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Translation and Interpretation: Same language service?

Outside the translation industry, it is very common that expressions like “translation services” and “interpretation services” be misunderstood and considered two ways of referring to the same language service. Although this association is not completely wrong, these two language services have different approaches and serve distinct purposes.

The misunderstanding may stem from the fact that “translation” is generally described as the process of conveying the meaning of written or spoken discourse from one language into another language. And to some extent this description is true for both services.

Both translation and interpretation imply converting text from one language to another. Both require the linguists in charge to be proficient in the source and target languages, the linguists need to have formal translation skills as well as subject matter knowledge of the topic they are working with and they have to be accurate in conveying the tone and intent of the original message to facilitate communication and help people in different sectors overcome language barriers.

What is the difference then?

The main difference between these two language services is the type of text that is converted from one language to the other. The translation service implies working with written text, whereas the interpretation service implies working with spoken text.

Interpretation Service

The linguist in charge of this type of language service is called an interpreter.

Interpreters convert spoken text from one language to the other in real time. They deliver simultaneous or consecutive translations of what they listen from a speaker in one language into another language for audiences in live settings; for example, meetings, congresses, seminars, or from home over the phone or via video call.

Interpreters are time-bound and rely on a mix of cognitive abilities such as active listening, working memory, note taking, language deconstruction and reconstruction, stress management, among other cognitive processes.

Interpreters generally charge per hour.

TRANSLATION SERVICE

The linguist in charge of this type of language service is called a translator.

Translators convey written discourse from one language to another. They work with different types of documents for print or digital publications.

Besides being proficient in both source and target language systematic rules, including syntax and semantics, orthography and punctuation, translators need a broad mix of writing skills, cultural competence, research skills, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and technical proficiency.

Translators can virtually work from anywhere as long as they have a computer and access to the Internet.

Translators work on predetermined deadlines. They have an assignment date and a delivery date for the translation, and time in between to deeply research on the topic they are translating about, and so there’s more precision in their translated output.

Translators can charge per word or per hour of work.

Vital Translations is the language service provider you can trust with the translation of your key documents.

We offer specialised medical, pharmaceutical, and legal translation services in the fields of medicine, clinical research, and the pharmaceutical industry.

From the lab to the patients, we accompany pharma and biotech research companies in their extraordinary endeavours of drug discovery, development, registration, manufacturing, marketing and promotion with precise and timely translations.

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Are translation and interpretation the same kind of language service?

No. Although both translation and interpretation are language services that require the linguists in charge to be proficient in both the source language and the target language, have translation skills as well as subject matter knowledge on the topic they are working with and be accurate in conveying the tone and intent of the original message, these services serve different purposes. The translation service implies working with written text. Translators work with different types of documents to be printed, published online or even exchanged with other people. The interpretation service implies working with speech; that is, spoken text. Interpreters can work in situ, for example, in meetings, congresses, seminars, over the phone or via videocall. Whether you need a translation service or an interpretation service, always trust certified professional linguists.

No. The translation of regulatory documentation requires in-depth knowledge of the source and target regulatory affairs as well as of the terminology of mandatory use in the pharmaceutical industry to provide high-quality and timely translations and help avoid delays during drug authorisation and registration processes. The translation of advertising materials requires subject matter knowledge plus a touch of creativity, a combination of translation and copywriting skills to transfer the creative language —generally lost during a direct translation— into the target language to achieve the desired response from the target audience.

Yes. The desktop publishing (DTP) service can be provided as an integrated part of the translation process or as an independent service. In the first case, the client sends us the file for translation, and we then deliver a translated file that keeps the integrity of the original design. In the second case, the client sends the linguistic content and the specifications for page layout and a team of experts in the field of desktop publishing generates page layouts and produces printed or digital materials using DTP software. In both cases, we can advise the client on professional output aligned with the target language’s visual layout and design requirements.

Yes. The method for establishing translation rates is based on source word count, language pair, complexity of the document, project volume and urgency of delivery. When clients contact us to get a quote, we analyse the file(s) to determine total word count and the complexity of the file(s) and we also take into account the language pair; for example, if it is English into Spanish, or Spanish into English. Special discount rates may apply in big-volume projects and extra “rush charges” may apply in the case of urgent deliveries.

Yes. To be able to provide a quote, we first need to analyse the file(s) to determine the word count, the complexity and the translation steps that would be involved in the whole translation process; that is, we need to evaluate whether there is non-editable text that needs to be converted into editable text to be translated, determine the total word count to estimate the translation time and delivery date, and assess whether the file(s) require desktop publishing (DTP). To be able to provide an accurate quote, we need to see and analyse the file(s).