When possible, interpreters study the topic of the speech before they interpret. Translators convert written materials from one language to another. They translate items such as government documents, manuals, and legal documents. In general, translators specialize in the type of material they translate. This way, they limit their work to areas in which they have knowledge, such as medicine or computers.
Projects can range from several hundred words to several hundred pages in length.
Translators often use dictionaries and other reference books while they are working. Many translators use computers, modems, faxes, and the Internet to send and receive work. Both interpreters and translators must be careful while they are converting information between languages. They must not change the meaning of the information or include their own interpretation. However, they cannot just translate word for word.