Many people seem to be confused when it comes to clarifying the difference between translation and interpretation. Here we'll take a look on the specifics of these two branches of translating.
We'll start with the purpose — both share the same which is transmitting information from one language to another. The difference between them is in the means with which they serve that purpose — translation uses the written format while interpretation is verbal.

So, what are the requirements for a translator and an interpreter? In the first place, both need to be proficient in the languages they translate from/to. The translator on one hand need to be an excellent analyzer with great writing skills and well grounded in grammar, but he has the advantage of time to get to know the document before converting it. The interpreter on the other hand transmits the information (usually translating sign language or a foreign language) as an ongoing process and for that needs inventiveness and a quick mind; there are two types of interpreters — simultaneous and consecutive: the first translate as the person talks and the latter translates segments of the speech, allowing the speaker to talk a few sentences.
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My name is Alexandrina Ivanova and I will be a translator at translation and legalization agency arte.doc. I have graduated from an English and American Studies programme at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", where I am currently completing my Master's degree as well, in the programme of "Translation". During my translation training I learned a lot about the theory and practice of translation. That, however, was done at a training environment that can never provide what could be learned through professional practice.

Currently, there are probably dozens of translation agencies in Sofia, but what pointed me towards arte.doc was above all the company's good reputation and the fact that it is among the large companies on the market, providing stability and security for its employees.
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You probably know that the Harry Potter books were translated in nearly 70 languages. What you probably don't know is that one of the translations is made from English to... English!

Yes, that's right — the American audience got to read specially adapted for them version of the wizards' book. For example, the first book, published in UK, carried the title "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", but in the US it was published as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". The American publisher changed the name due to apprehensions that children in the US would be confused by the apparent reference to philosophy not knowing about the actual reference to the mythical substance that turns metals into gold. The "translation" also included a list of unpopular in the US British English terms and words. Here are a only a few examples: dustbin (UK) — trashcan (US); bonnet (UK) — hood (US); torch (UK) — flashlight (US); biscuits (UK) — cookies (US); crumpets — English muffins (US).

What do you think — is that good for the children, so that they can read the book without unknown word popping up, or this way they have missed the chance to learn and enrich their vocabulary?

First, let's start with a clarification what is CAT. It means 'computer aided translation' and works as a tool for achieving more efficient translation process of text documents. It has several basic functions: setting the text in segments, this way facilitating the translation; combining the source and the translated text in translation units; preserving the translation units in a Translation Memory bank, allowing this way for them to be used later and matching source text segments with translated ones; automatic search in terminology database. It can also have different additional functions for text search, indexing, import/export function, statistics, harmonizing, use of Internet tools for information search. Read more ...

Translation and Localization Company arte.doc received funding on a project for certification under the translation services standard EN 15038:2006, upgrade of IT infrastructure and development of specialized software for quality management of the translation services, offered by our company, under Operational Programme "Development Of The Competitiveness Of The Bulgarian Economy" 2007—2013, implemented within the European Regional Development Fund, and administered in Bulgaria by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency at the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

Translation and Localization Company arte.doc successfully asserted the parameters and the feasibility of the aforesaid project before the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and after the issuing of initial approval a contract for the implementation of the project was concluded in tight collaboration and under the control of the agency.
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Lewis Carroll — "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."

Friedrich Nietzsche — "It is neither the best nor the worst things in a book that defy translation."

Yevgeny Yevtushenko — "Translation is like a woman: if she is faithful, she is not beautiful; if she is beautiful, she is not faithful."

Voltaire — "It is impossible to translate poetry. Can you translate music?".
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