What is the difference between interpretation and translation?

Answer 1

An interpretation, is someones opinion on what something could mean, or the way they take something. For example, a Christian's interpretation of how the world began would differ from a scientist's. A translation, is something that could also be taken different ways, but more often than not, there is only one correct way to take it. For example, if you were translating something from English, into a foreign language and you were just purely counting on a dictionary to tell you what you need to know, without putting into place any grammar rules that you know, or can research to find out about, your translation would undoubtedly be a little off the mark, because your word order, may be a little mixed up, or you may make some other error. You may use a word which is a translation of the word itself, but does not fit into the context of what you are supposed to be writing.