 |
What Does an Interpreter Do?
Many people get confused as to the difference between an
interpreter and a translator. There is a common tendency to think
translators interpreter, or that interpreters translate. In fact,
the two are very separate jobs requiring different skills. To
explain who and/or what an interpreter as opposed to a translator
we set out the main differences between interpreting and
translation.
Interpreting vs. Translation
On a basic level it would appear that there is little
difference between an interpreter and a translator. One
translates spoken words and the other written words. However, the
differences in how the job is carried out, the pressures,
requirements, skills and talents are many.
A translator must be able to write well and be able to express
words, phrases, innuendos and other linguistic nuances between
languages on paper. A translator has the luxury of time,
resources (dictionaries, etc), reference material and the freedom
to take a break when needed. Their pressures are relatively
limited.
Translators only work into their native languages to assure
accuracy in both linguistic and cultural senses. Translators
therefore, it could be argued, are not completely bilingual. They
may be able to deal effectively with written sources but when it
comes to orally translating, it is a different skill.
A translator therefore has a one dimensional aspect to their
work. They deal with written words and language that come from
paper and return to paper.
An interpreter, on the other hand, has to be able to translate
spoken words in two directions. They do this using no resources
or reference material bar their knowledge and expertise. An
interpreter is required to find linguistic solutions to problems
on the spot. The pressure therefore can be quite intense.
In addition to interpreting, the interpreter must also act as
a bridge between people, relaying tone, intentions and emotions.
Where an interpreter is caught between cross fire they need to
demonstrate great professionalism and diplomacy. Their roles are
therefore much more complex as they have to deal with both
language and people.
What does an Interpreter do?
There are two ways of interpreting known as consecutive and
simultaneous.
Simultaneous interpreting involves interpreting in 'real
time'. Many would have seen an interpreter sitting in a booth
wearing a pair of headphones and speaking into a microphone at a
conference or large diplomatic meeting such as the EU or UN. A
simultaneous interpreter has the unenviable task of quickly
digesting what one person is saying before immediately
translating it to others. One of the key skills simultaneous
interpreters must demonstrate is decisiveness. They must think
quickly and on their feet.
Consecutive interpreting is carried out in face to face
meetings, speeches or court cases. A speaker will usually stop at
regular junctures, say every few sentences, and have the
interpreter translate, before proceeding. A key skill involved in
consecutive interpreting is the ability to remember what has been
said.
What do you need?
In short, if you need someone to translate something that is
written you need the services of a translator. If you need
someone to translate the spoken word, you need an
interpreter.
Neil Payne is Director of Kwintessential, a London based
consultanct providing a range of cross cultural service including
interpreters:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/translation/interpretation.html
MORE RESOURCES:
Johnson, crew chief thrive on 'goofy language'guardian.co.uk, UK - 4 hours agoBy Larry Fine NEW YORK, Dec 4 (Reuters) - NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson says being on the same wave length as his crew chief with "goofy language" is the ... |
Man in Search Of LanguageForward, NY - 6 hours agoBy Joel Streicker Readers expecting a grand symphony on how Hebrew was revived as a living language beginning in the late 19th century will be disappointed ... |
Language - Google News
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Learn Spanish
Quickly and Easily
Spanish is a very useful language to learn as it is the
world's second most popular language.Outside of the popular
coastal tourist resorts a basic knowledge of Spanish is
invaluable.
Preschool
Spanish
Why an EarlyAGE 2nd Language?Research indicates that from
ages 1 through 8 is the best time to introduce a new
language to a child. If the 2nd language is introduced
early in life children will learn it faster and retain it
longer.
Don't Take The Romaji
Short-Cut When Learning Japanese
This is an issue many Japanese learners come up against,
particularly if they live outside Japan. After all, If you
are not in the country, it seems difficult to justify the
huge amount of time that learning Japanese characters seems
to require.
Learn Italian in Your
Hometown
Are you interested in learning the Italian language right
in your own hometown? There are several options that you
can explore to find the Italian classes that are just
perfect for you! First, you should consider whether you
would you enjoy the interaction that takes place among
students in group classes, or if you would prefer the
one-on-one attention of a private instructor.1.
Uncommon Facts / Rules
of English Language
English is an international language. It has so many
grammar rules and each rule with many exceptions.
Learning a Foreign
Language: Why Should you Learn Words You Never Use in Your
Mother Tongue?
Imagine a child sitting in front of a desk, his head in his
hands, and mumbling various lists of words over and over.
Does this child remind you of your own experience? If yes,
I bet that "list of words" does not sound appealing to you.
English Has Come A Long,
Long Way...
I often wonder what would happen if Shakespeare were to be
transported in a time machine to our world today. What
would he think? How would he react?Yes, Willie would
probably tell me "thou hast too much time on thy hands if
thou spendeth it wondering about such flights of fancy.
Learning French in
Paris
Nothing can be more frustrating than to be in France and
not been able to speak their language. For, I remember the
days when I was among people chanting around in a language
totally alien to me, and me, trying to bring a smile in my
face while shaking my head from north to south doing as if
I am getting everything what they are speaking about, and
waiting impatiently for my French wife to do the
translation - and I can't deny, that that was not the most
comfortable period of my life.
Chinese Pinyin or Hanyu
Pinyin Overview
Chinese Pinyin is the romanization of the Chinese "written
sound". Romanization approximates Mandarin pronunciation
with Western spellings and includes a tone mark to signify
the pitch of a word.
Learn to Speak Basic
Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases
The Chinese Language and dialectsEach province, each city
and even each village speaks their own dialect. There are
hundreds of Chinese dialects in China so much so that each
dialect speaker is not likely to understand another dialect
speaker from another village or city.
Second Language
Competence Beneficial but often Misunderstood
Second language learning has associated with it many types
of benefits. Among them include: social, economic,
intellectual and linguistic.
Aphasia: The Cruelest
Language Barrier
Imagine the following scenario: You wake up one morning and
instead of speaking English, everyone around you--including
your family and friends--is speaking Hungarian. This is a
problem because you don't speak Hungarian and you don't
have a clue what they're saying.
How Ronzoni Italian
Foods Helped My Dad Learn English
My dad likes to say, he was made in Italy, but born in
Brooklyn New York. You see his parents left Palermo, Sicily
in February 1955 and sailed by boat to America.
7 Words Americans Should
Stop Using Until Further Investigation
Relationship: Here is a word that is used to qualify,
justify and honey coat just about every nefarious, sleazy
or reprehensible union between almost anybody and anything.
Recently on an edition of the Jerry Springer show a guest
was about to be interviewed who was getting it on with a
very close relative.
Teaching Reading to
English Language Learners
There is an increasing amount of English language learners
represented in our schools for whom a unique approach to
developing literacy is necessary. The development of
literacy by English language learners (ELLs) includes all
of the challenges implicit for English speaking children
literacy attainments, and is additionally compounded by a
diversity of linguistic, cognitive and academic variables.
Learning a Foreign
Language: the Ventriloquists Lesson
The main feature you have to master, in order to call
yourself a ventriloquist, is to speak without moving your
lips. It is not that difficult.
Teaching English in
Greece - What Do You Need to Know?
The employment situation can be quite uncertain for
newcomers to Greece and therefore many people choose to try
teaching English as a foreign language, on a full or
part-time basis. It can bring in a good income whether it
is your preferred career choice, or you wish to do it
short-term until another career choice pans out.
Learning a Foreign
Language: Learn from the Blind
In a previous article, you read that to establih your own
lists was the best way to learn vocabulary as fast as
possible. Let's study what an effective list looks like.
Teaching English in
Mexico: A Decent Living?
What's more disappointing than a person who makes a promise
he can't keep? A person who makes a promise that is a lie.
Many promises to make a "decent living" teaching English in
Mexico are just that-a lie.
Whats In A Word? More
Than You Realize
What's in a word? Apparently more than we might want.For
others, the ability to express yourself in the most
meaningful way.
|
|
