1. Distinguishing between translation and interpretation

Translating and interpreting has become a necessary skill for each of us in daily life as well as at work. The two terms translation and interpretation are heard a lot, but you may not be able to distinguish between these two fields.

For those who study languages, it is the same as for those who work in a working environment with foreigners. In particular, the English environment is the most popular environment ever. Therefore, translating English into Vietnamese or vice versa is something people often encounter at work as well as in everyday life. However, not everyone can distinguish the difference between translation and interpretation?

 Translation in life

 Interpretation and translation are two different aspects of language. In general, the only difference between interpreting and translating is the medium: interpreters speak orally and translators use written documents. Of course, both of these fields require not only passion and love for language but also a deep understanding of that language.

2. Interpretation

An interpreter must translate both forward and backward on the spot without using a dictionary or other additional reference materials. The interpreter must have the ability to simultaneously listen and explain well. The interpreter needs to process and remember the speaker's words and translate into the target language 5-10 seconds earlier. In addition, the interpreter must have good public speaking skills and the intellectual ability to immediately transform idioms and explain so that the listener can understand easily within the time allowed.

Requirements for interpreters are:

– Good listening and memory ability.

– Must have general knowledge of the topic to be translated.

– Understand both cultures.

– Have a large vocabulary for both languages

– Good note-taking technique when translating (shorthand translation ability)

– How to capture and process information sources to filter main ideas. Interpreting basically only requires information, not necessarily very good.

3. Translation

For translation, it is important that the translator has the ability to understand the source language and national culture of that source text. And use quality dictionaries and good reference sources to accurately and clearly understand the target language. Especially when translating literary documents, the translator needs to have good writing ability and high and accurate language expression ability. However, it is very difficult for one person to translate a topic well both forward and backward. There are translators who are only good at translating forward or backward.

A good translator needs to have the following 4 skills:

– Foreign language ability: to fully and accurately express the meaning of the original text. Therefore, foreign language ability must be accurate.

– Professional knowledge: for translators, specialized knowledge in various fields is an indispensable factor. For example, when translating English into Vietnamese, the word "administration" can be translated as administration, politics, office; in the field of medicine, it can be translated as dosage. Without medical expertise, it cannot be translated.

– Look up skills: no matter your language ability or expertise, there are still words you don't know. Therefore, searching skills are necessary skills for translators to be able to quickly grasp information and also largely compensate for lack of knowledge.

– Translation capacity: requires the translator to be faithful to the original and the translation must have the most understandable content.

Actually, translating English into Vietnamese requires not only the ability to practice but also improve knowledge. Must always refresh knowledge and add more vocabulary to ensure better work. If you feel that translating English into Vietnamese is difficult or needs urgent time, you should ask translation companies.