Simultaneous interpreting vs written translation of a popular science lecture

Abstract

Abstract The article compares two types of language transmission: simultaneous interpreting and written translation. Interpreters and translators alike have to produce texts which are syntactically, se‐mantically and pragmatically adequate. Translation aims at producing a text which is both totally faithful to the author and editorially acceptable in the target language, whilst interpreting is intended for immediate me by listeners in a communicative situation at a particular time and space. The main difference between translation and interpreting is the time factor. A translation can take hours, days, weeks, months. Interpreting is instantaneous and nearly synchrous. It can be done only once, within a time limit. The examples illustrate that the written form of a speech involves more complex and significantly longer sentences than those occurring in oral speech. The syntax of oral speech is simpler and more colloquial. Translators determine their own rate of processing, whereas the structure of interpret...