Interpretation vs. Construction: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 21, 2024
Interpretation is the act of explaining, reframing, or understanding something in a certain way, whereas construction is the process of building, forming, or assembling something.
Key Differences
Interpretation involves analyzing and providing meaning to something, such as a text, event, or data. It is inherently a cognitive and subjective process. Construction, in contrast, refers to the physical or systematic assembly of parts or concepts, focusing on the creation of a tangible or structured entity.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 21, 2024
The primary aim of interpretation is to derive meaning or understanding, often involving personal or subjective insights. Construction’s goal is to produce a coherent structure or system, relying more on objective methods and planning.
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Jan 21, 2024
In fields like law and literature, interpretation plays a crucial role in understanding texts or contexts, requiring critical thinking. Construction is central in areas like engineering and architecture, where the physical assembly of materials or ideas is essential.
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Jan 21, 2024
Interpretation demands skills like critical thinking and analysis, as it often deals with abstract or nuanced concepts. Construction requires skills in design, planning, and execution, focusing on practical and tangible outcomes.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 21, 2024
Interpretation is highly dependent on context, as different perspectives can lead to varied interpretations. Construction, while influenced by context, usually follows a more standardized or planned approach, aiming for a specific result.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 21, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Cognitive process of finding meaning
Physical or systematic process of building
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Jan 21, 2024
Dependence on Context
Highly context-sensitive
Less influenced by context, more by design
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Jan 21, 2024
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Interpretation and Construction Definitions
Interpretation
Interpretation can be the translation of spoken or signed languages.
The interpreter provided a simultaneous interpretation of the speech.
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Jan 07, 2024
Construction
It involves creating something from various parts or elements.
The artist's construction of the installation was intricate.
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Jan 07, 2024
Interpretation
It involves providing a particular perspective or understanding.
The director's interpretation of the play brought new insights.
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Jan 07, 2024
Construction
Construction is the process of building or assembling structures.
The construction of the new bridge took two years.
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Jan 07, 2024
Interpretation
Interpretation refers to the way something is understood or perceived.
Each historian offered a unique interpretation of the events.
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Jan 07, 2024
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Construction
Construction can refer to the structure or composition of something.
The construction of her argument was very persuasive.
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Jan 07, 2024
Construction
Construction also means the interpretation or drawing of a term in a particular way.
The legal construction of the statute was critical in the court case.
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Jan 07, 2024
Interpretation
An explanation or conceptualization by a critic of a work of literature, painting, music, or other art form; an exegesis.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The art, trade, or work of building
An engineer trained in highway construction.
Worked in construction for seven years.
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Interpretation
A performer's distinctive personal version of a song, dance, piece of music, or role; a rendering.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
(countable) An act of interpreting or explaining something unclear; a translation; a version.
The interpretation of a dream, or of an enigma
The interpretation of the rules
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Construction
Something fashioned or devised systematically
A nation that was glorious in its historical construction.
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Interpretation
(countable) A sense given by an interpreter; an exposition or explanation given; meaning.
Commentators give various interpretations of the same passage of Scripture.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
An artistic composition using various materials; an assemblage or a collage.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
The discipline or study of translating one spoken or signed language into another (as opposed to translation, which concerns itself with written language).
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The way in which something is built or put together
A shelter of simple construction.
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Construction
The interpretation or explanation given to an expression or a statement
I was inclined to put a favorable construction on his reply.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
(countable) An artist's way of expressing his thought or embodying his conception of nature.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
(Grammar) An arrangement of words forming a grammatical phrase, clause, or sentence.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
(countable) An act or process of applying general principles or formulae to the explanation of the results obtained in special cases.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The process of constructing.
Construction is underway on the new bridge.
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Interpretation
An approximation that allows aspects of a mathematical theory to be discussed in ordinary language.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
Anything that has been constructed.
The engineer marvelled at his construction.
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Interpretation
An assignment of a truth value to each propositional symbol of a propositional calculus.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The trade of building structures.
He had worked in construction all his life.
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Construction
A building, model or some other structure.
The office was a construction of steel and glass.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
The act of interpreting; explanation of what is obscure; translation; version; construction; as, the interpretation of a foreign language, of a dream, or of an enigma.
Look how we can, or sad or merrily,Interpretation will misquote our looks.
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Construction
(arts) A (usually non-representational) structure, such as a collage etc.
"Construction in string and clockwork" took first prize.
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Interpretation
The sense given by an interpreter; exposition or explanation given; meaning; as, commentators give various interpretations of the same passage of Scripture.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The manner in which something is built.
A thing of simple construction.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
(grammar) A group of words arranged to form a meaningful phrase.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
An artist's way of expressing his thought or embodying his conception of nature.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The act or result of construing the meaning of something.
American conservatives tend to favor strict construction of the Constitution.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
The act or process of applying general principles or formulæ to the explanation of the results obtained in special cases.
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The meaning or interpretation of a text, action etc.; the way something is viewed by an observer or onlooker.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
A mental representation of the meaning or significance of something
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
(geometry) A geometric figure of arcs and line segments that is drawable with a straightedge and compass.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
The act of interpreting something as expressed in an artistic performance;
Her rendition of Milton's verse was extraordinarily moving
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
An explanation that results from interpreting something;
The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence
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Construction
The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement.
An astrolabe of peculiar construction.
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Interpretation
An explanation of something that is not immediately obvious;
The edict was subject to many interpretations
He annoyed us with his interpreting of parables
Often imitations are extended to provide a more accurate rendition of the child's intended meaning
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement.
Some particles . . . in certain constructions have the sense of a whole sentence contained in them.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
Interpretation is the act of explaining the meaning of something.
Her interpretation of the poem differed from the traditional analysis.
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Jan 07, 2024
Construction
The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense.
Any person . . . might, by the sort of construction that would be put on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason.
Strictly, the term [construction] signifies determining the meaning and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words employed.
Interpretation properly precedes construction, but it does not go beyond the written text.
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Jan 06, 2024
Interpretation
It's the process of construing a meaning or concept.
His interpretation of the data led to a groundbreaking discovery.
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Jan 07, 2024
Construction
The act of constructing or building something;
During the construction we had to take a detour
His hobby was the building of boats
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The commercial activity involved in constructing buildings;
Their main business is home construction
Workers in the building trades
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
A thing constructed; a complex construction or entity;
The structure consisted of a series of arches
She wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons
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Construction
A group of words that form a constituent of a sentence and are considered as a single unit;
I concluded from his awkward constructions that he was a foreigner
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
The creation of a construct; the process of combining ideas into a congruous object of thought
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
An interpretation of a text or action;
They put an unsympathetic construction on his conduct
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Jan 06, 2024
Construction
Drawing a figure satisfying certain conditions as part of solving a problem or proving a theorem;
The assignment was to make a construction that could be used in proving the Pythagorean theorem
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Construction
It's the act of forming or creating something systematically.
The construction of the theory required careful analysis.
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Jan 07, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can interpretations be wrong?
Interpretations can vary widely and are subjective, so they're not typically categorized as right or wrong.
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Jan 21, 2024
What does interpretation mean in art?
In art, interpretation refers to how viewers perceive and understand the artwork's meaning.
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Jan 21, 2024
Are there different types of construction?
Yes, there are various types, including building construction, civil construction, and industrial construction.
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Jan 21, 2024
How does technology impact construction?
Technology greatly impacts construction through improved materials, methods, and efficiency.
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Jan 21, 2024
Is interpretation always subjective?
Interpretation often involves a subjective element, though it can be informed by objective analysis.
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Jan 21, 2024
Does interpretation require expertise?
Expertise can enhance interpretation, especially in specialized fields, but it's not always necessary.
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Jan 21, 2024
How important is context in interpretation?
Context is crucial in interpretation, as it shapes understanding and perspective.
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Jan 21, 2024
Does interpretation involve personal bias?
Personal bias can influence interpretation, though objective methods aim to minimize it.
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Jan 21, 2024
What is the primary goal of construction?
The primary goal of construction is to assemble or build a coherent structure or system.
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Jan 21, 2024
Is construction a creative process?
Yes, construction can be creative, especially in design and problem-solving aspects.
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Jan 21, 2024
Does construction always result in physical objects?
Mostly, but it can also refer to the construction of ideas or theoretical models.
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Jan 21, 2024
Can interpretation change over time?
Yes, interpretations can evolve with new insights, perspectives, or information.
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Jan 21, 2024
Is construction always a long process?
The duration of construction varies based on the project's complexity and scale.
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Jan 21, 2024
How does cultural background affect interpretation?
Cultural background can significantly influence how one interprets texts, events, or artworks.
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Jan 21, 2024
What role does interpretation play in communication?
Interpretation is key in communication, ensuring messages are understood correctly.
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Jan 21, 2024
How do safety and regulations impact construction?
Safety and regulations are critical in construction, guiding practices to prevent accidents and ensure quality.
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Jan 21, 2024
Can construction also refer to the formation of sentences?
Yes, in linguistics, construction refers to the arrangement and relationship of words in a sentence.
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Jan 21, 2024
Are there rules for interpretation?
Certain fields, like legal interpretation, follow specific rules and frameworks.
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Jan 21, 2024
What's the difference between construction and manufacturing?
Construction typically refers to creating structures or systems, whereas manufacturing is about producing goods.
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Jan 21, 2024
Can construction be applied to abstract concepts?
Yes, construction can refer to the systematic formation of abstract concepts or theories.
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Jan 21, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.