We regularly get enquiries from people who are unsure whether they need interpreting or translation, so what is the difference? Put simply, the distinction is between written and spoken tasks. Translation is when one or more translators take a written text in a given language, and provide an equivalent text in another language or languages. In contrast, an interpreter conveys spoken communication in another language. betterlanguages.com provides both translation services, and interpreting services. A major difference between the two types of service is that of physical location. A translator can work in any location in the world, providing they have suitable facilities including IT and a good internet connection. In contrast, interpreting usually takes place in a phyical location. One practical impact of this is that whilst we can provide translation in all major languages, we can’t always provide interpreters due to the need to have someone available at a specific time in a specific location. A general rule with interpreting is that the longer in advance you book, the better.

So what about the skills of a translator or interpreter, are they the same or different? Well quite different actually, although both require linguistic skill in the two languages, an interpreter needs to be able to listen to one language, and to distil the meaning in another, often performing both tasks at the same time. In contrast a translator is able to study the source text, and to spend time preparing a translation, they can also edit and review. Many translators prefer to prepare a rough draft first and then to go back and edit their work. Many people enjoy both tasks, but not all translators like or are good at interpreting, and not all interpreters make good translators.

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