What distinguishes an interpreter from a translator?

The distinction between an interpreter and a translator primarily revolves around the medium of communication they work with. An interpreter focuses on facilitating spoken communication in real-time, which requires a different set of skills compared to a translator, who works with written text. Interpreters must be adept at listening and speaking quickly, often in live situations where immediate understanding and response are crucial. This involves not just language skills but also the ability to convey tone, emotion, and intent quickly and accurately.

Translators, on the other hand, generally take their time to ensure that the written content is accurately converted from one language to another, allowing for thoroughness and precision in vocabulary choice and context. The written nature of translation affords the translator the opportunity to research and refine the text, while interpretive work demands rapid processing and oral fluency. Thus, the difference in the spoken versus written word fundamentally defines the roles of interpreters and translators within communication contexts.