Translations and Interpretations
What is a translation?
Translation is the art of conveying ideas from a source language to a target language, considering that each language represents a specific cultural world.
A translation must reflect the style of the original text and convey the ideas as accurately as possible. It can be said, then, that translation is the faithful transfer of ideas from the original language to the target language, in a correct, precise, and appropriate style. The goal is to express neither more nor less than the original and to reflect its content.
It is important to note that ideas are transferred, not words, and these should be adapted—if necessary—to the target culture, ensuring the intended audience can fully understand the message.
Simple Translations
A simple translation is a translation of a text from one language to another that preserves the original meaning and context. This is the most common type of translation, used in various fields such as academic, business, technical, legal, communication, tourism, and economics.
Simple translations are unofficial and do not need to be certified or legalized. They can be performed by a native and/or professional translator without requiring certification.
Simple translations are useful for repetitive texts, internal documents, less specialized information, or when delivery time is critical.
It’s worth mentioning that a simple translation should maintain quality and respect the original content.
Certified Translations
A certified translation is a type of translation performed by a certified translator and includes an official certificate attesting to the translation’s accuracy and authenticity. This type of translation is recognized and accepted by government authorities, legal entities, and other official bodies abroad that require the document to be certified, typically through a seal held by each translator or institution.
Notarized Translations
In Ecuador, notarization of translations is a legal process used to authenticate a translated document and confirm that the translation faithfully conveys the original message. A notarized translation is often required for foreign proceedings, such as:
- University enrollments
- Immigration procedures
- Legal processes conducted abroad
Commonly notarized documents include academic records, university degrees, identification cards, birth, death, and marriage certificates, among others.
What is Interpretation?
In the field of languages, interpretation is the process that allows a person to understand a message being conveyed in another language.
The main difference between translation and interpretation is that linguistic interpretation is performed orally and in sync with the original speech. This means the receiver gets the translated message in real-time (simultaneous interpretation) or a few minutes after the speaker has finished (consecutive interpretation).
Interpretation process
In the interpretation process, three parties are involved:
- The Sender: The individual conveying a message in a language unknown to the receiver.
- The Interpreter: A professional who knows the sender’s language and provides an interpretation of the message in a language understood by the receiver.
- The Receiver: The individual receiving the interpreted message.
The interpreter must be familiar with both languages and the cultural contexts they represent. This ensures appropriate interpretation of idioms, expressions, and other language nuances that might otherwise distort the meaning. Additionally, interpreters must understand non-verbal communication that provides essential context to the message.