Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter?

A TRANSLATOR is one who renders WRITTEN word from one language to another. An INTERPRETER is one who renders SPOKEN word from one language to another.

What is Translation?


What is Interpretation?


What is Localization?


What is Computer Assisted Translation?


What are A, B, & C languages?

Your “A” language is typically the language that you grew up with and were educated in during the bulk of your schooling. This is the language and culture that you feel most familiar with and can understand and speak with fluency, cultural awareness, understanding of nuances, and grammatical accuracy.

Your “B” language is the language that you feel almost as proficient in as you do your A language. This is a language that you typically have both substantial academic and in-country experience with. You can understand it, its nuances, and the cultural referents that native speakers of this language may use. You can also use it almost as fluently and expertly as you do your “A” language. Most translators and interpreters will listen/read in their B language as they interpret/translate into their A language, but many others will also work bi-directionally. That is, they will also listen/read in their A language and interpret/translate into their B language, so it must be very strong.

Your “C” language is typically considered a “passive” language. That is, your C language will be a language that you understand at the level of your A and/or B language, but that you will only listen/read in order to interpret/translate into you’re A/B language. You will not typically translate or interpret into your C language. Many translators and interpreters add C languages to their repertoire throughout their professional lives.



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How do I prepare for a career in translation, interpretation, or localization management?

Read our 10 Ways to Prepare for studying translation, interpretation, or localization management.