A great number of people simply don't know the difference between interpretation and translation and others don't even realize the existence of such terms. The terms are both related to translation as well, but the difference comes when the oral and written approaches are in focus. According to that here follows some explanations about it.
Whenever you see someone 'translating' an oral speech or conference, bare in your mind that what you're seeing is an interpretation. There are several kinds of interpretation such as: consecutive; intermittent; whispered; simultaneous; prompt. In the consecutive approach, the interpreter is supposed to take notes, from five to 10 minutes, of what the speaker is saying, and afterwards he gives all the feedback in another language to the public for the same amount of time or less. The intermittent approach is quite similar to prompt; however, the lecturer gives a few sentences and right promptly the interpreter gives an interpretation in the language requested. Whispered normally happens when the interpreter is following the client through environments which the language can't be understood. Whatever message the client--who can be a boss or a business man--receives, the interpreter gives the interpretation whispering the contents in the client's ear. Especially in UN--United Nations (in Portuguese we say ONU--"Organização das Nações Unidas")--all the conferences are supported by interpreters who stay in acoustic booths. In there, they are equipped with headsets and microphones. Rapidly enough they get a message in English--or any other language--they turn it into the target language, Portuguese for instance. UN used to have only consecutive interpretation in earlier times, however, the need of a faster understanding demanded them to install machines for simultaneous approaches. Interpretations in prompt manners are unusual and sometimes can be confusing. In order to illustrate prompt interpretations watch the video bellow:
Written papers of any source are called translations. There are many kinds of translations such as literary and legal ones. All of them are very important and make ourselves in touch with the world of documentation by any via. Besides, checking out a good translation is not only checking the parallel translation of word by word, the translator is responsible of the passages between the cultural worlds. Quite probably a book you may read in English--as the original--may have additional meanings comparing to the translations as the cultural differences between the languages--and countries--are quite obvious and not everything is possible to be adapted.
By posting the differences between interpretation and translation, I hope to have helped you realize that what you think may not be the total truth. Most professional issues are misunderstood because of lack of interest and study, or even additional research.
Additionally I'll post comments on the 'market of interpretation and translation' if you get interested in both areas.
Eduardo
