We explain the differences between trade and profession, the types of knowledge they require and examples of each one.
What are the differences between a trade and a profession?
Very often the terms trade and profession are used interchangeably, as if they were synonyms. For practical purposes they may be, but in reality they respond to very different ideas from each other. To understand this difference, we must first understand the origin of each of these words.
Of both, oficio is the oldest, and comes from Latin officethe result of the union of two different voices: opus (“work”) and facere(“do”), that is, the things one does, the works one can accomplish. This term was used to distinguish between the things that a person literally knew how to do: make shoes (shoemaker), make furniture with wood (carpenter), cure the sick (healer), go to war (soldier), etc.
In ancient society, these tasks were learned from a young age and directly, sharing with a family member who knew them or acting as an apprentice to someone who mastered them. That is to say that The trades were transmitted from generation to generation through pure practice. This term was closely related to that of opifex“craftsman.”
On the other hand, the word profession comes from Latin professionaltranslatable as “career” or “occupation.” It began to be used in the Middle Ages, after the emergence of the first universities, in which specialized knowledge was taught.
In a largely illiterate world, those who knew how to read and write were part of a knowledge elite, and had access to knowledge and reflections that the common people were unaware of, and that required cultivation in a specialized environment. So, Those who have a specialized level of education in an area are known as professionals.
This is where the fundamental difference between a trade and a profession comes from: the former can be learned through practice, while the latter require specialized learning. This means that the former are available to anyone (which does not mean that everyone does it equally well), while the latter are typical of those who have had access to specialized training.
Of course, the lines that separate both categories are not always clear and evident, and there are cases that tend to remain in an intermediate line, or that are difficult to classify, such as that of some artists and craftsmen. But in general, these differences can be summarized as follows:
| Trades | Professions |
|---|---|
| They are tasks that are learned directly, through practice, and that are therefore within the reach of anyone, although not with the same level of expertise. | They are knowledge that is learned through specialized education and that is not available to everyone. |
| It usually refers to manual or artisanal work, in which something is created or something is repaired with the hands and with the help of tools. | The term is usually reserved for a wealth of complex knowledge and thoughts, of different kinds, generally at a technical and/or university level. |
| It does not require prior specialized knowledge, but rather strength, skill or talent. Their training is informal, it does not require qualifications. | It requires prior educational background, both basic and typical of the profession itself. Their training is formal, and this is certified by a degree or diploma. |
| They capitalize on the time, effort and materials used. | They capitalize on the specialized knowledge that has been acquired, and not just the effort. |
These differences are evident, finally, if we think that someone's trade and profession may not coincide at all: a person can train as an architect and end up in a twist of fate being a taxi driver, for example, but not for This will result in you losing the specialized knowledge you have already acquired.
See also: Professionalism
Examples of trade and profession
A person whose house has a plumbing problem is able to deal with it to some extent using his own tools and the basic knowledge he gained from watching his father do similar tasks.
His work may be crude, clumsy or poor, but he is able to deal with the craft to some extent. Of course, if you call a plumber that is, to someone who handles the job properly, the work will be much better. But by asking at the hardware store, you may be able to fix it yourself.
On the other hand, if the emergency were not plumbing but medical, say, a very strong pain in the chest, the same person would have no choice but to contact a medical professional, that is, someone who has specialized knowledge and Sufficient extensive training to recognize a specific ailment in its symptoms and deduce a probable solution.
In fact, if they have to operate it, the surgeon doctor You will know how to do it because you will have studied the various medical branches, and that is something that cannot be learned simply by practicing.
According to this logic, they are examples of jobs: craftsman, shoemaker, jeweler, watchmaker, hairdresser, plumber, mechanic, sweeper, cleaning staff, gardener, worker, hunter, fisherman, bartender, driver, watchman, janitor, weaver, etc.
Instead, they are examples of professions: doctor, chemist, biologist, teacher, architect, engineer, art critic, veterinarian, astronomer, graphic designer, fashion designer, dentist, nuclear physicist, agronomist, psychologist, geographer, sociologist, etc.
Continue with: Worker
References
- “Profession” in Wikipedia.
- “Occupation (profession)” in Wikipedia.
- “Do you know what a trade and a profession are?” (video) in Everything for children.
- “Etymology of Office” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
- “Profession Establishment” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
