The two terms are clearly worlds apart in definition, but surprisingly, there are still a few who cannot tell their difference.

Translation is the process of converting a text from one language to another; therefore, its focus is on written language. A translator reads and understands a document written in its original language, and then re-writes the document in the target language.

Interpretation, on the other hand, involves verbal communications. It is about listening and understanding a message said in one language, and then expressing it in another language. There are two types of interpretation.

The first one is Simultaneous Interpretation. This type is commonly practiced in meetings, symposiums or other forms of social gathering where the speaker has to deliver a message to an audience that speaks a different language. In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter converts the message in a manner that appears as if he can anticipate what the speaker is going to say. Normally, simultaneous interpreters already have an idea of the topic, and have high degree of concentration.

The second type is Consecutive Interpretation. Unlike simultaneous interpretation, this one is not instantaneous. The interpreter first listens and understands what the speaker is saying in two to three sentences before converting the message into the target language.