to interpret his presentation and the translator to translate his documents. Can an interpreter do this? He most likely can, while a translator might not have the interpreting skill.
Interpreting needs a long training period because he needs to orally translate the client’s utterances into the target language on the spot! He hasn’t got much time to surf the internet or consult a dictionary. He relies on his ears, notepad, and voice; months or even years of training support his field skills. Interpreters are challenged with accuracy and timing: translating the words accurately within a very limited thinking process (often in seconds!).
Do you conclude that an interpreter is a super hard job that only linguists have the skill for it? Well, yes: if you are not trained, and no: not all linguists (or even translators) have the skill to interpret. It is, however, a very promising and high-paid job because of its level of challenge: the fewer the experts, the more expensive the skill.