THE CIRIN BULLETIN
Conference
Interpreting Research
Information Network
An independent network for the
dissemination of information on
conference interpreting
research (CIR)
__________________________________________________________________
BULLETIN n°33
December 2006
Editor: Daniel Gile
Contributors to
this issue:
Elena Alikina
(EA), Dörte Andres (DA), Magdalena Bartłomiejczyk (MB) Ivana
Čeňková (IC), Hande Ersöz (HE), Francine Kaufmann (FK), Luigi
Lucarelli (LL), Franz Pöchhacker (FP), Alessandra Riccardi (AR)
Editorial address:
D. Gile, 46, rue d'Alembert, 92190 Meudon, France
tel/fax
+33 1 45 34 83 84
e-mail: daniel.gile@laposte.net
Web site: http://www.cirinandgile.com
This Bulletin aims at contributing to the
dissemination of information on conference interpreting research (CIR) and at
providing useful information to members of the CIR community worldwide. It is
intended to achieve maximum coverage of research into this sub-field of
interpreting, and only occasionally refers to research and publications in
other sub-fields. The Bulletin is published twice a year, in December
and June. For further information and electronic or paper copies of early
issues (the last issue is available on the Web site at any time), please
contact D. Gile.
Note: the
mini-abstracts are followed by the initials of the contributors who sent in the
information, but the text may also be written or adapted from the original text
by D.Gile, who takes responsibility for the comments and for potential errors
introduced by him.
* *
*
This 33rd issue of the CIRIN Bulletin
is relatively rich, and my thanks go to the nine colleagues listed above as
contributors. Without them, much less could be offered to readers, since the budget
of CIRIN is limited to its editor’s personal investment in IT equipment and in
a subscription to Internet, and there is virtually nothing on conference
interpreting in the library of my university. I am lucky to receive a few books
and journals as a member of editorial teams and as an author, and this helps
gather some information, but the contribution of colleagues is invaluable,
especially when they send in not only references, but also abstracts. Some
colleagues are reluctant to send CIRIN information about their own writings,
perhaps out of modesty, but I believe this would serve the community, as this
site is accessible worldwide without charge and the increasing number of
visitors from many countries suggests that researchers working on interpreting
are interested, whereas most university libraries have little literature on
interpreting.
Perhaps
it is appropriate to recall at this point that monthly lists of recent
literature in TS, including public service interpreting, are offered in the
Recent Publications Page of the site of the European Society for Translation
Studies (www.est-translationstudies.org).
Such reviews are offered on the same basis as those provided here, but whereas
CIRIN tries to be as comprehensive as possible and may perhaps offer a
representative picture of research into conference interpreting, literature
lists in the EST site make no such claim about TS literature. The EST site also
offers a set of very short texts on research issues which might be of interest
to beginning researchers (and perhaps advanced researchers as well) into
conference interpreting (click on ‘Research Issues’).
This
issue’s harvest is made up of 104 items, including 21 masters’ theses and 2
doctoral dissertations. Twelve of these ‘qualifying texts’
(52%) report empirical research, whereas the total number of empirical studies
in this issue is 24 (about 23% of the total number of items). This is
another indication of the important role of the students’ contribution to the
body of empirical research into conference interpreting. Twenty five items come
from
Finally,
I should like to draw the attention of readers to the work done by Russo,
Bendazzoli and Sandrelli (see the Articles section). I was fortunate enough to
visit Forlí a few weeks ago and to feel the positive and dynamic atmosphere
there – readers will recall the numerous bibliographical items from Forlí
listed on the CIRIN Bulletin over the past few years. The work on EPIC
is one example where heavy investment in work (preparing the recordings for
analysis was labour-intensive) results in a corpus of respectable size which
can then be used for multiple studies.
Wishing all
readers a Happy New Year,
Daniel
Gile
Alikina,
Elena. 2006.
Teaching consecutive with simulation (in Russian) In T. Serowa (ed.) Theory
and practice of translation and interpreter training. 66-73.
Alikina, Elena. 2006. Didactic
problems when assessing consecutive interpreting quality (in
Russian). In T. Serowa (ed.) The translation industry and information supply
in international business activities. 131-135.
* This paper looks at the issue of quality in
consecutive interpreting and its assessment in student performance, focusing on
translation errors. (EA)
Avkhachjova, Irina. 2006.
Self-study as an element of interpreter training courses. (in Russian) In T.
Serowa (ed.) Theory and practice of translation and interpreter training.
61-65.
*
Students’self-study proves to be critical when it comes to teaching any course.
As regards mastering practical skills – translation skills, in particular – the
role of self-study can hardly be overestimated. However, to make full use of
its potential, both the teacher’s and the students’ activities should comply
with a number of principles and conditions. On the one hand, trainees ought not
to be formal and superficial when practicing and acquiring skills on their own;
intellectual activity is a must. On the other hand, selecting and adapting
materials to particular training purposes, formulating precise and clear-cut
instructions for students, relevant forms and methods of evaluation and
feedback are the trainers’ responsibilities. Also, self-study can greatly
contribute to developing the linguistic and methodological competence of
interpreter trainees and their ability to develop professionally in the future.
(EA)
Avkhachjova,
Irina. 2006. Determinants and Constituents of the
Interpreter’s Decisions. (in Russian). In T. Serowa (ed.) The translation
industry and information supply in international business activities.
189-194.
* The article
deals with the factors which determine the decisions taken by an interpreter
with the view to using particular strategies and tactics in the course of
interpreting. These essential constituents of translation process are analyzed
against various situational parameters typical of the work of an
interpreter.(EA)
Baigorri Jalón,
Jesús. 2003. Guerras, extremos, intérpretes. In Muñoz Martín,
Ricardo (ed). I AIETI. Actas del I Congreso de la Asociación Ibérica de
Estudios de Traducción e Interpretación. Granada: AIETI, vol.II. 159-176.
Baigorri Jalón,
Jesús. 2005. Michaelis, un intérprete de conferencias
alemán entre las dos guerras mundiales. Puentes
5.57-65.
* An interesting
historical case study, that of Georges Michaelis, a German academic in the
field of language, literature, history and philosophy with a remarkable talent
for languages who became an outstanding conference interpreter between the two
World Wars and was sacked by German authorities later because he was Jewish.
Baigorri Jalón uses this case study to illustrate some of the features of this
early period of the conference interpreting profession.
Baigorri Jalón, Jesús. 2006. Anecdotage of an interpreter: Olivia Rossetti
Agresti (1875-1960). Pliegos de Yuste 4:1. 83-90. online at: www.pliegosdeyuste.com
* The biography of one early interpreter.
Bao, Xiaoying. 2006.
The Achievement of Fidelity in
Interpretation – The Application of Memory Psychology in Interpretation. (in
Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 401-411.
Bartłomiejczyk, Magdalena. 2006.
Historia tłumaczenia konferencyjnego [History of Conference
Interpreting] Stosunki Międzynarodowe 40/41, 18-20.
Abstract: The article
briefly presents the history of conference interpreting with a special emphasis
on the period after World War I (League of Nations, golden time of consecutive
interpreting, beginnings of simultaneous interpreting) and after World War II
(Nuremberg trials, creation of UNO, rising importance of simultaneous
interpreting). (BM)
Bartłomiejczyk, Magdalena. 2006.
Lexical Transfer in Simultaneous Interpreting. Forum 4:2. 1-23.
Abstract: After explaining
the notion of lexical transfer, the article describes two experimental studies
focusing on simultaneous interpreting between English and Polish. The first
compares the frequency of non-automated transfer and transfer resistance
between B-A and A-B interpreting on the basis of retrospective verbal protocols
obtained from 36 trainee interpreters having Polish as their A language. The
other, based on interpretations of 19 trainees, explores transfer in A-B
interpreting by means of product analysis. The results suggest that, in
opposition to popular beliefs, in the language combination under investigation
lexical transfer does not seem to be markedly stronger when working into a
foreign language, nor does it have a particularly detrimental influence on the
quality of interpreting into B. (BM)
Bartłomiejczyk, Magdalena (2006) Strategies
of Simultaneous Interpreting and Directionality. Interpreting 8:2.
149-174.
Abstract: This article
describes an experimental study on strategies of simultaneous interpreting used
by 36 advanced students working in two directions: from English (B) into Polish
(A) and the reverse. The material analysed comprises retrospective remarks
provided by the subjects, prompted by listening to the source texts and their
interpretations directly after the interpreting task. Twenty-one interpreting
strategies were identified; a detailed classification and examples of relevant
protocol fragments are presented. The results suggest that strategic processing
differs considerably when interpreting into Polish (A) and into English (B),
which can be attributed mainly to directionality but, in some cases, also to
language-pair specificity. Some of the differences run counter to the initial
hypotheses, and possible explanations for this are discussed.
Bin, Yan.
2006. The Four Key Elements of Professional
Interpretation Training Program – A Comparative Study of Three Professional
Training Programs. (in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang 265-279.
Chai,
Mingjiong & Zhang, Ailing. 2006. Developing Expertise in Interpreting. (in Chinese). In Chai &
Zhang. 178-191.
Chmiel, Agnieszka. 2005. Mental
imagery in interpreting - a neurocognitive perspective. POLISSEMA Revista de
Letras do ISCAP 5: 23-37.
* The paper discusses mental imagery as an important
part of information processing performed during interpreting. Mental imagery is
examined to see if visual processing used to remember the source text or to
facilitate its understanding helps to 'off-load' other cognitive (mainly
linguistic) resources in interpreting. The discussion is based on a
neurocognitively-oriented descriptivist model by Kosslyn (1994). The overview
of mental imagery processes and systems is followed by the discussion of
imagery used in interpreting. First, imagery development in student interpreters
is described on the basis of a note-taking course for would-be consecutive
interpreters organized by the author at AMU. The initial part of the course
devoted to imagery involves visualizations of geographical, descriptive and
narrative texts. The description abounds in authentic examples and presents
conclusions for interpreting trainers. Later, imagery as employed by
professional interpreters is discussed on the basis of a qualitative survey.
General implications of the use of mental imagery for cognitive processing
limitations in interpreting are presented in the concluding section.(MB)
Chmiel, Agnieszka. 2006. A
Skill-Based Approach to Conference Interpreting. Translation
* The skill-based approach to conference interpreting
is based on the assumption that interpreting is a complex cognitive phenomenon
that requires extensive attentional resources. The task itself is feasible
thanks to various memory systems specialized in different types of tasks. It is
subserved by working memory and long-term memory systems, such as declarative
(semantic and episodic) and procedural memory. The application of an approach
based on cognitive science and memory studies has specific ramifications for
trainers of interpreting. This paper first focuses on presenting conference
interpreting as a skill (from a cognitive perspective). The use of cognitive
resources in skill performance is later discussed. A lot of attention is paid
to skill development and the acquisition of the conference interpreting skill.
The cognitive approach helps to evaluate some commonly used training
techniques. Finally, interpreter training is put in the Polish context, with an
emphasis on such issues as directionality of interpreting in Poland, English
used as a lingua franca in a conference setting, Euro-Polish and English-based
corporate languages. (BM)
Doğan, Aymil. 2006.
Interpreting: in the Making of a Rainbow of Interdisciplinary Studies. In
Sündüz Öztürk Kasar (ed). Interdisciplinarity on Translation.
* The author underlines the importance of
interdisciplinarity in interpreting studies. She dwells on the paradigms of
contemporary interpreting scholars and explains several circumstances under
which interpreting research in
Donovan, Clare. 2006. Conference Interpreter Training –
Constraints and Responses. Forum 4:1. 1-22.
* A general
discussion of factors that make it difficult for conference interpreter
training programs to be as close to ideal as they would like to, and of action
to achieve the best results under the circumstances. The author has a solid,
pragmatic attitude, and makes a couple of important points that deserve to be
made again and again. One is that when users are exposed to shoddy service,
they lose faith in interpreting per se rather than assume that they were
unlucky at a particular time; another is that interpreting instructors who are
not active tend to lose contact with the market ; yet another is that more and
more users of interpreting have some knowledge of other languages and will use
interpreting only if it really provides them with a bonus ; finally, the idea
that training has a role to play in shaping quality and market expectations, not
just meeting existing expectations.
Donovan, Clare.
2006. Training’s contribution to Professional Interpreting. In
Chai & Zhang. 72-85.
Ersöz Demirdağ, Hande. 2005.
Ardıl çeviri eğitiminde deneysel bir yaklaşım: Hata
çözümlemesi. (An
experimental approach to consecutive interpreting education: Error analysis) 1.
Symposium national sur l’enseignement du français langue étrangère. Université
de Gazi,
* This study presents some linguistic difficulties
encountered by students in consecutive interpretation. It is based on the performances
of 28 students who interpreted 5 speeches from French into Turkish, by focusing
specially on proper names and numbers. (HE)
Ersöz, Hande.2006. La véhiculation des éléments culturels
dans les langues éloignées en interprétation de conférence. In Sündüz Öztürk
Kasar (ed), Interdisciplinarity on Translation, Istanbul: İsis,
261-267.
Feldweg, Erich. 2004. Über Umwege in die
Dolmetschwissenschaft. In Pöckl,W. (ed). Übersetzungswissenschaft.
Dolmetschwissenschaft. Wege in eine neue Disziplin. Wien: Edition Praesens.
65-71.
Feng, Jianzhong. 2006.
Professional Interpreting Standards: International Norms and Developments in
Filonova, Natalia. 2006. Teaching non-verbal means
of
communication of foreign culture as a component of professional training of
translators and interpreters. In T. Serowa
(ed.) Theory and practice of translation and the interpreter training.
124-128.
* The author shows the importance of the non-verbal
component of oral communication which includes paralinguistic,
extra-linguistic, proximal and kinetic signs, communicatively relevant
understatement + and facial expression of the participants of bilingual
communication; the author also underlines the importance of correct
interpretation of foreign culture non-verbal signs semantics, of the knowledge
of meaningful differences of the most commonly used similar means of non-verbal
communication in the native and foreign tongues and of teaching future
interpreters the whole of the arsenal of non-verbal means of communication for
the purpose of successful performance of their professional duties.(EA)
Gao, Bin.
2006. Communication Model Approach in Consecutive Interpreting Training. (in
Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 382-392.
Gile, Daniel.
2006. Fostering Professionalism in New Conference Interpreting Markets:
Reflections on the Role of Training. In
Chai & Zhang. 15-35.
Gile, Daniel.
2006.
L’interdisciplinarité en traductologie : une optique scientométrique. In
Sündüz Öztürk Kasar (ed), Interdisciplinarity on Translation.
* An analysis of interdisciplinarity as it appears
through citations in 76 papers from two collective EST proceedings volumes.
Import interdisciplinarity is shown to be strong, with references mostly from
linguistics and literary studies, and mostly from cognitive psychology in
papers about interpreting. There were also citations from translation research
in interpreting papers, but not from interpreting research in translation
papers, which suggests a clear trend towards import interdisciplinarity with
T&I in the translation→interpreting direction. The relative frequency
with which the most frequently cited authors are cited is also investigated and
discussed. When classifying citations according to their nature (citation of
results, of methodology, of opinion setc.), it was also found that the number
of citations associated with empirical studies was very low, suggesting that
the results of empirical studies may have a low impact on authors in the field.
Gumul, Ewa. 2005. EVS:
czynnik czasu w tłumaczeniu symultanicznym [EVS: the Factor of Time in
Simultaneous Interpreting]. In: J. Arabski,
Abstract: The
paper presents to the Polish readership the wealth of existing research on the
phenomenon of ear voice span. The discussion centers around various factors
affecting the length of EVS, such as language combination, source text
features, idiosyncratic interpreters’ preferences, as well as the employment of
various strategies. The paper also reports on another study conducted by the
author in this field (Gumul 2006) examining the correlation between the
presence of formal cohesive markers in the surface structure of the text and
the length of the ear-voice span in English-Polish SI. (BM)
Gumul, Ewa. 2006.
Explicitation in Simultaneous Interpreting: a strategy or a by-product of
language mediation? Across Languages and Cultures. A
Multidisciplinary Journal for Translation and Interpreting Studies 7:2.171-190.
Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó.
Abstract: The paper
focuses on the phenomenon of explicitation in simultaneous interpreting. In an attempt
to provide an answer for one of the most contentious issues in the translation
& interpreting studies community, this study aims at investigating the
causes triggering shifts leading to greater explicitness of the target texts.
The scope of the analysed explicitating shifts encompasses all linguistic
strata, ranging from syntax and lexis to pragmatics. The analysis of both
product and process data (retrospective remarks) indicates that the vast
majority of explicitating shifts in simultaneous interpreting are not
attributable to the interpreters’ conscious strategic behaviour. (BM)
Gumul, Ewa. 2006.
Conjunctive Cohesion and the Length of Ear-Voice Span in Simultaneous
Interpreting. A case of interpreting students. Linguistica Silesiana 27.
K. Polański (ed.) Kraków: Universitas. 93-103.
Abstract: The paper aims
to examine the correlation between the presence of formal cohesive markers in
the surface structure of the text and the length of ear-voice span in
simultaneous interpreting outputs. The
types of cohesive devices analysed in the study are various types of
conjunction: additive conjunction, adversative conjunction, causal conjunction,
temporal conjunction, continuatives and emphatic conjunction. The model of
classification of cohesive ties adopted in this study is that of Halliday and
Hasan (1976), used previously by Shlesinger (1995) in her study of cohesion in
simultaneous interpreting. The analysis of conjunctive cohesive ties rendition
was performed using the criteria of Interpreting Constraints partly set in the
framework of Information-processing Theory and relying heavily on Gile’s Effort
Models. (BM)
Gumul, Ewa. 2006.
(De)Metaforyzacja gramatyczna tekstu w tłumaczeniu symultanicznym
[Grammatical (De)metaforisation of the Text in Simultaneous Interpreting] . In
M. Kita (ed.) Żonglowanie słowami. Językowy
potencjał i manifestacje tekstowe. Katowice:
Wydawnictwo WSZMIJO. 161-176.
Abstract: This
paper focuses on the notion of grammatical metaphor in English-Polish
simultaneous interpreting, investigating shifts both into nominal and verbal
constructions as well as the reasons and effects of such modifications. (BM)
Guo, Daizong.
2006. Elegant, Fast-Track Chinese-English SI Teaching. (in Chinese). In Chai
& Zhang. 280-296.
Guo, Jiading. 2006.
A Speech at the International Interpreting Conference 2004 & Fifth
National Conference on Interpreting Practice, Pedagogy, and Research. In
Chai & Zhang. 132-142.
* A former
Chinese ambassador and long-time interpreter (34 years of experience as a translator
and interpreter in a career of 53 years with the Chinese ministry of Foreign
Affairs speaks about his experience. One interesting point for Westerners in
his paper is his emphasis on political awareness and of political connotations
of words and idioms in the world of Chinese interpreting for the ministry of
foreign affaires.
Kaufmann, Francine.
2005. Contribution à l’histoire de l’interprétation consécutive :
le Metourguemane dans les synagogues de l’Antiquité., in « Le
prisme de l’histoire », Georges Bastin éd., Meta 50 :3. 972-986.
* An interesting
discussion of religious interpreting in early history of Judaism,
Kovalenko, Marina. 2006. Lexikalische
Hörverstehenfähigkeiten im Dolmetschen des Monologs. (in Russian). In
T. Serowa (ed.) The translation industry and information supply in
international business activities. 149-155.
* Das wichtigste Einflußfeld beim Hörverstehen des monologischen Textes ist
die lexikalischen Mittel, mit deren Hilfe den Inhalt und die Idee des Textes
wiedergegeben werden. In diesem Zusammenhang ist die Entwicklung von
Hörfähigkeiten, die mit dem Hören und Verstehen der lexikalischen Mittel
verbunden sind, und zwar Schlüsselwörter, logisch-semantische Beziehungen der
lexikalischen Einheiten, Wortverbindungen, die Denotate wiederspiegeln, sind
wichtig Die genannten Fähigkeiten sind beim Hörverstehentraining von großer
Bedeutung, weil sie ein aktiven mentalen Hörverstehenprozess ermöglichen.(EA) –
About listening proficiency, with a focus on lexical units.
Lavrenovich, Mikhail. 2006. Practical
aspects of making arrangements with simultaneous interpreting (in Russian). In
T. Serowa (ed.) The translation industry and the information supply in
international business activities. 257-260.
* The article deals with burning aspects in making
international arrangements with simultaneous interpreting at the present day.
The author imparts his personal experience in reference to effective holding of
conferences, seminars, round tables etc. Among them there are calculate schemes
about necessary number of interpreters; useful recommendations concerning
expedient selection of a room, relevant technical means, an activity program
and translation work principles in this article.(EA)
Lei, Ning. 2006.
Interpretation Service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In
Chai & Zhang. 155-165.
* An overview of
the work and composition of the Translation and Interpretation Department in
the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Li, Cheng. 2006.
Differences of Quality Assessment Criteria Between Simultaneous Interpreting
and Consecutive Interpreting. In Chai & Zhang. 412-436.
* An interesting,
intriguing idea: in view of differences in cognitive pressure patterns between
simultaneous and consecutive, quality assessment criteria for the two modes
should be different. Using the Effort Models, the author analyzes quality
components in which one of the two modes can be expected to lead to better
performance. Underlying this analysis, an interesting idea which deserves more
reflection on the part of the research community is that judging quality in
relative terms may be more realistic and productive than judging it against a
standard model in which each quality component is weighted similarly in all
modes and all circumstances. Readers interested in this approach may want to
look at a related analysis of the respective vulnerabilities of simultaneous
versus consecutive in Gile (2001): Consecutive vs.
Simultaneous: which is more accurate? Tsuuyakukenkyuu - Interpretation
Studies 1:1. 8-20.
Lindquist, Peter & Cynthia (Miguélez) Giambruno.
2006. The MRC approach: corpus-based techniques applied to interpreter
performance analysis and instruction. Forum
4:1.103-138.
Lu, Liudi &
Chen, Xiang. 2006. On Interpretation Training by Means of “Star
Variations”. (in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 297-310.
Lucarelli,
Luigi. 2006. Conference Preparation: What it is
and how it could be taught. Conference Interpretation and Translation
8:1. 3-26
* Abstract:
This
paper examines conference preparation (CP) as a skill which veteran
interpreters learn and perfect over time. It sets CP in the context of
processing models and expertise studies, and identifies the centrality of
acquiring knowledge on both subject matter and meeting context and
dynamics. Components of CP are identified and discussed. A proposal for a short
course on CP is outlined and illustrated in the framework of a simulated
session based on an actual conference. While a flexible structure is suggested to
make the course adaptable to different curricular and student needs, core ideas
are discussed on how CP skills can be introduced to students to facilitate
their transition to the world of work.
Mackintosh,
Jennifer. 2006. Professionalization: Conference Interpreting –
a new profession. In Chai & Zhang. 2-14.
Martin, Anne. 2002. La
interpretación en el ámbito científico-técnico. En Alcina, E.
& S. Gomero (eds). La traducción científico-técnica y la terminología en
la sociedad de la información. Castellón: Publicaciones de la
Universidad Jaime I: 107-122.
Medetova, Malika. 2006.
The competence approach to the training of translators and interpreters. (in
Russian). In T. Serowa (ed.) The translation industry and information supply
in international business activities. 215-220.
* The paper deals with the very important aspect of training the translators and interpreters – the so-called competence approach. We define a major competence which is called professional competence. This competence is divided into several competencies and subcompetencies which together form the professional model of the translator (professional competence, intellectual competence, language competence, speech competence, semantic competence, interpretative competence, textual competence, intercultural competence). Special attention is paid to the description of these competencies and the necessity to train translators and interpreters by using all professional competencies and subcompetencies is stated.(EA)
Morelli,
Mara. 2005. Estudio de la ambigüedad en la
interpretación simultánea español-italiano. Puentes 5.
99-108.
* The analysis of
simultaneous interpreting performance by 6 interpreting students who
interpreted a Spanish speech into which syntactic ambiguities were introduced
into their native Italian.
Moser-Mercer,
Barbara, Barbara Class, Killian Seeber. 2006. Community
Building: Training Interpreter Trainers. In Chai and Zhang (eds). 192-210.
* A description
of the ETI Interpreter Trainer training program.
Nikolaenko, Nina. 2006. Simultaneous interpreting of scientific conferences: practical aspects of interpreting training. (in Russian). In I. Nedjalkov (ed.) Federov’s translation lectures. 76.
Park, Hae-Kyeong and Cho, Jun
Pellatt, Valerie. 2006. The
Trouble with Numbers: How Linguistic, Arithmetical and Contextual Complexity
Affect the Interpretation of Numbers. In Chai & Zhang. 350-365.
Pöchhacker, Franz.
2006. Interpreters and Ideology: From 'Between' to 'Within'. Across
Languages and Cultures 7:2. 191-207
* A thought-provoking paper. Inter alia, the author
discusses a number of examples of interpreters from Nazi Germany who were
reinstated into high positions in interpreter training institutions after WWII
and reflects on the question whether interpreters occupy neutral positions ‘in
between’ or not. He also refers to the fact that most interpreting in
international settings is done from English, which has led inter alia
conference interpreter Vincent Buck to say that they run the risk of being
relegated to the role of “mere localisers of dominant ideologies”. Later in his
paper, he refers to a controversy between Babels, an international association
of volunteer interpreters and translators to support the ‘Social Forum’, and
AIIC. Pöchhacker points out that there appears to be agreement that
interpreters invariably work within one ideology or another, but that there is
no agreement as to the implications for interpreting performance. In his
conclusion, he says that “The recent shift in the discipline…from a focus on
psycholinguistic processing skills towards a view of interpreting as
co-constructed social interaction…should serve to promote such reflection [on
the interpreter’s impartiality or involvement and the relationship between
professionalism and social commitment] and is likely to enrich interpreting
research with features of ‘critical science’, with a keen interest in issues of
power, responsibility and ideology”. Interesting – and associated with some
risks. Interesting, because this is indeed a new avenue to explore, essentially
within the Liberal Arts Paradigm. Risky, because if, within ‘critical science’,
boundaries between scholarly study and social commitment and action become
blurred, this may lead to more rifts within TS, both human and methodological.
Postigo Pinazo,
Encarnación & Laura,
Parrilla Gómez. 2006. Advantages of teleinterpreting in
the health field. In T. Serowa (ed.) The translation industry and
information supply in international business activities. 266-270.
* The paper aims to describe the current situation for
the teleinterpreting in the health field (hospitals, emergency lines, health
centres) and the advantages related to remote interpretation. Nowadays, the use
of new technologies within the public service context is growing rapidly and it
has been a large number of professionals and users who have highlighted the
poor quality of the interpretation offered and all the disadvantages in the use
of teleinterpreting methods. The following pages promote the discussion of the
advantages that can be found in the use of this new technology for both
parties: organizations and users. Teleinterpreting may be an important solution
to the constrains of the profession in the public service context due to the
cost of the interpreters and the time spent travelling to the place where the
session is taking place.(EA)
Ruiz Rosendo, Lucía. 2005. La
práctica profesional de la interpretación en el campo de la medicina: estudio
exploratorio de la percepción de los intérpretes. Puentes 5. 67- 75.
* A questionnaire-based survey on the perception
professional interpreters who work at medical conferences have of various parameters
in this professional setting. After a pilot study in two phases, the final
version was sent out. 43 responses were processed. 72% of respondents are
women. 95% are over 30 years old. Most of them studied languages, most had been
working for longer than 11 years. They answered various questions about
preparation before medical conferences, about the speaker’s attitudes towards
interpreters, about the importance of visual aids, about the importance of
non-verbal language, about what they think participants value most in terms of
interpreting quality (91% say it is appropriate terminology, 79% say it is
internal cohesion of the interpreter’s speech, 70% say it is consistency of the
interpreter’s message with the speaker’s, 63% say it is the full transmission
of the content of the speaker’s utterances…). Interesting data.
Russo, Mariachiara, Claudio Bendazzoli & Anna
Sandrelli. 2006. Looking for Lexical
Patterns in a Trilingual Corpus of Source and Interpreted Speeches: Extended analysis
of EPIC (European Parliament Interpreting Corpus). Forum 4:1.
221-254.
* An interesting use of interpreting corpora resulting
from much work on EPIC (European Parliament Interpreting Corpus), a collection
of 9 sub-corpora containing transcripts of sources speeches and corresponding
interpreted versions in English, Italian and Spanish. All the material comes
from Europe by Satellite News Channel, from a number of plenary sittings held
in 2004, recorded, transcribed, tagged, lemmatized and classified into various
categories related to speech duration, text length, speed of delivery, mode of
delivery etc. In this study, the authors looked at lexical density and lexical
variety. Inter alia, they found that on the whole, in contradiction with
Laviosa’s findings about written translation, target texts (speeches) tended to
have slightly higher lexical density than source texts, except in the case of
work from Spanish into Italian. Note however that differences remain within 10%
or so. The authors also found that the number of words in target speeches was
smaller than in source speeches, and that there was a higher percentage of
high-frequency words in interpreted Spanish and interpreted English as opposed
to original Spanish and original English speeches, but that the phenomenon was
inverse in the case of Italian. These quantitative results are interesting, and
deserve to be investigated further, perhaps with more qualitative components
coupled with quantitative analysis. For instance, it would be interesting to
see what sentence structures lead to lexically more or less dense speeches,
whether compression was due to information omission or to more concise
expression, what type of content words is retained and what type is not
(specialized terminology, names, etc.), what would happen in consecutive versus
simultaneous (as the authors point out). Also note that this is a welcome
example of “internal interdisciplinarity” within TS, between interpreting
research and translation research. More comparisons of features of the two
modes of translation, or perhaps three modes (written, spoken and signed) could
shed more light on the processes involved.
Setton, Robin. 2006. New Demands
on Interpreting and the Learning Curve in Interpreter Training. In Chai &
Zhang. 36-71.
Shtokolova, Elena. 2006. The
interpreter as intercultural communicator: psychological aspects of
interpreting. (in Russian). In I.
Nedjalkov (ed.) Federov’s translation lectures. 128-129.
Torres Diaz, Maria Gracia
2006. Cooperative learning, team work and self and peer
assessment in the practice of the simultaneous mode of interpreting in the
classroom. In T. Serowa (ed.) The translation industry
and information supply in international business activities. 185-188.
* The article highlights the importance of cooperative
learning, team work and self and peer assessment in the practice of the
simultaneous mode in the classroom. After introducing the teaching programme
for simultaneous interpreting at
Torres Diaz, Maria Gracia. 2006. The
interpreter as communicator. In
Veisbergs, Andrejs. 2006.
Interpreting Wordplay- Chance or System. In Sündüz Öztürk Kasar (ed). Interdisciplinarity
on Translation.
Wang, Enmian. 2006.
Interpretation as a Profession in
Wang, Lidi & Lin, Wei. 2006.
Interpretation Training: SI with Text. (in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang.
237-244.
Wang, Qiong. 2006. To
Enhance Public Speaking Skills in Interpreting Training. (in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 312-325.
Wang, Ruojin. 2006.
Simultaneous Interpretation and ITS Professionalization in
Wang, Xinhong. 2006. Shadowing
Exercises in the Introductory Phase of Simultaneous Interpretation Training. (in
Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 258-264.
Wang, Yanqiang. 2006.
Schema and Meaning Construction in Interpretation. (in Chinese). In Chai &
Zhang. 450-458.
Wen, Ren. 2006. CATTI, What Can Be Learned
from NAATI? In Chai & Zhang. 112-130.
Wen, Shuang. 2006.
Simultaneous Interpreting for TV programs. (in Chinese). In
Chai & Zhang. 166-175.
Yang, Chenshu. 2006. Supplementation
in Simultaneous Interpretation: Its Types and Rules. (in Chinese). In
Chai & Zhang. 328-349.
Yang, Senlin & Wang, Lidi.
2006. A Feasibility Study of a Framework of Diversified Translation Education.
(in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 212-225.
Zhang, Jiliang. 2006.
The Training Methods of Simultaneous Interpreting. (in Chinese). In
Chai & Zhang. 245-257.
Zhang, Yan. 2006. Quality
– a Challenge for Interpreters. (in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 393-400.
Zhou, Weicheng; Chen, Weijuan; Wu, Lei. 2006.
On the Role of Pre-packaged Language in Reducing Processing Load in Speech
Production under Pressure. (in Chinese). In Chai & Zhang. 437-449.
Zhou, Yan. 2006. Viewing Interpreting
Training from an Educational Perspective. (in Chinese). In
Chai & Zhang. 226-236.
THESES
Ahamer, V.S. 2005. Die Gründung des
Instituts für Dolmetscherausbildung an der Universität Vien 1943.
Unpublished Master’s thesis, Vienne: University of Vienna.
* Historical, about the setting up of
interpreter training at the University of Vienna.
Barthel,
Julia. 2003. Die Rolle der Dolmetscher bei der Eroberung
Mexikos und Brasiliens anhand der Werke Malinche. „Die andere Geschichte der
Eroberung Mexikos“ und „Rouge Brésil“.
Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte
Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität
Germersheim/Mainz.
* Historcial, about the role of interpreters during
the conquest of Mexico and Brazil.
Biechele, Sandra. 2000. Konsekutivdolmetschen
und Präsentation: empirische Untersuchung der non-verbalen Kommunikation bei
Anfängern in der Dolmetscherausbildung und professionellen Dolmetschern.
Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und
Kulturwissenschaft (FASK), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* Non-verbal communication by students and
professionals doing consecutive interpreting.
Burget, Aleš. 2006. The
transmission of the stylistic component of political speeches in simultaneous
interpreting: a study based on French and Czech speeches. MA thesis,
Charles University, Prague.
* A naturalistic study of political speeches, their
expressive devices in French and in Czech and the solutions chosen by
interpreters .(IC)
Chmielowska-Rumpel, Joanna. 2003. Die
Ausbildung von Konferenzdolmetschern für die EU ; Der Universitätsstudiengang
"European Master in Conference Interpreting Deutsch-Polnisch am FASK
Germersheim 2000/200“: ein Erfahrungsbericht. Unveröffentlichte
Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK),
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* About the training of conference interpreters in the
German-Polish combination at the Germersheim school.
Corpataux, Maike. 2004. Das Dolmetschen bei den
Nürnberger Prozessen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Erfahrungen der
Dolmetscher Richard Sonnenfeldt und Siegfried Ramler. Unveröffentlichte
Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK),
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* Historical. Interpreting during the
Nurenberg trials.
Djoudi, Nadira. 2000. Evaluierung des
automatischen Dolmetschers „Talk and Translate“. Unveröffentlichte
Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK), Johannes
Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* Assessing the machine interpreter “Talk and
Translate”
Eppel, Irina. 2002. Das Dolmetschen in der
Sowjetunion von Stalin bis Gorbatschew : Auswertung der Memoiren von V.
Bereschkow, V. Suchodrew und P. Palaschtschenko. Unveröffentlichte
Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK),
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* Historical. Interpreting in the Soviet Union.
Frisch, Barbara. 2005.
Das Dolmetschen in den Memoiren von Eugen Dollmann.
Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte
Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität
Germersheim/Mainz.
* Historical.
Fritz, Silke. 2001. Die Bedeutung von Fachwissen
für das Simultandolmetschen : eine empirische Untersuchung.
Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und
Kulturwissenschaft (FASK), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
Himmelspach, Hélène. 2003. Die
Problematik des Retourdolmetschens im Rahmen der neuen Sprachregelung der
Europäischen Union im Hinblick auf die Erweiterung – dargestellt am
Sprachenpaar Deutsch-Französisch. Eine empirische Untersuchung.
Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft
(FASK), Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* On working into one’s B language within the European
Union.
Kodym, Jakub. 2006. Experience
in interpreting into B in the European Union (in Czech). MA thesis,
* A questionnaire-based study on members of the
European Parliament, interpreters from European institutions and interpreting
students on expectations of delegates and relay-interpreters working into B
languages. Findings include wide discrepancies between interpreters and a
sometimes weak performance into B, which is the main reason of inferior quality
of retour interpreting and of the delegates’ and interpreters’ preference for
working into their A language. (IC)
Kuhn, Petra. 2000. Streßstudie bei
Konferenzdolmetschern. Unveröffentlichte Diplomarbeit. Fachbereich
Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft (FASK), Johannes
Gutenberg-Universität Germersheim/Mainz.
* On stress in conference interpreters.
Pinochi, Diletta. 2006. Simultaneous
Interpretation of Numbers: Comparing German and English. MA thesis, SSLMIT
Trieste.
* Abstract
An experiment was carried out to investigate whether
the difficulty of delivering numbers in SI is language independent or if
particular features – such as the different structure of the numerical systems
between SL and TL – may also be relevant and influence the SI performance
negatively.
The experiment
was carried out on a sample of 16 Italian students at the SSLMIT in
The
experiment consisted in the SI of two equivalent source texts, one in German -
a language whose numerical system is partially inverted, if compared with the
Italian - and one in English - whose numerical system does not require the application
of the inversion rule - both of which were to be interpreted into Italian.
Seven possible
error types were established in the interpretation of the numbers: omissions,
approximations, syntactical errors, lexical errors, phonemic perception errors,
transposition or position errors and other mistakes.
Moreover, the
numbers in the text were divided into 5 categories according to their size and
type: numbers with 4 or more digits read at once (i.e. 920.000), numbers with 4
or more digits read in two blocks (i.e. 928.346), numbers
with less than 4 digits, decimals and dates.
The final error
score in the experimental text was similar (40,6% of mistakes on the total
amount of numbers in the German text and 41,2% in the English text), suggesting
that the difficulty of delivering numbers in SI is language independent.
However, as
several error types and number categories were established, a more detailed
analysis of the results obtained for each single class could lead to a partial
reconsideration of the general outcome.
For instance a significant difference between the two languages lies in the distribution of errors: the statistical analysis carried out through