[Dayane Malone]

I feel like translators have more time to analyze and decide on the best term or word to use, while interpreters have to think fast and choose the most accurate and appropriate word for the situation in real time.

[Dayane Malone]

Hi,

I agree with your discussion! In my opinion, being an interpreter can be more challenging because there’s no time to really think about the best words everything happens so fast and live, right in the moment. Translators, on the other hand, have the time to research, review, and choose the most accurate or natural words for what they’re working on. Both roles are important, but I think interpreting requires a lot of quick thinking and confidence to keep up with the conversation while staying accurate.

[Dayane Malone]

Hi,

Interpreters and translators are not the same thing or do the same thing, they actually have very different jobs. The biggest difference is that interpreters work with spoken language and “transfer” that message the best way possible. While translators deal with written language to “carry” “trasnlator spend meticulous hours transforming linguistic content from one language to another” (introduction to medical interpreting page 21)
An interpreter listens to someone speaking in one language and immediately says the same thing in another language. It’s all happening live, right there in the moment like during a doctor’s appointment, a court hearing, or a meeting. Interpreters have to think quickly, remember what was said and speak clearly without having time to look things up or double check. One of the hardest parts of interpreting can be keeping up with the pace and emotions of the conversation while still making sure the message is accurate.
A translator on the other hand, works with documents, books, or any written material. They have more time to read carefully, research the right words, and make sure the final version sounds natural in the other language. Their main challenge is to keep the same meaning, and cultural feel while making the text easy to understand.
It’s really important to understand that interpreting and translating aren’t the same thing. Both jobs are important they just help people communicate in different ways.

[Dayane Malone]

Hi Emily, my family came from Brazil when I was a child and like you I had to be their interpreter since I can remember 🙂

[Dayane Malone]

Hi, It’s so nice to know you’ve been to Brazil and have that experience — Brazil is actually my native country! It’s always great to meet someone who’s familiar with my culture and people.

[Dayane Malone]

My name is Dayane. I currently live in Plymouth, Massachusetts, I was born in Curitiba, Brazil. I moved to the US when I was ten years old, and since then, I have had to adapt to a new culture, a new country, and most importantly a new language. Learning English was a great challenge, but it also became one of my greatest accomplishments—it shaped my identity and opened many personal and professional opportunities.

After spending many years in the US, I decided to return to Brazil, where I once again had to readjust this time to my own home country, which I barely remembered. During this period, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education and worked in international schools, teaching English to children and teenagers from diverse backgrounds. This experience helped me develop strong communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and a deep sense of empathy.

About three years ago, life brought me back to the United States. Since then, I have taken part in volunteer work at vaccination clinics, helping the immigrant community by providing translation and communication support. This experience made me realize how essential language and understanding are to building connection and inclusion.

Today, I feel excited and motivated to pursue a career as an interpreter, to continue improving my skills and to help others communicate and feel understood. I see this new chapter as an important step in my personal and professional journey 🙂

[Author]

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