Translate or Interpret???

[ddablo]

He _________ for the foreign investors at the meeting.

1. translated
2. interpreted

Which one should I use?

Can anyone tell me the difference between "translate" and "interpret"?

I think they look similar....

[riquecohen]

He translated for the foreign investors at the meeting.

1. translated
2. interpreted

Which one should I use?

Can anyone tell me the difference between "translate" and "interpret"?

I think they look similar....

Search this forum for a thread called "translate or interpret." (Last post was entered on Nov. 4, 2010.) You'll find your answer there.

[TheParser]

He _________ for the foreign investors at the meeting.

1. translated
2. interpreted

Which one should I use?

Can anyone tell me the difference between "translate" and "interpret"?

I think they look similar....

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Those two words confuse me, too, so I really learned a lot from the

link that Senior Member Riquecohen suggested.

(2) I found something that may be helpful. It's long. I shall give

full credit at the end.

"Written translation can be distinguished from oral translation

or interpreting, which came first .... However, because of its

relative permanence and lasting influence ... written translation

has traditionally been considered more important. Whereas such

translation usually allows time for reflection and redrafting,

professional interpreting does not usually allow time to think

about alternatives. It takes two forms: simultaneous interpreting

(at international conferences, etc.) [My note: President X speaks and

an interpreter translates her words AT THE SAME TIME.] and consecutive

interpreting (in court, at diplomatic gatherings, in business

transactions, etc.) [My note: Mrs. X speaks. Then she waits until the

interpreter orally translates her words to the audience.].

Source: The Oxford Companion to the English Language edited by

Mr. Tom McArthur (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press,

1992), page 1052.

***


Being an interpreter is very difficult work. One of our former

presidents (of course, I shan't mention his name) about thirty

years ago visited country X. When he got off the airplane, he

said in English, "I have come to learn your opinions and understand

your desires." His interpreter did not understand the language of

country X very well, so the interpreter said in the language of country

X something like: I have come to have a romantic relationship with

the people of country X.

[Allen165]

Search this forum for a thread called "translate or interpret." (Last post was entered on Nov. 4, 2010.) You'll find your answer there.

Could you provide the link please? I couldn't find the thread. (Yes, I am computer illiterate.)

I've read TheParser's post, but I don't get the difference between oral translation and interpreting.

Thanks!

[5jj]

A very basic response to the OP is that I translate the written word and interpret the spoken word.

[Verona_82]

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...interpret.html

[ddablo]

I've read all your replies and the link you offered.

First of all, thank you for your responses but I still have a little coufusion

about the usage of them.

You don't usually say the following sentence??

" Can you interpret this letter written in French into English for me? "

" Can you tranlate this letter written in French into English for me?" is more natural ??

I'm not sure I understand correctly...

[freezeframe]

I've read all your replies and the link you offered.

First of all, thank you for your responses but I still have a little coufusion

about the usage of them.

You don't usually say the following sentence??

" Can you interpret this letter written in French into English for me? "

" Can you tranlate this letter written in French into English for me?" is more natural ??

I'm not sure I understand correctly...

See fivejedjon's response above. Letters are translated.

[TheParser]

Could you provide the link please? I couldn't find the thread. (Yes, I am computer illiterate.)

I've read TheParser's post, but I don't get the difference between oral translation and interpreting.

Thanks!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Apparently, the word "interpreting" is just another word to describe

"oral translation."

[TheParser]

He _________ for the foreign investors at the meeting.

1. translated
2. interpreted

Which one should I use?

Can anyone tell me the difference between "translate" and "interpret"?

I think they look similar....

Could either verb be used in ddablo's example?

I am confused -- as usual.

My dictionary says that "interpret" = to translate orally.

So would it be good English to say:

He interpreted for the foreign investors at the meeting.

Thank you