Interpretation
What is interpretation?
Interpretation or interpreting is the intellectuel activity that consists of facilitating oral or sign language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between two or among three or more spearkers who are not speaking, or signing, the same laguage .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.
The word intrepreter refers to the practitioner who orally translates for parties conversing in defferent languages or in sign language. Interpretes must convey not only all elements of meanings, but also the intentions and feelings of the original, source language speaker. The aim is to allow listeners of the target language 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.
Types of interpretation:
There are several models of interpretaion. The most common are: simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting,whispered interpretation and at sight translation.
* Similtaneous interpreting :
It is commonly called "SI" ( in which the interpreter produces interpreted output while simultanouesly monitoring the ongoing message) Simultaneous interpretation is used in various situations such as busniness , conferences, graduation ceremonies, any situation where there is not pause between each statment 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 michrophone, 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 speaker speaks.
* Consecutive interpreting:
Consecutive interpreting or "CI" is commonly diveded 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.
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.
*Whispered interpretation:
In whispered interpretation or chuchotage , the ineterpreter sits or stands next to the small intended audience, whispering a simultaneous interpretation of the matter at hand; this method requeries no equipment. Chuchotage interpretation often is used in circumstances where the majority of a group speaks one language, and minority( ideally no more than three persons) does not speak that language
*At sight translation:
It 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 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.
Tools of the interpreter
During his studies or work, the interpreter should have the following things:
A notepad*
*Pencils
A rubber*
Coloured markers*
Pocket dictionary.*
A tape recording.*
General advice
The interpreter should fulfill some characteristics:
*Mastering the source language and the target language.
Having a good memory and a quick reflex.*
Wide knowledge of international relations.*
*Excellent preparation before any conference: the theme, the organizers, the participants…
