Differences between a Translator, an Interpreter, and a Transcriber

Each service is appropriate for different situations, and each requires a different set of skills, training, and linguistic knowledge.

TRANSLATION

Translation involves rendering written content in one language (the source) into another language (the target). Characteristics of a good translator:

• Linguistic and cultural skills.
• Must have the ability to write well.
• Often specialists in a particular field.
• Detail-oriented. Skilled translators pay close attention to the meaning of the text and the source content’s style, tone, and grammatical structure.

INTERPRETING

Interpreting involves rendering spoken content in one language (the source) into another language (the target). Types of interpreters:

• Simultaneous
• Consecutive

Interpretation is not a word-for-word translation; it is all about paraphrasing. Interpreters need first to transpose the source language within context, preserving its original meaning while rephrasing idioms, colloquialisms, and other culturally specific references in ways the target audience will understand. An interpreter’s only resources are experience, a good memory, and quick thinking.

TRANSCRIPTION

Transcription involves rendering spoken content in one language into written content in the same language. Types of transcriptions:

• Verbatim, transcribing a text word by word.
• Clean-read transcription, excluding errors and fillers.

Main distinctions to consider when deciding which service do you need:

	TRANSLATOR	INTERPRETER	TRANSCRIBER
MEDIUM OF DELIVERY	It can occur long after the original has been created	It can occur on the spot or by phone, but immediately	It can occur long after the original has been created
ACCURACY	100%	60-80%	80-90%
DIRECTION	Fluent in target language	Fluent in both, source and target language	Fluent in target language