We live in a global world. Experiencing different languages and cultures, especially at work, has never been more common due to the worldwide acceptance of remote work and video conferencing. It’s simpler than ever before to work, play, and communicate with others, no matter where they live on this big blue marble. That’s a beautiful thing! It’s especially beautiful if you’re an interpreter or translator.

This global mingling means that sometimes, words will literally get lost in translation, and we need people well-versed in multiple languages to make sure that doesn’t happen. Interpreters and translators work to make sure that words in one language are understood in another. But when considering interpreters vs. translators, what exactly is the difference? How do you know which one you need for any situation with a language barrier? Let’s break it down.

Similarities and Differences Between Translators and Interpreters

While these jobs seem similar on the surface, it might surprise you to know that the differences between interpreters and translators outweigh the similarities. The simplest way to tell the difference between interpreter vs. translator is this: translators work with written text, while interpreters work with spoken words. There are, however, other more nuanced differences and similarities to be aware of.

Similarities between translators and interpreters:

• Both make one language understandable in another
• Both need to be experts in the source and destination language
• Accuracy is vital for both jobs
• Both need to stay on top of evolutions and trends in multiple languages

Differences between translators and interpreters:

• Interpreters work with spoken words; translators work with text
• Translators work in a single direction; interpreters usually work with parties on both ends of a conversation
• Interpreters must be bilingual; translators can be only partially bilingual since they don’t need to speak
• Interpreters must be able to work on the spot, while translators often have time to research
• Interpreters need to be excellent public speakers; translators excel in grammar and syntax

Interpreter 101

Interpreters convert speech from one language into another language.

Interpreters need to think and hear in two directions, often at the same time. Their job is to listen to words spoken in one language (including sign language) and convert it into another language. Often, they have to use the exact same process in the other direction, enabling a free-flowing exchange between two people (or more!) who wouldn’t otherwise be able to communicate in real time.

Interpretation is not a matter of simply speaking multiple languages. It requires quick thinking and a full comprehension of cultures and dialects. Interpreters must also be able to understand a speaker’s tone and subtext and convey them adequately to someone who doesn’t speak that language.

Benefits of Interpretation

Interpretation is a vital service that enables communication all over the world. It’s used at city council meetings, during sports interviews, and at the United Nations. Without interpretation, some people from different cultures might never interact. Interpreters allow people to understand one another. This bridges language barriers and even builds relationships.

Qualifications Needed To Be an Interpreter

You technically do not need a degree to be an interpreter, but a degree or certification will certainly help you land a job in the field. There’s no licensing body for interpretation.

Obviously, you must be fluent in multiple languages. For some people, this comes from life circumstances like growing up in a bilingual household. Some people have learned different languages by watching subtitles on movies and TV. Others attend college to earn a degree in a foreign language, as many employers require a bachelor’s degree.

While there’s no universal interpretation course or certification, there are interpreter training programs for a number of industries, and graduating from one will increase your chance of landing a job. Some of the more prominent courses include:

• ASL Interpreting Services
• National Association of Judiciary Interpreters
• Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters
• National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters

How long does it take to become an interpreter? For some, the act of becoming bilingual is a lifelong endeavor. Some take a four-year college course in a foreign language. To get accredited to interpret in a specific industry training course though, expect around 40 hours of training, minimum, in addition to any life experience or schooling.

Do Interpreters Get To Travel a Lot?

Many interpreters regularly travel all over the world, but travel isn’t always guaranteed. It depends on your definition of “travel,” really.

While an interpreter for, say, a professional baseball player might be on-call 24/7 and work in multiple cities every week, another interpreter might work exclusively in a small town on the Texas border. There’s interpretation work for those who love traveling, those who stick close to home, and everything in between.

What to Know About Translators

Translators convert text from one language into text in another language.

Are you wondering “What is translation, exactly?” Translators must fully understand the source language in order to produce text in the new language that retains tone and nuance, in addition to being grammatically correct. While translators don’t necessarily need to be fluent when speaking, writing well in both the source and target languages is vital.

Here’s what it’s not. It’s not simply reading a text and changing it word-by-word into a different language. The process of translation is not a one-to-one job, which is what makes it so complicated.

Translators in the Real World

Translation is a vital service all over the world in all manner of industries. Law firms, schools, hospitals, manufacturers, publishers, movie studios…the list of potential employers is virtually endless, and the types of jobs are even more so.

For instance, a translator at a manufacturing firm might translate product information and assembly instructions into a different language. Audiobooks that are published in multiple languages…you guessed it! Translated by a professional. In legal settings, a translator might take transcribed witness testimony and translate it verbatim for non-native language readers. Video subtitles often need to be translated so other cultures can understand dialogue.

Without translation, our world becomes siloed very quickly.

How Do You Become a Translator?

As with interpreters, there aren’t set rules for becoming a professional translator. Many employers require a four-year degree, but the most important qualification is fluency in reading and writing in at least two languages.

That said, there are translation courses offered by a number of universities that will get you a leg up on being certified. Notable courses are offered by:

• Georgia State University Translation and Interpretation Program
• International Institute of Buffalo, New York Interpreting and Translation Department
• Kent State University Institute for Applied Linguistics

After completing a course, or if you feel knowledgeable enough without taking a course, you can take a test to be certified by the American Translators Association, the only widely recognized measure of competence for translation in the U.S.

Common Questions Regarding Interpretation and Translation

There is a lot to know and understand about the world of interpretation and translation. The potential combination of languages is nearly infinite, especially when you factor in all the possible industries that need translators and interpreters.

While we can’t possibly answer all your questions, we can answer the most frequently asked queries.

What Are the Three Main Types of Translators?

The three main types of translators are human translators, machine translators, and post-edited machine translators. Human translation is, obviously enough, translation that’s completed entirely by a human. It’s considered to be the most accurate type.

Machine translation is completed by a machine or AI. It can be extremely fast but isn’t incredibly accurate as AI hasn’t gotten to the point where it can grasp every nuance of human language. But if you’re looking to rush translate a text, this is the option for you.

Post-edited machine translation is the best of both worlds. It’s fast because an initial draft is generated by AI. But it’s more accurate than machine-only translation because a human edits the draft, ideally catching mistakes and misunderstandings made by the machine. This combination of human-backed AI translation is something we specialize in at Rev.

Can You Be Both a Translator and an Interpreter?

It’s certainly possible to be both a translator and an interpreter, since the core competency of both jobs is to intimately understand multiple languages. That said, they are substantially different roles that take up a lot of time and a wide range of skills. Nothing is stopping someone from, say, interpreting by day and translating those same languages by night, though.

Who Gets Paid More, a Translator or Interpreter?

Translators get paid a bit more than interpreters. According to Indeed.com, translators earn a national average salary of around $64,000 per year while the national average salary of an interpreter is about $53,000 per year. When looking at salaries, translator vs. interpreter is neck-and-neck.

No Slowing Down For the Translation and Interpretation Industries

In today’s ever-shrinking world, we come into contact with more languages and cultures than ever before. Someone in Nebraska could work side-by-side with someone in Japan as if they were in the same office. This trend shows no sign of slowing down too, so translators and interpreters will only become more en-vogue.

Not looking to hire someone quite yet, but still need translation help? In lieu of a full-time translator or interpreter, consider having your videos and meetings translated and transcribed by an accurate, reliable service like Rev.