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What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

These days, if you want to grow your business internationally, you can hardly do without the services of a translation agency. But it’s not always easy to know who to turn to… Translation, interpreting – what’s the difference? It all depends on your needs! If you need to have documents translated or a conference interpreted, it’s best to know the difference between a translator and an interpreter, so you can contact the right agency for your needs.

What is the role of an interpreter?

Interpreters usually work simultaneously: he or she translates the speech of a speaker orally and live. The interpreter’s work is therefore quite specialized, since it requires a great deal of concentration, vocabulary, adaptability and alertness. The interpreter can also translate consecutively: listen, take notes and then translate. In both cases, the interpreter must transcribe the speech accurately, but also know how to capture the tone, nuances or even humor.

Why use an interpreter?

Your company may need the services of an interpreting agency in a variety of situations: 

  • Meetings with foreign clients 
  • International conferences
  • Commercial negotiations

Using the services of an interpreting agency can be essential if you want to expand your business abroad. By calling in professional interpreters, you can avoid unnecessary stress during meetings and business exchanges and concentrate on what’s important to you. Conversely, if you choose to go it alone, you run the risk of misunderstandings or even having your negotiations fall through. 

Alltradis, interpreting and translation agency

Translators translate written documents. Unlike interpreters, their work is done with a clear head, and requires a great deal of research and reflection. They can also call on a wide range of tools to assist them in their work when the subject requires it. The difference between professional translation and machine translation using artificial intelligence simply lies in the human element, and the translator’s ability to grasp the subtleties of the language and subject matter. A machine translator will translate “Il pleut des cordes !” as “It’s raining ropes!”, whereas a professional translator will know that it’s actually “raining cats and dogs”! It’s also important to carry out several phases of proofreading by specialized proofreaders, to ensure that your text is rendered perfectly in the target language. Your company may need translation services for a variety of purposes: 

  • Translation of HR, finance and marketing documents
  • Translation of contracts and other technical documents
  • Translation of web content
  • Translation of PowerPoint presentations and other communication materials 
le traducteur et l'interprète

Translators and interpreters: indispensable in certain situations

If you want to boost your business and develop new markets, the language barrier doesn’t have to be an obstacle. Your clients and partners will appreciate being able to communicate smoothly in their own language. At Alltradis, we provide our clients with translation and interpreting services for all business sectors, even the most technical. Our translators and interpreters are extremely rigorous and often have additional skills in your specific field: medicine, engineering, technology or marketing. What’s more, our values are founded on the confidentiality we guarantee the companies that call on our services. We build lasting relationships based on trust. Translation and interpreting cannot be improvised. They are professions that require genuine dedication, rigor and commitment. If your company has translation or interpreting needs, take the time to choose a service provider you can trust to deliver impeccable quality.

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