TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION : the clear-cut boundary

In the mind of the layman , careers related to languages are  all but the same . He views the job  of translation as a synonymous to the task of interpretation . But in fact where is the boundary  between these two careers ?

            The fact is , translation involves a merge of  many people ‘s minds . Otherwise said the work of translation enhances oneness of spirit between the folk that are interested by the topic. Translation enables them to  think to  the same matter in the same way . Therefore they can react or behave in the same mood.

The translator abides by the shape and the content of the source text. The target text should display a high degree  of fidelity to the source text . During the translation effort the linguist upholds the cultural background of the readers and that of the text’s author . Most of the time a word-by-word translation is less accurate and it does not speak to the heart of the targeted audience. For instance , given the French phrase: “N’en déplaise à .. :” ,a word-by-word  English translation yields the non-sense meaning :”it does not please to ”or “no offense” which does not fit with the spirit of the source text. Then the careful translator should look for an English counterpart that expresses the same feeling that is induced in these word, the feeling of  indifference, of sufficiency .

            On the other hand Interpretation enhances the oneness of spirit in a conversation or in a public talk between the speaker and his or her audience. As regards  calls or public talks or conferences the interpreter  is expected to read  the text of the speaker well ahead the opening of the event . In such a situation the job of interpretation is similar to the work of translation for it’s text –based.

            However interpreting a conversation is a quite different story . It requires swiftness _ the interpreter is expected to talk as soon a s the speakers shut up their mouths .

The interpreter should also be alert about grasping the words as well as the way the speakers  voice them so as to glean the real intentions and feelings of the speaker that might lie beneath.

            The  interpreter should be tactful for it can happen that one to the speakers uses  abusive speech against the other or he or she might be sarcastic to the other or even one of the speakers might be illiterate and then displays a low level of speech . It is not the job of the interpreter to  fire fights and quarrels . He should rather be tactful and  identify the underlying  feelings  . Then he or she can word them in a more convenient way .

For instance let us assume a discussion where one of the speakers insults the other .The interpreter is going to inform the other person about the anger of his or her counterpart without translating the” dirty” word he has earlier uttered.

Sometimes the interpreter is expected to summarize the speech of a talkative person . An illustration of this is the case of a tourist that marvels about a countryside . He might be going to notice every detail of the scenery . The skillful interpreter is not expected to go along all those lyrics . It is adviceable that he summarizes the tourist’s words  into a  positive feeling and says for example that  tourist  is very fond of the place .

It is obvious the interpreter enjoys a high degree of freedonm than the translator . At the same time their work is more binding than the translator’s own . In the translation process there are many pairs of eyes that care about the accuracy of the final text whereas the interpreter is the sole person who is responsible of the quality of his services and their ensuing impacts be them positive or be them negative.

Therefore   is the boundary between the above fields  so clear ? Were it on a map , where could we  locate it ? Going through these processes is the best way to grasp the meaningful truth.