Translator in 2300: Eblas bilingual word lists

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.

The US median for interpreters and translators was about $57,000 in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staff translators at international organisations in Geneva or Brussels earn substantially more, while typical freelance incomes in India or Brazil are a fraction of European rates. Specialization matters most: patent, legal and financial translators consistently out-earn generalists in every market.

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.