From Pen to Podium: Understanding the Critical Divide Between Written and Verbal Language Services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69760/portuni.0110015Keywords:
written language, spoken language, signed language, fidelity, simultaneous interpretationAbstract
This article systematically examines the critical professional and methodological divide separating Translation (written language service) and Interpretation (verbal/signed language service). Despite their shared goal of cross-linguistic communication, these disciplines necessitate fundamentally distinct skill sets, operate under different constraints, and adhere to divergent professional standards. Drawing on linguistic theory and communication studies, we analyze the core differences: the focus on fidelity and permanence in written text (Translation) versus immediacy and fluency in real-time communication (Interpretation). Furthermore, the paper explores the cognitive demands, ethical considerations, and professional environments unique to each practice (e.g., the use of CAT tools versus simultaneous booth technology). Understanding this critical divide is essential for language service consumers, educators, and practitioners to ensure optimal communication outcomes and professional specialization in an increasingly globalized world.
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