Translator and Interpreter

At translation bureau we always work with interpreting and with translation. Some professionals can work in both directions: translation and interpreting, and others - only in one. What is the difference between translation and interpreting and what do they have in common?

A translator converts written material, such as newspaper and magazine articles, books, manuals, documents, etc., from one language into another. This is not to be confused with an interpreter, who converts spoken material, such as speeches, presentations, depositions and the like, from one language into another.
A translator should not be confused with an interpreter. Although there is some vague connection between the two abilities: translators cannot necessarily interpret, nor can interpreters necessarily translate. Moreover, the best translators are not good interpreters and likewise, truly great interpreters are not much for translation. And while many professional training programs require interpreters to develop some skill in translation, professionally trained translators often have no exposure to the skills of interpretation.
To be clear about the languages in question, we’ll refer to the translator's native language as the A language and the non-native languages as the B or C languages. A B language is one which the translator can speak, read, and write virtually as a native speaker does. A C language is one which the translator can read and understand like a native, but does not necessarily speak or write so well. In my case, for instance, Russian is my A language; Ukrainian is my A language, too; English and French are my B and C languages. Although I have some understanding of other languages as well, my skills are not good enough to fall into any of the A, B, or C categories.
We’ll also use the following words in this lecture. Source text or language will refer to the language which the material first appears in. Target text and language refer to the language that the material is translated into.

translation bureau ;  interpreter ;  translator ;