Difference between Translation and Interpretation

You have been referred to this page because someone wants to politely explain to you the difference between translation and interpretation. There is no need to take offense. This is just an effort to educate many people who have previously been unaware. Not everyone outside the language industry knows the difference, but here is a basic principle you need to understand if you want to maintain credibility and appear as if you know what you are talking about.Translation is Written & Interpretation is SpokenIt is really very simple. Translation is written. Interpretation is spoken. Translators work with written language. Interpreters deal with spoken language. That's it! There is nothing more to it!Authoritative ReferencesTrust me. You can take my word for it since I've worked as both a translator and an interpreter, and I've managed both translators and interpreters. If that is not enough to make you believe me, then check out a few of these authoritative references (with emphasis added):
Although interpretation and translation have much in common, the practice of each profession differs in the same way that written language differs from spoken... Interpreters must be good public speakers who are adept at grasping meaning and solving complex linguistic problems quickly, whereas translators must be able to conduct thorough and meticulous research and produce accurate, camera-ready documents while adhering to tight deadlines.Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, & Language EducationMonterey Institute of International Studies
Translation refers to the rendering of written materials into a different language.... Interpretation refers to the relaying of spoken words, such as lectures or conversations, into another language....Center for Language StudyYale University
Translators work with the written word.... Interpreters work with the spoken word....American Translators Association
Interpreters deal with spoken words, translators with written words.US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Even Wikipedia recognizes that many people attempt to use the word "translation" to refer to both; however, "interpretation and translation are not synonymous."Maintain Journalistic CredibilityI hope by now you get it and you think I'm beating a dead horse. If you find this repetitive and are almost ready to click away from thsi page, that is a good thing. Unfortunately, after all the evidence above has been presented, there are still some incredibly stubborn people who bury their heads in the sand and insist the two words are interchangeable. Sometimes these people will become very defensive and attack the person correcting them. I once had a reporter tell me he would not pay any attention to my suggestion because I had omitted a serial comma from my email. Please don't be one of those people. It will only embarrass you.Imagine how embarrassing it would be for a reporter to confuse "libel" with "slander," when there is such a clear difference: libel is written, and slander is spoken. Or imagine how silly it would sound if a reporter referred to how a pair of political candidates demonstrated what great writers they were as they spoke impromptu in a recent debate. Clearly speakers speak and writers write, and it is just plain wrong to think that the words for speaking and writing are interchangeable.
· Writing ≠ Speaking
· Authors ≠ Orators
· Translation ≠ Interpretation
· Translators ≠ Interpreters
Journalists and reporters can maintain or lose credibility depending on how well they convey their understanding of the differences between the following: U.S. House and Senate; libel and slander; civil court and criminal court; speaking and writing; translation and interpretation; and more...The Nicole Kidman ExampleFor one final example, remember Hollywood's 2005 film starring Nicole Kidman. Hollywood does not always get it right, but it did in this particular case. The film is correctly called The Interpreter, NOT The Translator, because Kidman's character works as a U.N. interpreter and deals with the spoken word, NOT the written word.
The simple illustration above was created by interpreters Johanna Parker and Sam Pinilla while they were pursuing graduate studies in translation and interpretation at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. It was distributed to moviegoers in the Language Capital of the World when the The Interpreter was released in 2005.Thank youSo, after kicking this dead horse a few more times, I hope you are convinced enough to use the words translation and interpretation correctly in the future. No one was insulting you by directing you to this link. This is merely an effort to educate journalists and reporters. Greater understanding will benefit everyone, and anyone reporting on this topic will be taken much more seriously if he or she uses these terms correctly.
Thank you for taking the time to write about or report on translation or interpretation. And thank you for taking the time to educate yourself about these two professions and their differences.Additional InformationFor an illustration of the angst felt by translators and interpreters every time people misuse these terms, see this comic by the late Ted Crump.For more advanced industry terminology, read The Confusing Language of the Language Industry.