Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment and its Didactical Implications

Authors

  • Aurora Ruiz Mezcua

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/nvts.2011.22

Keywords:

equipment, experiments, interpretation teaching, new technologies, simultaneous interpreting, translation

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to describe the equipment used in SI and its implications for the teaching from different perspectives and disciplines. Despite the fact that this popular mode of interpreting relies heavily upon a technical system that enables listening and speaking “at the same time”, there have notably been few scientific studies on the use of this equipment in the SI field.

With this purpose in mind, this thesis is structured by an introduction, five chapters, conclusions and seven appendices which correspond to the different disciplines I have touched upon: linguistics, history, technology, and teaching/training. I start with an introduction on linguistic aspects, paying especial attention to the term “interpreting- interpretation”, and the various modes and techniques used in the field. In this section, I will also explain the structure and objectives of my research.

Chapter 1 is devoted to interpretation history. Today ́s SI equipment is the result of many experiments and technological improvements. I was interested in learning when the first system was created, and how it has evolved over the last two centuries.

In chapter 2, I discuss some electronic, technical and IT issues. Specifically, I describe all the devices and materials which are used in SI, paying special attention to their quality. I then classify these components according to different contexts and functions: main components (such as booths, consoles and the audio system) and auxiliary components (non-essential elements, i.e., screens, relay button, loudspeakers, etc.). In addition, I include the International Standards regarding the equipment. Nowadays, interpreters can deal more effectively with the complexity of the various tasks involved in the act of interpreting thanks to a wide range of electronic tools that provide better sound, comfort or even information. There have also been several attempts to create interpreting programs based on speech recognition and automatic translation systems. Until now, however, no machine has been able to substitute the interpreter in SI. This changing scenario has led to new modes (like “remote interpretation”) that could one day become the future of Conference Interpreting. The implementation of these new techniques will also be a challenge for interpretation schools, teachers and trainers.

The teaching of SI, which is one of the main aspects of this work, is analysed in chapter 3. To gain greater insight into this issue, I have compiled a range of methodologies used in the teaching of SI at some of the most important schools in the world. I examine the equipment of the training centres and universities in chapter 4. To do so, I designed a facilities and components questionnaire to gather information about the equipment installed in eight universities of Spain where simultaneous interpreting is taught. I have also sent a survey to several lecturers from these universities to find out their exact opinion about the systems they use.

Most equipment could be valid for SI if it were designed according to the aforementioned standards. However, because I was interested in determining which system is best for teaching purposes, I conducted an experiment with my own simultaneous interpreting (French-Spanish modality) students. The experiment, which is described in chapter 5, consisted of a SI exercise using two different systems: the computer-based system installed at the language lab of the University of Córdoba and the console-based system installed in a conference room of the University. In order to ensure that the results were as objective as possible, two French-Spanish SI lectures from different universities evaluated the students ́ performance using a standard form I have designed for this purpose.

 

Author Biography

  • Aurora Ruiz Mezcua

    Universidad de Córdoba, Spain

     

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Published

2023-04-04

Issue

Section

Abstracts of PhD Theses

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