Information about Interpretation

Interpreting or interpretation is the intellectual activity that consists of facilitating oral or sign language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between two or among three or more speakers who are not speaking, or signing, the same language.

The words interpreting and interpretation both can be used to refer to this activity, the word interpreting is commonly used in the profession and in the translation studies field in avoiding the other meanings of the word interpretation. It should not be confused with heritage interpretation, which refers to the communication of natural and cultural heritage themes, messages and stories.

The word interpreter refers to the practitioner who orally translates for parties conversing in different languages or in sign language. Interpreters must convey not only all elements of meaning, but also the intentions and feelings of the original, source language speaker. The aim is to allow listeners of the target language listeners to experience the message in a way that is as close as possible to the experience of those who understand the original, or source, language.

Interpretation vs. translation

Although the terms translation and interpretation are used interchangeably in everyday speech, they vary greatly in meaning. Both refer to the transference of meaning between two languages, however, "translation" refers to the transferrence of meaning from text to text —usually written, recorded, or sign language— with time and access to resources such as dictionaries, glossaries, et cetera, and producing a written or visually archivable artefact. Interpreting usually occurs in real time, or nearly so, with the parties to the communication present or connected by some technical means such as videoconferencing. Non-sign-language interpreting is usually done with aural (sound) input to the interpreter, although the speaker may in fact be reading a text.

A common misconception by the general public is that interpreters must deliver "verbatim", i.e. word-by-word renditions of what is said in the source language in order to be accurate. However, if one were to attempt a "word-by-word" translation of a sentence, regardless of the listener's understanding, the end result usually would be unintelligible. A case in point is a Spanish phrase such as "Está de viaje", which when rendered verbatim to English would translate as "Is of voyage" (a senseless phrase in English), when it truly means, per the context: "He/she/you is/are traveling," or "He/She/You is/are out of town." The overall meaning, tone and style is considered more important than the specific word order and choice.

Modes of interpreting

There are several modes of interpretation. The most common are simultaneous interpreting, commonly called "SI", (in which the interpreter produces interpreted output while simultaneously monitoring the ongoing message) and consecutive interpreting or "CI" (in which the interpreter interprets the original message during pauses after all or part of it has been completed.

CI is commonly divided into "short" and "long" CI. In short CI, the interpreter relies only on memory, and each segment to be interpreted generally does not exceed a sentence or two. In long CI, each segment of the message to be interpreted lasts longer, and the interpreter takes notes for use in remembering the content during his delivery.

"Sight translation" is a form of interpreting in which an interpreter takes a written document as the input and produces an interpreted performance in another language. In the case of oral languages, the goal is to "read" the document out loud, but in a different language than the one the document is actually written in. It is typically used in medical or legal settings where interpreters help clients to understand documents written in a language the clients cannot read or speak.

Relay interpretation generally occurs in situations where there are multiple languages being used on the floor of a meeting, and multiple language booths set up for interpretation services. It involves one interpreter rendering a message into a language common to all the other sets of interpreters (often English), who then put the message into their particular language. For example, if a speaker on the floor is speaking in Japanese, and there is not a Japanese<>French booth at the meeting, the Japanese booth puts the speech into English, and their output is fed into the English<>French booth, which puts it into French for the French-speaking delegates.

Simultaneous interpreting

In such situations, the interpretation occurs while the source language speaker speaks, as quickly as the interpreter can formulate the spoken message to the target language. Simultaneous interpretation is used in various situations such as business conferences, graduation ceremonies, any situation where there is not pause between each statement allowing time for the interpreter to relay information to the interpretee. For example, at international conferences and at the UN, simultaneous interpretation is effected while the interpreter sits in a sound-proof booth, speaking into a microphone, and usually with a clear view of the source language speaker, while listening with earphones to the speaker's source language message. The interpreter then relays the message in the target language into the microphone to the target language listeners who wear headsets, listening to the interpretation occur at the same time the speaker speaks. Simultaneous interpreting also is the most common mode used by sign language interpreters as there is no audible language interference while both languages are being expressed simultaneously.

Simultaneous interpreting sometimes is incorrectly referred to as "simultaneous translation" and the interpreter as the "translator". This is incorrect, as discussed in the distinction between interpretation and translation.

Whispered interpreting

In whispered interpretation (a.k.a. chuchotage interpretation after the French word for the same), the interpreter sits or stands next to the small intended audience, whispering a simultaneous interpretation of the matter at hand; this method requires no equipment. Chuchotage interpretation often is used in circumstances where the majority of a group speaks one language, and a minority (ideally no more than three persons) do not speak that language.

Consecutive interpreting

In consecutive interpretation, the interpreter speaks after the source-language, -text speaker has finished speaking; the speech may be divided into sections.

Normally, the interpreter sits or stands beside the speaker, listening and taking notes as the speaker progresses. When the speaker finishes speaking or pauses, the interpreter consecutively renders the message in the target language, in its entirety, as though he or she were making the original speech.

Speeches, or the parts of them, interpreted consecutively have become progressively shorter over the years. 50 years ago an interpreter would regularly interpret speeches of 20 or 30 minutes consecutively, and longer was not unheard of. Nowadays 10-15 minutes is considered quite a long speech in consecutive.

Frequently, nowadays the speaker, often unaware that they may speak at length before the interpretation is given consecutively, will break off after each sentence and ask for interpretation. Sometimes it is the interpreter who asks the speaker to pause after each sentence. This sentence by sentence interpreting is less memory intensive, however, the interpreter does not have the advantage of having heard all of, or a significant part of the speech and it is therefore more difficult to choose the appropriate terminology and register.

The phrase-by-phrase method frequently is used in settings such as speeches before an audience, legal depositions, recorded statements, while interpreting for a witness in a court hearing or a trial, et cetera. It is also used in community interpreted dialogues, such as medical, job interviews, etc.

Consecutive interpretation allows the full meaning to be understood before the interpreter renders the message into the target language. This often affords a more accurate and fully accessible interpretation than simultaneous.

Liaison interpreting

Liaison interpreting involves relaying what is spoken to one, between two, or among many people. This can be done after a short speech, or consecutively, sentence-by-sentence, or as chuchotage (whispering); aside from note taken then, no equipment is used.

Types of interpreting

Conference interpreting

Conference interpreting is the interpretation of a conference, either simultaneously or consecutively, although the advent of multi-lingual meetings has consequently reduced the consecutive interpretation in the last 20 years.

Conference interpretation is divided between two markets: the institutional and private. International institutions (EU, UN, EPO, et cetera), holding multi-lingual meetings, often favour interpreting several foreign languages to the interpreters' mother tongues. Local private markets tend to bi-lingual meetings (the local language plus another) and the interpreters work both into and out of their mother tongues; the markets are not mutually exclusive. The International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC) is the only world-wide association of conference interpreters. Founded in 1953, it assembles more than 2,800 professional conference interpreters in more than 90 countries.

Legal and court interpreting

Legal, court, or judicial interpreting, occurs in courts of justice, administrative tribunals, and wherever a legal proceeding is held (i.e. a conference room for a deposition or the locale for taking a sworn statement). Legal interpreting can be the consecutive interpretation of witnesses' testimony for example, or the simultaneous interpretation of entire proceedings, by electronic means, for one person, or all of the people attending.

Depending upon the regulations and standards adhered to per state and venue, court interpreters usually work alone when interpreting consecutively, or as a team, when interpreting simultaneously. In addition to practical mastery of the source and target languages, thorough knowledge of law and legal and court procedures is required of court interpreters. They often are required to have formal authorisation from the State to work in the Courts—and then are called sworn interpreters.

Focus group (marketing) interpreting

In focus group interpreting, an interpreter sits in a sound proof booth or in an observer's room with the clients. There is usually a one-way mirror between the interpreter and the focus group participants, wherein the interpreter can observe the participants, but they only see their own reflection. The interpreter hears the conversation in the original language through headphones and simultaneously interprets into the target language for the clients. Since there are usually anywhere between 2 to 12 (or more) participants in any given focus group, experienced interpreters will not only interpret the phrases and meanings but will also mimic intonation, speech patterns, tone, laughs, and emotions.

Escort interpreting

In escort interpreting, an interpreter accompanies a person or a delegation on a tour, on a visit, or to a meeting or interview. An interpreter in this role is called an escort interpreter or an escorting interpreter. This is liaison interpreting.

Public service interpreting

Also known as community interpreting, is the type of interpreting occurring in fields such as legal, health, and local government, social, housing, environmental health, education, and welfare services. In community interpreting, factors exist which determine and affect language and communication production, such as speech's emotional content, hostile or polarized social surroundings, its created stress, the power relationships among participants, and the interpreter's degree of responsibility—in many cases more than extreme; in some cases, even the life of the other person depends upon the interpreter's work.

Medical interpreting

Medical interpreting is a subset of public service interpreting, consisting of communication, among medical personnel and the patient and his or her family, facilitated by an interpreter, usually formally certified and qualified to provide such interpretation services. The medical interpreter must have a strong knowledge of medicine, common medical procedures, the patient interview, the medical examination processes, and the daily workings of the hospital or clinic were he or she works, in order to effectively serve both the patient and the medical personnel. Moreover, and very important, medical interpreters often are cultural liaisons for people (regardless of language) who are unfamiliar with or uncomfortable in hospital, clinical, or medical settings.

Sign language interpreting

When a hearing person speaks, an interpreter will render the speaker's meaning into the sign language used by the deaf party. When a deaf person signs, an interpreter will render the meaning expressed in the signs into the spoken language for the hearing party, which is sometimes referred to as voice interpreting or voicing. This may be performed either as simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. Skilled sign language interpreters will position themselves in a room or space that allows them both to be seen by deaf participants and heard by hearing participants clearly and to see and hear participants clearly. In some circumstances, an interpreter may interpret from one sign language into an alternate sign language.

Deaf people also work as interpreters. They team with hearing counterparts to provide interpretation for deaf individuals who may not share the standard sign language used in that country. They also relay information from one form of language to another - for example, when a person is signing visually, the deaf interpreter could be hired to copy those signs into a deaf-blind person's hand plus include visual information.

Where interpreters work

The majority of professional full-time conference interpreters work for international organisations like the United Nations, the European Union, or the African Union.

The world's largest employer of interpreters is currently the European Commission, which employs hundreds of staff and freelance interpreters working into the official languages of the European Union. The European Union's other institutions (the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice) have smaller interpreting services.

The United Nations employs interpreters at almost all its sites throughout the world. Because it has only six official languages, however, it is a smaller employer than the European Union.

Interpreters may also work as freelance operators in their local, regional and national communities, or may take on contract work under an interpreting business or service. They would typically take on work as described above.

The U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan employ hundreds of interpreters to assist with its communications with the local populations.

Bibliography

• Chuzhakin, Andrei: "Applied Theory of Interpretation and Note-Taking", "Mir Perevoda 1 to 7", Ustny Perevod, Posledovatelny Perevod, Ace Perevoda 2007, Mir Perevoda.
• Gillies, Andrew: Note-taking for Consecutive Interpreting. 2005, ISBN 1-900650-82-7
• Jones, Roderick: Conference Interpreting Explained. 1998, ISBN 1-900650-57-6
• Seleskovitch, Danica: L'interprète dans les conférences internationales. 1968, Cahiers Champollion
• Rozan, Jean-François: La Prise de Notes en Interprétation Consécutive. 1956, ISBN 2-8257-0053-3
• Taylor-Bouladon, Valerie: Conference Interpreting — Principles and Practice. 2007, 2nd Edition ISBN 1-4196-6069-1. Available from Amazon.
• Bertone, Laura: The Hidden Side of Babel: Unveiling Cognition, Intelligence and Sense. 2006, ISBN-10 987-21049-1-3 Evolucion, Organización intercultural

External links

• What is conference interpreting? European Parliament
• Cailfornia Health Care Interpreting Association
• International Association of Conference Interpreters
• European Commission's Directorate General for Interpretation
• European Court of Justice Directorate for Interpretation
• National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators
• National Council on Interpreting in Health Care
• WIT - World of Interpretation and Translation (Mir Perevoda) - a personal site of Andrei Chuzhakin, Russia's leading expert on interpretation, the author of series of books "Mir Perevoda", Ass. Prof. Of Moscow State Language University (MGLU). The site contains biography, articles published in the press, practical advices, description of books on interpretation, seminars and lectures.
• Turkish Translators and Interpreters in 200 Countries
• Interpreter Training Resources

See also

• Institute of Translation & Interpreting
• Medical or Health Care Interpreting
• Irish Translators' & Interpreters' Association
• New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters
• Translation
• United Nations Interpretation Service
• Registry of Interpeters for the Deaf