Glossary of Terminology / FAQ

Interpreting vs Translating - what’s the difference?

Many people use the terms interchangeably, which only worsens the confusion, when in reality they are two distinct things that don’t need to be confusing at all. While Interpreters and Translators share a love of language, a deep cultural and linguistic understanding, expert knowledge of subject matter, and the ability to communicate clearly the delivery methods for each profession require vastly different communication skill sets!

The simplest way to differentiate the two professions is each service's medium:

• Interpreters utilize the spoken form of language.

• Translators employ the written word.

Signer vs Interpreter - what’s the difference?

Signers have control of their own content, intent, pace and message. Interpreters, on the other hand, work in situations where they can't control the content of the message but are trained to accurately convey another person's message.

A signer is a person who can communicate conversationally with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. An interpreter is a person who is not only bilingual but has also received specialized training and credentials to develop the skills and expertise needed to mediate meanings across languages and cultures.

Q: Can anyone who signs be an interpreter?

A: No! Perhaps the biggest misconception of the public is that anyone who has taken a few classes in American Sign Language or knows the manual alphabet, is qualified to be an interpreter. They are not licensed to practice in Iowa. They abide by no ethical standards. Predominately they lack of confidentially and skills necessary to convey a message accurately.