act as an interpreter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act as an interpreter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to someone translating between two languages. For example: "Haley was asked to act as an interpreter during the business meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The guide will act as an interpreter if no one in a shop speaks English.

The New York Times - Travel

She is always at the hotel when students are working to act as an interpreter and assist the hotel staff.

The New York Times

Skeptical, but armed with a Japanese-speaking Canadian I had befriended to act as an interpreter, I went.

The New York Times

He quickly outgrew childhood self-consciousness about signing in public and would sometimes act as an interpreter in school or at church.

The New York Times

Joe Yung, whose brother is one of the proprietors of Taste of China, had arranged to drive from Fredericksburg, where he runs a more conventional Chinese restaurant, in order to act as an interpreter.

The New Yorker

Applets, which are a type of application written in Java, can be run in their byte code form by the JVM, which works on any computer that has a small piece of software called a "run-time environment" loaded to act as an interpreter.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

During negotiations in 1854 with Perry, Manjiro acted as an interpreter.

The Economist

During his service in the Pacific theater, Keene acted as an interpreter, translated documents and conducted prisoner inter­rogations.

Columbia University

Mr. Konaté has acted as an interpreter for the police and spreads the word about their crime-fighting programs.

The New York Times

A woman from Burkina Faso who lives in Harlem said she had recently acted as an interpreter for a woman from another African country, Mali.

The New York Times

No doubt he remembered the discussions between his father and designers such as George Nelson, the Eames's and Panton, for which he acted as an interpreter.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "act as an interpreter", ensure the context clearly indicates the languages or systems being interpreted. For instance, "She had to "act as an interpreter" between the engineers and the marketing team."

Common error

Avoid using "act as an interpreter" when a simpler word like "translate" suffices. For example, instead of "He will "act as an interpreter" for the document", simply say "He will translate the document".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act as an interpreter" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the role or capacity in which someone is performing. It describes the action of translating spoken or signed language between two or more parties. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "act as an interpreter" is a versatile verbal phrase used to describe the action of facilitating communication between individuals or groups who speak different languages. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its communicative purpose is to bridge linguistic barriers, as seen in examples across news, academic, and business contexts. Although primarily neutral in register, its professional connotation makes it suitable for formal settings where clear and accurate communication is paramount. While alternatives like "serve as a translator" or "function as a mediator" exist, "act as an interpreter" specifically highlights the dynamic, real-time nature of language facilitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serve as a translator

Focuses on the direct translation aspect, rather than the broader communicative role.

function as a mediator

Highlights the role of facilitating understanding and agreement, especially in disputes.

work as a liaison

Emphasizes the connection and communication between different parties or groups.

provide interpretation services

More formal and emphasizes the professional aspect of interpretation.

translate verbally

Focuses specifically on spoken language translation.

bridge the language gap

Emphasizes overcoming communication barriers.

facilitate communication

Broader term that includes more than just language translation.

offer language assistance

Highlights the support aspect of helping with language.

render linguistic assistance

More formal and technical way of saying offering language assistance.

interpret conversations

Focuses on the act of interpreting spoken exchanges.

FAQs

What does it mean to "act as an interpreter"?

To "act as an interpreter" means to facilitate communication between individuals or groups who speak different languages by translating orally.

What are some alternatives to "act as an interpreter"?

You can use alternatives like "serve as a translator", "function as a mediator", or "work as a liaison" depending on the specific context.

How do you use "act as an interpreter" in a sentence?

Example: "During the meeting, she had to "act as an interpreter" because the client only spoke Spanish."

Is it more appropriate to say "translate" instead of "act as an interpreter"?

While "translate" is often suitable, "act as an interpreter" emphasizes a more active, real-time communication facilitation, particularly in spoken contexts. "Translate" can also refer to written translation.