Difference Between Translation and Interpreting

Translation services don’t solely include translation, but they can also include interpretation, transcription, transcreation, localization, and subtitling and voiceovers.

Many individuals refer to translating and interpreting interchangeably, when in fact, they’re two entirely different services and require different skills sets.

Let’s review the difference between translation and interpreting so that all of our clients understand exactly what they need from us at Language Concepts.

Translating vs Interpreting

To give you an overview of their differences, translations involve written materials between more than one language. However, interpreting involves verbal content between various languages.

Let’s discuss the specifics of each.

What is Translation?

Translation is taking written content from the native language and preserving its meaning in another.

Professional translators should have the ability to speak and write in both the original and target languages. They should translate into their native language only so as to guarantee the best output.

While understanding the source language is important, writing in the target language is especially crucial, where the spelling and grammatical aspects, among others, have to be perfect.

The translator also has to fully understand both the culture of the country from where the text originated, and the culture of the target audience to render the material as accurately as possible. To translate, the translator has the time to do research, use dictionaries and consult subject matter experts. Interpreters do not have the luxury of time, and their rendition is immediate. Unlike simultaneous interpretation, with consecutive interpretation, though, the interpreter has the opportunity to take notes.

For example, even bilingual individuals who understand two languages well, can rarely express themselves equally in both cultures, and a great number of them do not possess the skills to translate nor interpret.

At Language Concepts, we understand these limitations and strive to work with native and professional translators who fully understand the original language, as well as the target language, in order to provide our clients with the most accurate translations possible.

What Does Interpretation Mean?

Interpretation is when a translation is verbally communicated in real-time, either in-person, in a video conference or over the phone.

Interpreting is a process where a translator repeats what is said in the origin language out loud in the target language.

You may have seen this happen in media, shows, or movies, where one person may be being asked certain questions and their answers be interpreted by a translator.

Interpretations are essentially paraphrases, where the expert’s understanding is shortened to mean what the other person is saying.

An interpreter listens to the speaker in one language, comprehends the content of what’s being said, and finally, interprets their understanding of the content using the target language.

Interpreters, like translators, should have the ability to directly interpret in both directions of each language, on the spot.

Much experience, expertise and cultural knowledge is required for interpreters and translators in order to accurately convert material.

Our human translations and professional translation services could provide your business with the turnaround time that you're looking for.

We specialize in over 75 languages to cater to our clients and provide them with the translation services that they need, and we promise to do it to the best of our ability every time.

Whether you’re looking for translations to and from English, Spanish, Portuguese, and/or major Asian languages across the U.S., Language Concepts can provide you with top-quality translations that’ll benefit you and your business.

As a seasoned translation service company, Language Concepts provides translating and interpreting services that you can count on.

Translation vs Transcription

As a prominent language translation company who has the tools, resources and experience to successfully serve our clients, we need to understand each, unique aspect of our services.

When it comes to our translation and transcription services, we have many clients who don’t understand the purpose, or need, of either.

While translation and transcription services have various similarities, they also have differences.

Language Concepts is dedicated to simplifying and defining the processes for our clients, so that they understand exactly what we do to give them the results that they need for themselves, and their business.

Translation vs Transcription Language

Until we get into the details, let’s define both processes so that you understand exactly what assistance you may need from us.

Translation: When the experts at Language Concepts perform a translation, they are transforming the written content for one language, into another.

The content can be an English to Spanish translation, a Spanish to English translation, or any other languages that we serve.

The content can also be in a digital or tangible form, meaning that we can translate a web page for our clients, or a health form which they received from the doctor’s office.

It just depends on what language translation form you need from one tongue to the other.

Transcription: Transcribing is designed to convert a digital audio file into written content for one language.

The native-speaking transcriptionists at Language Concepts directly listen to the audio recording from our clients in order to write the content that is spoken, word for word.

Language Concepts also gives our clients the opportunity to have their transcriptions translated or summarized into a different language.

First, the audio file would be transcribed/written in the native language, and afterwards, the written content would be handed over to the linguist with the most expertise in the subject.

Most audio formats are accepted by us, including CDs and digital files.

We have the power to transcribe:

• Business meetings

• Conference calls

• Focus groups

• Interviews

• Panel discussions

• Phone calls

• Seminars

• Speeches

• Videos

• & Much more!

Transcribe vs Translate

While many businesses and individuals may need one translation process over the other, others may need both.

Here are some general and fun facts of transcribing vs translating:

• The sources of a language in transcription could be in sign language or verbal speech. When translating, the sources of a language are typically written.

• In the legal industry, transcriptions are used for the written records in court hearings.

• In the medical industry, a physician’s recorded notes can be transcribed and used as a written copy of the patient’s medical records.

• In advertising, transcriptions are used in campaigns for foreign markets so that the promotional message stays consistent to everyone everywhere.

• While transcriptions might take longer to develop, they are widely used in various industries.

• A transcriber only needs to understand one language when performing the transcription, whereas a translator needs to understand at least two.

• Since a transcriber only needs to understand one language, their proficiency in that language should be perfect.

• Transcriptions are translated from one format to another, (record to written) whereas translations can be performed in the same format (digital to digital, written to written, verbal to verbal).

• Translators have to have excellent writing skills in order to successfully deliver the intended message of the content.

• Translations are essential in facilitating better communication among businesses who speak different languages.

• Translations can be literary or non-literary. Literary translations involve poems, stories, books whereas non-literary translations consist of legal, medical, scientific or technical documents.

• Translators must be native experts in the language that they are targeting to translate to. Cultural aspects, nuances, grammatical differences, slang and other expressions should also be understood by a translator when translating certain documents.

Difference Between Translation and Transcription Language

To summarize, translation communicates the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text.

Transcriptions coverts an audio file into a written form.

Whatever your language translation processes you may need from us, Language Concepts guarantees that we will do it as professionally and accurately as we can.

We strive to assist our clients with all of their language translation needs and if there’s a topic that you’d like more information on, contact us on our website or at 480.626.2926!

7 Things to Know Regarding Spanish to English Translations for USCIS

If you are applying for U.S. residency or starting your U.S. naturalization process, regardless of how you qualify, you will have to submit certain documents from your home country to USCIS, such as your birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decrees or police background checks.

Language Concepts is a leading provider of professional translation services in Phoenix, Arizona that can help provide fluent English to Spanish & Spanish to English translations for USCIS requirement purposes.

There are 7 things to know regarding Spanish to English translations for USCIS. They are, of course, applicable to other language pairs.

1.) The petitioner, beneficiary or applicant cannot translate the required documents, regardless of how proficient or fluent in English they may be. They need to be translated by a third party who has no vested interest in the applicant.

2.) All translations must be certified. In other words, the translator or translation agency must provide a Certificate of Accuracy stating that they are competent in both the source and target languages, and that the translation is accurate to the best of their ability. The certified translation document should include the translator's name, signature, address and date of certification.

3.) Everything in the original document requires translation. Make sure that all seals, signatures, numbers, etc. are translated. If some text is unclear, the translation should state “illegible.”

4.) Unless specifically required, applicants do not need to provide original documents with an application or petition. In other words, they can submit ordinary, legible copies of the original document and copies of the translation. Keep in mind that if you submit original documents, they will be kept as part of the records, even if their submission was not required.

5.) USCIS document translations are not required to be notarized. Make sure that you are not charged a notarization fee. In the USA, a notary is not a lawyer as it is in Latin American countries, but rather, a person appointed by a state government whose primary role is to serve as an impartial witness when important documents are signed. They do not certify the accuracy of documents or translations.

6.) Ideally, you would want the Spanish to English document translation to visually resemble the original’s format. For example, the direct translation of the seals should be in the same location as in the original. However, provided that all of the content in the document is translated from Spanish to English, USCIS translations are not required to have the same exact format as the original documents.

7.) While extracts of official documents are acceptable for USCIS purposes in some cases, it is not the document translator’s role or job to prepare one. They need to be prepared by an authorized official or record keeper. As a matter of fact, a summary prepared by a translator will not be acceptable by the USCIS.

It is in your best interest to hire a professional certified translator or translation agency to take care of your translations for USCIS submission.

Language Concepts provides certified translators in Phoenix, AZ for USCIS purposes. We meet all USCIS Spanish To English document translation requirements. Do not take the risk of having your application delayed or rejected, due to errors in your Spanish to English translations.

Language Concepts Consulting LLC is a boutique provider of professional translation and graphic design services to organizations of all sizes and industries across the United States.

We specialize in English to Spanish translations and translations to Asian languages. We offer comprehensive and certified translation services to individuals, advertising agencies, educational institutions, financial and insurance companies, food and beverage companies, market research companies, medical and health care providers, nutraceutical and direct selling organizations, media and marketing companies, television networks, among others.