Translation and transcription often show up in the same project, so it’s easy to assume they’re basically interchangeable. They aren’t.
As a Language Service Provider (LSP) we explain to our clients that the simplest difference is this: translation changes the language, while transcription changes the format. Translation usually takes written content in one language and recreates it in another. Transcription takes spoken words and turns them into written text.
Both fall under the wider range of services that an LSP can manage, but knowing which one you need makes planning your project much easier.
Translation is the process of taking written content in one language, known as the source language, and expressing the same meaning in another, known as the target language.
For example, you might translate an employee handbook from English into Spanish, a product manual into French, or your website into Japanese. The translator’s job is not simply to swap individual words. They need to understand the meaning, tone, context, and terminology behind your original message.
That human understanding matters, especially when your content includes humor, technical language, industry terms, or cultural references. Our guide to translation versus localization explains how adapting content for a particular audience can go beyond straightforward translation.
And there’s a practical business reason to care. CSA Research found that 76% of online shoppers prefer products with information in their own language, while 40% will not buy from websites in other languages.
Transcription starts with speech rather than written content. A transcriptionist listens to an audio or video recording and creates an accurate written version of what was said.
Imagine you’ve recorded an interview, webinar, training session, legal proceeding, podcast, or customer research call. If you want a searchable document, written record, or source text for captions, you need transcription.
Most transcription stays in the original language. An English interview becomes an English document. That’s what makes it different from translation.
Depending on your needs, the transcript can capture every word, hesitation, and false start, or it can be lightly edited for readability. A full-service provider can help you decide which approach fits your content. This overview of choosing the right language service offers a useful starting point.
Some projects need both services.
Let’s say your company records a training video in English and wants to share it with employees in Mexico. First, we transcribe the English speech into written English. Next, we translate that transcript into Mexican Spanish. The translated version can then become subtitles, a voice-over script, or a written handout.
The order matters. Starting with a clear, accurate transcript gives the translator a reliable source. It also helps with timing, speaker labels, technical terminology, and quality checks later in the process.
This kind of combined workflow is common with webinars, marketing videos, e-learning courses, interviews, and recorded meetings. Our article on mapping translation into your project rollout looks at why planning language work early can save time and prevent last-minute surprises.
There’s one more term that often gets mixed into the conversation: interpretation.
Interpretation transfers spoken meaning from one language to another, usually live or close to real time. If someone speaks English during a meeting and a linguist immediately communicates that message in Spanish, that’s interpretation.
If the recording is converted into written English, that’s transcription. If the written English is then converted into Spanish, that’s translation.
These distinctions matter because each service requires different skills, technology, timelines, and pricing. Interpretation is also a major part of the industry.
Nimdzi estimates that interpreting represented more than 16% of the language services market in 2024, with an estimated value of $11.7 billion.
You can explore the practical role of professional interpreters in our article on the value of advanced interpretation.
Start by looking at what you have and what you want to end up with.
If you have written content that needs to reach people in another language, you need translation. If you have audio or video that needs to become written text in the same language, you need transcription. If you have spoken content that needs to become written content in another language, you’ll probably need both.
Your project may also call for subtitles, voice-over, localization, or interpretation. You don’t need to figure out every technical detail before asking for help. A good language partner will look at your files, audience, goals, and deadlines, then recommend a sensible workflow.
When you’re ready to choose that partner, our guide to selecting a Language Service Provider can help you know what to look for. We’re always happy to talk through your project in plain English and help you find the service that actually fits.
Do you have translation or transcription needs? If so, get in touch. Consultations are free and there’s no obligation. You’re in safe hands with us as we’re ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 compliant, have over twenty years of professional translation experience, and have earned the trust of organizations around the world.