What is the Difference Between Transcription and Translation in Language?

Transcription and translation are two different processes in language services, and although they share some similarities, they serve different purposes:

Transcription:

• Involves converting audio or video content into written text.
• Deals with the same language as the original source.
• Requires listening to audio, video, or live speech and writing it into text form in the exact wording that the original speaker used.
• Primarily focuses on written documents as outputs.

Translation:

• Involves converting information in a particular language into one or more additional languages.
• Works with both the original language (source) and another language (target).
• Requires handling two languages: the source language and the target language.
• Can be applied to both written and audio/video content.

Both transcription and translation aim to ensure a high degree of accuracy and maintain the information contained within the content to the best of their ability. However, transcription deals with the written representation of spoken language, while translation focuses on converting the meaning of words and phrases from one language to another.

Comparative Table: Transcription vs Translation in Language

Here is a table comparing the differences between transcription and translation in language:

Transcription involves converting spoken language into written text, typically from audio or video recordings. The output is a written document that serves as a "table of contents" for the audiovisual file, with notes on what time certain words and sentences appear. Transcriptionists must be quick thinkers and highly proficient in their own language, as well as some dialect markers that appear in verbal speech.

Translation, on the other hand, involves converting text from one language to another. The output is a translated text that may not always have a word-for-word correspondence with the original, as some ideas in one language must be translated as a concept rather than as individual words to render the original phrase as accurately as possible. Translators must be native speakers of the target language and often have expertise in various subject matter areas. Translation is popular for literary works, news organizations, and businesses looking to enter new markets or increase market share.