TRANSLATION VS

INTERPRETATION

Week 7 Lecture 1
Recap
• 2.7: Definition of the role of court interpreters:
• We discussed your ideas and experiences concerning interpretation in SA courts;
• We watched a video on court interpretation from the PoV of a court interpreter;
• We defined the role and responsibilities of an interpreter

• 2.7.1: The ethics and professionalism of court interpreters:

• We reviewed issues related to training, challenges and recommendations (see
Lebese summaries) concerning court interpretation in SA
• Individual activity feedback uploaded on eFundi (2.7)
Focused outcomes for today
• Display knowledge of the differences between translation and interpretation;
• Display knowledge of the similarities between translation and interpretation;
and
• You should be able to discuss the purpose of translation and interpretation in
a legal setting.
• Discuss the link between culture and communication (2.9).
Your prep.
• For this session, you needed to have completed the individual activities in
sections 2.8 and 2.9.
• Typed feedback will be uploaded onto eFundi (keep an eye out for the
announcement).
• Today we focus on more detailed discussions concerning interpretation vs
translation and ideas of cross-cultural communication in preparation for the
next section of work: 2.10 “Communication across cultures in SA courts”.
WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
TRANSLATION AND
INTERPRETATION?
 Key difference between translation and interpretation:

Overall, while both translation and interpretation involve the conversion of language from one form to another, they
are distinct processes that require different skillsets and considerations.
Translation contexts:
• Legal translation – proper terminology, a specific style and correct grammar are essential. The translation should be exact,
unemotional and unambiguous.
Documents: contracts, business agreements, legislation, employment documents, merger and acquisition documents etc.

• Technical translation – the translation must be exact and faithful to the original text.
Documents: booklets, manuals, guides, patents, technical standards etc.

• Medical translation – requires clarity and accuracy, as well as legislative compliance for use in the target country.
Documents: medical reports, clinical trials, written information on medicines, manuals for medical equipment etc.

• Financial translation – the translation should be incredibly precise—the numbers matter.

Documents: auditors’ reports, annual financial reports, bank records, financial statements, invoices etc.

• Website/software localisation – localisation focuses on the target country rather than the target language. The text should be
adapted to local conventions, and the translators are often limited by predefined maximum text lengths.
Documents: software, mobile apps, websites, documentation, user guides etc.

• Marketing translation – the translation should be creative and thoroughly adapted to the target audience.
Documents: presentations, brochures, leaflets, slogans, newsletters, social media communication etc.

• Certified translation – the translations are mainly used for public and state administration communications.
Documents: birth and marriage certificates, criminal records, diplomas, certificates, contracts, court judgements etc.

• Literary translation – emphasises appropriate cultural nuances, humour translation, feelings, emotions and the author’s unique
literary style.
Documents: novels, stories, poems, plays, etc.
Interpretation contexts:

• Conference interpretation: used in international conferences, meetings, and events where

participants speak different languages.
• Community interpretation: used in community settings, such as hospitals, schools, and social
services, to facilitate communication between people who speak different languages.
• Legal interpretation: used in legal settings, such as courts and tribunals, to ensure that non-
native speakers have equal access to justice.
• Business interpretation: used in business settings, such as negotiations, to facilitate
communication between parties who speak different languages.
• Media interpretation: used in broadcasting, such as news and sports, to provide real-time
interpretation of events for viewers who do not speak the language being used.
 Some more
differences :

https://www.lexika-translations.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-translation-and-inter
pretation/
Technical definitions:
INTERPRETING
• According to Pohhacker (2004), interpreting is
a form translation in which a first and the final
rendition in another language are produced on
the basis of one time presentation of an
utterance is a source language.
• In addition, Setton (1996), notes that
interpreting is a process by which a spoken
language or utterance take place in one
language which is intended or presumed to
convey the same meaning as previously
existing utterance in another language.
T R A N S L AT I N G
• Nida (1974) the process of translating is not only
be able appropriately based on meaning found in
the dictionary but also the context of situation and
context based of the texts as well. By the same token,
the process of translation refers to the automatic use
of the translator’s knowledge of his native language
structure which is transferred into the target
language.
• Nida (1974) indicates that it is essential to recognize
that each language has each own character, e.g.
world building capacities, pattern of phrase order,
techniques for linking clauses into sentence, marker
of discourse, and special discourse type of poetry,
pro verbs and song.
Similarities between translation and interpretation:

See detailed feedback on eFundi.

The purpose of an interpreter and a translator within the legal
setting:

• In the legal setting, both interpreters and translators serve a critical purpose
in facilitating communication and ensuring that everyone involved in the
legal process can fully understand and participate in the proceedings,
regardless of their language or cultural background.
• Your feedback on eFundi has more details regarding the purpose (and
differences) of (and between) the two professions.
In a legal setting:
• Judiciary interpreters and translators facilitate communication for people with limited English
proficiency who find it challenging to communicate in a legal setting.
• Legal translators must be thoroughly familiar with the language and functions of their country’s
judicial system, as well as other countries' legal systems.
• Court interpreters work in a variety of legal settings, such as attorney-client meetings, preliminary
hearings, arraignments, depositions, and trials.
• Success as a court interpreter requires an understanding of both legal terminology and colloquial
language. In addition to interpreting what is said, court interpreters may also be required to read
written documents aloud in a language other than that in which they were written, a task known as
sight translation.
Activity 2.9
Please make sure that you work through the feedback on eFundi as you will be quizzed on
this content.
Links to explore
• https://www.kent.edu/appling/matranslationonline/blog/translationvsinterpret
ation
• https://www.interproinc.com/blog/professional-translation-interpretation
• https://www.lionbridge.com/blog/translation-localization/whats-the-differenc
e-between-translation-interpretation-services/
• https://www.lexika-translations.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-trans
lation-and-interpretation/
Career ideas…
• Becoming a sworn translator in SA:
https://frenchside.co.za/becoming-a-sworn-translator-in-south-africa/
• Becoming a court interpreter in SA:
https://www.myggsa.co.za/how-to-become-a-court-interpreter-in-south-africa/
• Current vacancies:
• https://www.justice.gov.za/vacancies/DoJCD-Vacancies-Media-Advert-20230728-Received2
0230804.pdf
Prep. For your next section
• Please read Judge Hlope’s article (uploaded
onto eFundi);
• Please read the article by Kaschula. Mostert,
and Ralarala and answer the questions (see
section 2.10).
Did you understand?
Please complete the “check-your-knowledge” quiz before you move onto the next video.
You can access the quiz by clicking here.