Translator in 250: The Septuagint in Alexandria

What is the difference between a translator and an interpreter? A translator works with written text and has time to research, revise and polish; an interpreter renders speech live, with seconds to decide. They are separate professions with separate training — a translator's core skill is writing, an interpreter's is real-time processing under pressure. Many language professionals do some of both early on, then specialize as the demands diverge.

It has already taken the bulk end of the market: machine translation drafts most routine commercial text, and humans increasingly post-edit rather than translate from scratch. What remains firmly human is work where voice, liability or stakes matter — literature, sworn legal documents, medical content, brand copy. The honest picture is a shrinking middle and a premium top, not a vanished profession.

How many languages does a translator need? Two, known deeply, beat five known shallowly. Professional translators work into their strongest language — almost always their native one — from one or two source languages they can read at near-native depth, including slang, register and cultural reference. Adding a third source language can widen the client pool, but agencies and institutions consistently pay for depth in a pair, not breadth.