Language interpretation - Definition and Overview

Language intepretation may be roughly understood as the restating, in speech, language spoken (uttered out loud) in another language. Interpreters typically distinguish interpretation from translation, which deals with the written word. Interpretations are uttered; translations are written down.

Interpretation may be either consecutive or simultaneous. With consecutive interpretation, the speaker frequently pauses to allow the interpreter to translate what was just spoken. With simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter, using headphones to listen to the speaker, voices the translation into a microphone immediately.

Just-in-time dynamic recompilation of a programming language, such as that used in an emulator, parallels this process. See translation of programming languages.