Consecutive Interpreting

Overview

This module will introduce students to various forms of consecutive interpreting (CI) practice, core theories and principles, problems frequently encountered and the relevant skills required, such as active listening, note-taking, and communicative and public speaking skills. It will also introduce students to key issues of professional practice. Materials on general and specific topics include both English and Mandarin Chinese, and each direction for interpreting occupies half of semester.

Content outline
• Introduction to conference interpreting: overview, history, ethical and commercial considerations, and personal qualities and skills required to become a good interpreter.
• Code of ethics, client issues, facilitating face-to-face communication and handling stress.
• Consecutive interpreting: modes and types of CI (e.g. conference consecutive and liaison).
• Particular difficulties for interpreting tasks between English and Mandarin Chinese and coping strategies (e.g. numbers, fast or dense speech, non-stop speakers).
• Active listening, memory/note-taking, re-expression, and delivery.
• Discussing recorded interpretations of speeches for self/peer-assessment.
• Practice of consecutive interpreting of speeches for self/peer assessment.
• Practice of liaison interpreting: role-plays of business meetings and press conferences.

Indicative reading list and resources

• Blinstrubaité, A. (2000). “Interaction in liaison interpreting.” Perspectives, 8(2), 125-133.
• Downie, J. (2016). Being a Successful Interpreter: Adding Value and Delivering Excellence. Abingdon: Routledge.
• Gile, D. (2009). Basic Concepts and Models in Interpreter and Translator Training. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
• Gillies, A. (2013). Conference interpreting: a student’s practice book. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
• Hild, A. (2014). “The role of self-regulatory processes in the development of interpreting expertise.” Translation & Interpreting Studies: The Journal of The American Translation & Interpreting Studies Association, 9(1), 128.
• Jones, R. (2002). Conference interpreting explained. Manchester: St. Jerome.
• Pöchhacker, F. (2016). Introducing Interpreting Studies (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.
• Pöchhacker, F. (Ed.). (2015). Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon and New York: Routledge.
• Sawyer, D.B. (2004). Fundamental Aspects of Interpreter Education. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
• Setton, R. (2011). Interpreting Chinese, Interpreting China. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
• Setton, R. & Dawrant, A. (2016). Conference Interpreting. A complete course. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

 

Learning Objectives

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

a. Apply theory and principles to professional practice of consecutive interpreting (CI).
b. Identify and assess how CI practice varies to suits a range of contexts, and to apply an appropriately differentiation CI skillset to each different context.
c. Demonstrate specialist knowledge and differentiated, mode-specific skills in those areas of professional activity where CI is the requisite mode.
d. Critically reflect and make judgments that are appropriate to the application of CI mode to context in terms of their own professional performance, and critically evaluate their ongoing acquisition of professional-level skills in that regard.
e. Engage with and interpret, at a complex level, layers of meaning within the discoursal and conceptual domains of each specific interpreting task.

Skills

Consecutive interpreting, public speaking, performance skills, professionally-oriented skills, listening skills, close-reading skills.

Assessment

All components specified below must be completed:-
Mid-term interpreting clinic with reflective essay
Final interpreting clinic with reflective essay
A reflective essay (drawing on a formative learning portfolio)
Self-assessment and peer-assessment sheet