- Active language: It is the language that the interpreter and/or translator are able to work from and into, in all modalities and conveying all speech functions. If interpreters/translators can do so, it usually means that they were born, have been educated and spent an extended period of time in the country where the language is spoken. Active languages are formally acknowledged as languages A and B in the ABC classification system that interpreters/translators use to rank their working language skills. Language A is usually the interpreter/translator’s mother tongue, whereas language B is his/her second language in which s/he holds native-like proficiency.
- Understanding interpreting: see interpreter’s role
- Consecutive interpreting: In consecutive interpreting, the interpreter relays the content after the speaker has finished speaking in the source language. In other words, there is a turn-taking sequence involved between speaker and interpreter. The audience hears the original content followed by the translated content, and not at the same time. The interpreter often takes advantage of this time to take notes of what is spoken, ensuring that s/he will relay all the content without omissions. Along with simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting is one of the two main modes of interpreting.
- Community interpreting: Also referred to as public sector interpreting, community interpreting involves interpreting on-site. It is useful in cases where people don’t speak or have difficulty understanding the language that the public services are offered. Examples of public services are healthcare, welfare, legal services, finding accommodation and the like. Medical interpreting is a distinct area of specialized interpreting.
- Content-editing involves both content evaluation and new content creation. Beginning with content evaluation, the editor checks the accuracy of the facts being reported in the text and corrects any contradictions or inconsistencies s/he may detect. Then, the editor develops the text further to meet the submission requirements and publication standards, as needed. Content-editing is different than copy-editing, during which the editor focuses on the linguistic accuracy of the text (how it is delivered). In content-editing, the editor focuses on what is delivered, or better, the accuracy of the content.Copy-editing is a more fine-grained and laborious process than editing or proofreading, which may also be called heavy editing. The copy-editing process remains at the level of language correction and does not involve content creation. It differs, however, from simple editing and proofreading in that the editor reviews the text in great detail to verify the flow and consistency within the text. On top of style, grammar and syntax, the copy-editor checks the consistency between the references and body text, the cohesion between sentences and paragraphs in relation to the entire text. The editor will sometimes need to complete or rewrite sentences of the document, in line with the goals and characteristics of copy-editing in terms of correcting the language of a document
- Escort interpreting: The interpreter accompanies the client or small group to their workplace to facilitate communication on-site. The client may need interpreting while on visits, medical appointments, interviews or public sector affairs.
- Passive language: It is the language that the interpreter and/or translator are able to work from but not into. In this case, the interpreters/translators fully understand the passive language, and they may also be educated and/or have spent a significant period of time in the country where the language is spoken. However, their proficiency in this language does not suffice for them to fully respond to the demands of interpreting/translating into this language. Passive languages are formally acknowledged as C languages and are classified as such in the ABC classification system that interpreters/translators use to rank their working language skills. Interpreters/Translators can convey all meaning from their passive into their active languages.
- Proofreading is done to improve the quality of a written document in terms of style and flow. At this level, editors deal with superficial errors, such as typos, misspellings, grammatical, syntactical and punctuation errors. Proofreading is usually needed at the final stages of the writing process when the authors are confident that their document only needs minor changes.
- Revision and editing are focused on spelling and stylistic corrections, as well as the tone and identity of the document (e.g. author, readership).
- Sight translation: It is a form of simultaneous interpreting, which is carried out with reference to a written text. The translator/interpreter keeps the text on-sight and relays its content into the target language as s/he reads it in the source language. The interpretation should be done in such a way that the audience is able to easily understand the content. Sight translation describes a modality of simultaneous interpreting, alongside whispered or whispering interpreting (see below).
- Simultaneous interpreting: Along with consecutive interpreting, as explained above, simultaneous interpreting is the second main mode of interpreting. It involves same time translation of spoken content. One of the practicalities involved in simultaneous interpreting is that there is no turn-taking between speaker and interpreter, and so the interpreter has no time to take notes before delivering the content into the target language. The interpreters/translators can compensate by ensuring previous knowledge and experience in the subject area.
- Transcription: Transcription involves the representation of audiovisual (sound and image) material in text format for data management and processing. It is a key component of qualitative research.
- Whispered interpreting: This is a version of simultaneous interpreting and it requires the interpreter to translate content in a low, whispering voice.
- Understanding translation: see translator’s role
