The Difference Between a Translator and an Interpreter
How do you know if you need to hire a translator or an interpreter?
When you’re immigrating or even traveling, finding the right person to help you get your message in a different language than your native one, isn’t always easy.
Imagine you have a medical emergency, but you don’t speak English fluently, do you need an interpreter, or a translator? Why? Where do you find them? How can you make sure you communicate clearly with a doctor?
Or, maybe you need to get translations of official documents for getting your immigration paperwork in place, so whatever the case, learning the difference between what a translator and an interpreter does can help you understand what to look for and which professional is best for the type of language service you need.
But don’t worry, I’m here to explain all the details!
What’s the main difference between a translator and an interpreter?
In short, translators work with the written word. They take your documents in one language and rewrite them in a different language. On the other hand, interpreters work with the spoken word. They typically work in two directions, meaning they must be fluent in the two or more languages they are working with.
So now that you know the main difference between the two, let’s dive a little deeper into what each one does so that you can decide if you need an interpreter or translator for your language needs.
What does a translator do?
Translators work with the written word and most often are good writers in the languages they work with. There are different types of translators that can also specialize in different areas such as law, business, medical services, or certified translations just to name a few examples.
Translators have a wide variety of methods for establishing fees and the rates can vary due to the complexity of a document, specialty or purpose.
Types of common translations:
- Legal documents
- Marriage or divorce certificates
- Driver’s license
- Birth certificates
- Academic documents
- Documents per specific industry (medical, automotive, business)
- Subtitles
- Poetry
Translators typically work specifically on translation services either online or in person, and almost always do their work digitally (which is the most efficient way). If you require your physical documents, they will let you know when and where to pick them up.
So as you can see, the scope of services a translator can handle is very large
Tips for choosing a trusted translator
- Look for someone who has excellent written skills
- Make sure your translator is fluent in both languages
- Specialization is key, depending on your document and translation needs, look for someone who has vast experience in that field
- Have clear and open communication
Bonus tip: Certified translations need to be 100% accurate.
Any legal translation needs to be 100% accurate to both the context and the specific words used. Translators will never change the words or use words that do not mean quite the same thing.
That means that when you’re looking for a translator, you should find a professional who understands the cultural nuance of both languages and will pay detailed attention to your documents.
Look for someone whom you can trust and understands the context of your documents. If you want a personalized approach, a
boutique translation agency can be a delight to work with.
What does an interpreter do?
Interpreters also take words in one language and change it to another, but a little differently. They work with the spoken word and must communicate correctly style, tone and message to the target language. They can also do simultaneous interpretations. Interpreters need to hear or see messages in one language and communicate them either verbally or in sign language.
Interpreters do not translate documents. They translate your words, as you say them.
Using the same example as earlier, say you only speak Spanish and you are at a court hearing, you'll need a court interpreter specializing to communicate clearly with the judge.
An interpreter who speaks both English and Spanish will sit in the room and will interpret to both, you and the judge, what the other has said in real time.
Common types of interpretation services
Interpreters can do their work either virtually, in-person, over the phone, or even on live TV. It is an active service delivered in real time, so it really depends on what type of interpretation you need to decide who to work with. Some of the common types of interpretation services are:
- Interpreters for hospitals and medical services
- Interpreters for schools
- Interpreters for legal services, banking, science, business
- Interpreters for television news
Tips for choosing a trusted interpreter
Spoken language has a lot of nuance. That’s why choosing a trusted interpreter is key to make sure you get the right message across two languages. Here are some things to consider:
- Look for someone who has excellent listening and visual skills
- Make sure the interpreter has a lot of experience in the field you need help with, even in some cases, like medical services, you may have the right to request an interpreter depending on the laws of where you reside.
- Be clear about where and when you need their service and provide them with as many details and context as possible.
Here’s my favorite place for looking for a trusted interpreter
Communicating in two languages is a fun and enriching experience
As an immigrant, I know how overwhelming it may be to move to a new country and struggle with a new language. But that’s exactly why translators and interpreters exist!
They make so many legal and day to day processes a breeze and can help you step by step to solve your language needs as you adapt to a new culture or need help with specific services.
Don’t let language barriers overwhelm you, and if you need a friendly face to help with anything related to certified translations, I’d love to help. I’ve worked with many incredible people in the U.S. I also share lots of useful
resources for newcomers
Welcome
I'm Araceli Patino. I was born and raised in Mexico City. As an immigrant myself, I know how it feels to be in a hurry to get your documents in order to finish any legal process you are going through. I'm passionate about building bridges that allow people to communicate.
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