Is an interpreter the same as a translator?

No, an interpreter and a translator are not the same thing, although they share some similarities. Here's the key difference:

* Interpreters work with spoken language. They translate spoken words from one language to another in real-time, typically in a face-to-face setting.

* Translators work with written language. They translate written text from one language to another, producing a written document in the target language.

Here's a table summarizing the key distinctions:

| Feature | Interpreter | Translator |

|---|---|---|

| Language Type | Spoken | Written |

| Mode of Translation | Real-time | Written document |

| Setting | Face-to-face (meetings, conferences, etc.) | Behind the scenes (books, websites, legal documents, etc.) |

| Example | A guide translating for tourists at a historical site | A person translating a novel from Spanish to English |

Think of it this way:

* Interpreter: Like a "voice bridge" between two people who speak different languages.

* Translator: Like a "written bridge" between two languages, converting a written text from one language to another.

However, there are some instances where the terms can be used interchangeably, especially when referring to someone who can do both. For example, someone might call themselves a "translator and interpreter," implying they can work with both spoken and written languages.