Why do Americans call interpreters "translators"?

Question

It's true that some interpreters (verbal) are also translators (written), but the distinction should be made, shouldn't it?

(I'm not putting down EITHER!!)

After all, you don't even need to be literate in the particular language to be an interpreter, and the skills involved are very different. At the same time, translators don't need to be able to speak the language intelligibly - for instance, Ancient Greek, Egyptian or any other dead language.

My point is that they are NOT the same thing: interpreters "translate" what someone is saying, live, to another person in a different language. They have to be extremely fast thinkers, with near-perfect fluency in both languages. They don't say the same words exactly: they have to take into account cultural values and religious and political sensitivities, as well as cope with the fact that there is no direct correlation sometimes between a word in one language to one in another language.

Translators in contrast can sit for hours with dictionaries mulling over what word to use, without having to say a single word out loud.

Both are highly skilled occupations, but they require quite different skills and knowledge.

Answer 1

Not all of us call interpreters "translators". I think that if you are not interested in languages, you don't differentiate between interpreters and translators; if you are, you do.

Two areas where I think *everyone* makes the distinction are those online translators--I don't think anyone calls them interpreters--and people who sign for the hearing impaired--I don't think anyone calls them "translators"--they are always "interpreters."

Answer 2

Hi, you have answered your own question to certain degree. However, it is not only an American custom or discrimination, most languages do differentiate between interpreter and translator for the reasons you explained and other further ones.

It is made because it is necessary, it is a different profession, title and requires different training. Following some examples of languages that use the distinction. I do not agree that an interpreter dont have to be literate on their working languages, a bad interpreter of course might be, and thus the interpretation will not be trustworthy or reliable.

Interpreter:
EN interpreter
DA tolk
DE Dolmetscher
EL διερμηνέας
ES intérprete
FI tulkki
FR interprète
IT interprete
NL tolk
PT intérprete
CS tlumočník
ET tõlk
GA ateangaire
HU tolmács
LT vertėjas žodžiu
LV tulks
MT interpretu
PL tłumacz ustny
SK tlmočník
SL tolmač
SV tolk
EN interpreter
CS tlumočník
DA tolk
DE Dolmetscher
EL διερμηνέας
ES intérprete
ET tõlk
FI tulkki
FR interprète
GA ateangaire
HU tolmács
IT interprete
LT vertėjas žodžiu
LV tulks
MT interpretu
NL tolk
PL tłumacz ustny
SK tlmočník
SL tolmač
SV tolk

Translator:
EN translator
CS překladatel
DA oversætter
DE Übersetzer
EL μεταφραστής
ES traductor
ET tõlkija
FI kielenkääntäjä
FR traducteur
HU fordító
IT traduttore
LV tulkotājs
MT traduttur
NL vertaler
PL tłumacz
SK prekladateľ
SL prevajalec
SV översättare

SOME LANGUAGES SUCH AS FINNISH EVEN HAVE SPECIFIC TERM FOR TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS INTO FINNISH - SUOMENTAJA

the distinctions exists at least in most languages and for agood reason. E.G. I can interpret only three language pairs yet I can translate 9 language pairs.

Best regards
Santiago

Answer 3

Q. Why do Americans call interpreters "translators"?

A. Coz they're Americans

Answer 4

Maybe they can't spell Interpreters ? No, honestly they have a lot of words that change from our language but still mean the same thing. Sheriff's instead of Police Officers, Gas instead of Petrol. Guess we say things different because of where we live and our own History. They are good people as I go to Houston every year (For work purposes). They are great people .

Answer 5

This is the reason english is one of the hardest languages to learn. Two words can mean exactly the same thing, and yet be different as well. I use translator for the noun and interpret as a verb but it can go any way and its not wrong.

Answer 6

To be honest, I use the terms interchangeably. I didn't know there was a difference.

Maybe translator is more word for word?

Answer 7

My impression is that "translator" is the general term, and "interpreter" is specifically oral.

(What *I* can't stand is when people say verbal (relating to words) when they mean "oral" (relating to spoken words).)