Do you know the difference between a translator and an interpreter? I didn’t, until recently.
I have gone 40+ years of life and have never met a translator. I have worked with many interpreters, but never a translator.Yet, in the span of just a few weeks, I became connected and made friends with two different translators, on two different online platforms, who live in two different countries. Like, what are the odds?
Translator vs. Interpreter: What’s the Difference?
“The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – Daniel Goleman
You may be wondering (as was I when I met the first one), what is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?
Well, the biggest difference is that translators focus on the written language. Taking the time to convert the text from one language to another.
An interpreter focuses on spoken or signed language. Their role is generally to convert a conversation in real time (we used them a lot when I worked in the ER).
Expanding My World Beyond Social Media
As I spend more time expanding the circle of people I interact with across platforms that aren’t traditional social media, I find more interesting people to connect with and learn from. I am now connected with and interacting with more people across the globe than ever before….and not just in a shallow way, like actually getting to know these people.
Why This Matters
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Robert Greene
We all have so much to learn from one another. The more we expand our “world”, the more we can learn, and I believe the more we can see each other as humans and not NPCs.
“Words can connect us or divide us. The choice is always ours.” - Susan Gillas Chapman
Ponder This
- When was the last time you made a connection with someone outside your usual circle?
- Do you treat people you meet online as real, live humans, or just non-player characters?
- What “hidden professions” fascinate you that you’ve never interacted with?
Books/Newsletters
- Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman
- The Laws of Human Nature - Robert Greene
- The Five Keys to Mindful Communication – Susan Gillis Chapman
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