What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

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Interpreters convert spoken word from one language to another. Translators convert written words from one language to another.

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Reply by wrestler88 (192):
I also think that, typically, interpreters translate into their native language. So if an interpreter's native language is English, then she'd convert another language, say French, into English. But, traditionally, as an interpreter, she wouldn't convert English into French. add a comment

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Answer by dvogele (121)

A translator is a person who takes a message in one language and then produces the equivelent message in another language. An interpretor actually translates and facilitates the communication between multiple parties that speak different languages. The interpretor actually does there translation real-time, while a translator could be translating from a written document and putting into a new language.

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Answer by A22 (40)

Both translators and interpreters deal with conversion of one language to another. However, a translator is a person who handles written text and legal documents such as birth certificates, while an interpreter is the one who deals with transforming a conversation into another language such as speeches, commentaries and other spoken words.

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