Translation
* Focus: Conveying the exact meaning of a text from one language to another.
* Goal: Preserve the original meaning and intent as closely as possible, even if it means maintaining the original structure and vocabulary.
* Examples: Converting a novel from Spanish to English, translating a scientific paper from French to Japanese.
Paraphrasing
* Focus: Expressing the same meaning of a text in different words.
* Goal: Clarify, simplify, or rephrase a text while retaining its original meaning. Often used to avoid plagiarism or make information more accessible.
* Examples: Re-writing a complex scientific explanation in simpler terms, summarizing a long passage in a few sentences.
Here's a table to summarize the differences:
| Feature | Translation | Paraphrasing |
|---|---|---|
| Language change | Yes | No |
| Purpose | To convey meaning in a different language | To rephrase in the same language |
| Structure and vocabulary | Maintains original structure and vocabulary as much as possible | Uses different words and sentence structure |
| Plagiarism | Allowed (as long as source is credited) | Not allowed |
In short: Translation involves a language change, while paraphrasing involves a rewording within the same language.