Consecutive, imultaneous, and Liaison Interpretation - Essay Example

The extent and ways the work of the simultaneous and consecutive conference interpreter differ to a liaison interpreter working in the public Student Name: Course Name and Number: Instructor’s Name: Date Submitted: The extent and ways the work of the simultaneous and consecutive conference interpreter differ to a liaison interpreter working in the public Introduction A conference aims at clarity and the presentation of one’s ideas in a manner in which every person can understand the topic of discussion. The clarity relies mostly on the clarity with which the language disseminates. There are many types of interpretation use throughout various fields. Some examples are consecutive, conference, liaison, and so on. The first type in this discussion is consecutive interpretation. This interpretation features small groups used for one on one discussion. This could be many things from parent teacher conferences to depositions and individual consultations with experts. Consecutive and simultaneous interpretation Consecutive interpretation holds the term because of the methodology with which it goes about interpretation. The person may say something and his interpreter follows with the same speech in a consecutive manner. During this interpretation, the speaker may pause shortly in between speech to allow the interpreter to render what he just said. This could be every sentence or phrase depending on the ability of the interpreter to render the speech of the speaker with adequate speed. Irvana (2010) suggests the procedure may seem quite time consuming in the beginning. However, it creates accuracy and decrease contextual mistakes easily made in translation. A simultaneous interpreter may see the need for compression of work. A consecutive interpreter may not because of the extra time allocated to them because of their methodology. Simultaneous interpretation is far different in comparison because the term relates to lager groups like conferences and seminars, as well as conventions. The reason for the term ‘simultaneous’ is that the interpreter transmits his or her version just as the speaker transmits their words. There are no pauses like consecutive interpretation. The interpretation in this case goes through an electronic media for interpretation: headsets. The interpretation takes considerably less time compared to consecutive interpretation, and the skills needed are vastly different. During conference reporting of the simultaneous type, the interpreters who get employment are some of the best because of their linguistic skills and their way of understanding the culture and lingua franca of doing business in a foreign language. These professional skills fall beyond what normal consecutive translators have because they never have to do much of what simultaneous interpreters have to do. They have to be aware of what etiquette and culture to use when addressing certain cultures. This knowledge will go a long way in establishing relations with certain countries. One could say that they are part diplomats as well and in a way, they are just that. The advantage simultaneous interpreting has is that simultaneous interpreting can get application in the business circle during conferences and symposiums, or rather in a formal setting. Consecutive interpretation applies to every setting where translation services are required. For instance in an informal setting and when it is not possible to use an alternative. Advantages of consecutive and simultaneous interpretation One may ask them why they need a consecutive translator, and the answer is that one will seldom need a consecutive interpreter. There are few instances when there is no alternative. For example, there is a conference for an English speaking audience, and there is only one German-speaking, speaker, for courtesy and logical sake, the interpreting will have to be consecutive. The same situation could also repeat itself in another perspective. If conference prevails and minority of speakers belonging to another linguistic group, and there are no equipments available now, then the best option again would be to use consecutive interpretation. The case of simultaneous interpretation may sometimes have an economic advantage over consecutive interpretation, for it has many career opportunities in the business world. The origins of simultaneous interpretations in the political world date to January 1959. This is whereby; simultaneous interpretation introduced itself to the House of Commons, in Canada. At this time, the prime minister promised the francophone Canadians that he would provide checks, bilingual. This came along with immediate translation. The simultaneous interpretation would help in this aspect. Consecutive interpretation is a flexible art for the reason that an interpreter may or may not possess information at that point, if we look at it from a practical point of view. The interpreter will have enough of a portion to improvise by the finish by the time the speaker finishes the text. The information repeated may not be the same, but it will be enough to make a point. Since this interpretation thrives on readiness, the setting may be in public speeches, jokes, or even on job interviews. Therefore, it would be convenient for the speaker to have all of the information in a complete and systematic manner. This way the idea is complete, because it could throw of the interpreter on its meaning. There are views that have classic methods of interpretation. It has had many advantages related to its use. For one, it does not need the machines and the support system that simultaneous interpretations need. In this way, it becomes quite economical. Demand world of simultaneous interpretation The fast-paced business of simultaneous interpretation also gives the edge of being quite demanding on the people basing their careers on its working. Work exceeding about twenty minutes will need help from other colleagues. In the case of large caseloads of work, interpreters usually alternate the way they go about their work schedule. It seems that even if in an office situation if one cannot help the situation, meetings should proceed with a consecutive interpretation. More on consecutive interpretation In consecutive interpretation, listeners expect natural pauses during the body of text illustrated while simultaneous interpretation experiences minimal omission of facts stated. This is because there is not much time for the interpreter to pause, while trying to render, or process the speaker’s text to memory. This is in order to give their version. Most of the times, they are giving exact copies of what they hear. This leaves loopholes for mistakes. The consecutive version of interpretation has an upper hand on this, matter because of the natural pause accounted for in the speech. These leave room for rendering of the speech that result in better understanding and so better delivery of the text in the appropriate context. This is not possible for simultaneous because the interpreter does not have enough time to render anything. This leads to contextual mistakes and omitting of useful information or the incomplete delivery of an idea. This only adds on the emphasis of how talented these types of interpreters are to be if they should avoid these mistakes. The consecutive interpreter already has the gist of what the speaker seems to be explaining. This will give him or her confidence and flexibility in their speech because they now know the boundaries of their context. They know what fits in the topic of discussion and what does not. In so doing, they might even end up backing up the speaker when they confuse themselves, while delivering a point. The interpreter has the freedom to pay attention to large chunks of information and in turn phrase them in a formula that best illustrates the context. Thus, the interpreter also has the work of understanding the topic of discussion now that they have the freedom of rendering it in the first place. The interpreter needs to make use of their memory, and thus act as a sieve of information to the guest (Advantages of consecutive interpretation 2009). The interpreter needs to factor out the information in the speech that is not relevant to the discussion and remember the points that matter. Note making ability on main points is essential. They do not have the responsibility to respond on a text-by-text basis whereby they give a word for word translation and in so doing can analyse a whole text and choose what not to give and what not to give. A message like this is quite listener-friendly because both the interpreter and the speaker filtered it of grammatical error as well as offensive language to the audience as well as contextual error. By the time, it reaches the audience the message is quite clean of all that may offend them. This defeats the purpose in a way because the passing of information between passages may clean the information to an extent. The message or some aspects of the message do not make it to the final piece of information disseminated. The origins of simultaneous interpretation The point of doing it should be that the whole point reaches the audience. If this does not happen for the purpose of sterilizing, and contextualising the message, the message should lose its original value. The current times suggest that simultaneous interpretation is such a normal occurrence that it is taken for granted. The recent system complete with technological advancements is recent despite this fact. During the 18th and 19th century, French was the most accepted language for which business transactions and diplomacy took place. The reason is French was a language of prestige at the time. In fact, between the two world wars, the League of Nations conducted meetings in French and English. They had consecutive interpretation as a means of translation. Of course, the amount of time wasted in these procedures was half of what normal meetings at the United Nations would last presently. This is because the interpreters would have to write down the information in the way that they heard it in note form and proceed to translate it in the other language to the audience. After World War II, it became necessary to translate German, English, Russian, and French in the Nuremburg trials for German war criminals. The answer was simultaneous interpretation that they were unaware of. This beginning of a concept gave birth to the main mode of interpretation in multinationals organizations. Liaison interpretation The other forms of interpretation build upon elements of both types of interpretation. An example is liaison interpretation. A liaison interpreter should be able to bring more skills to the table when called upon. They should receive training in interpersonal skills because they should constantly work with people and show that they enjoy that aspect (Interpersonal skills for liaison interpreters 2010). At the same time, they should be flexible because they should have the ability to go from one project to the other in succession. The candidate should posses a sharp memory and strong analytical skills. The type of interpretation also goes by the term of consecutive interpretation. It is the same in some aspects but different in others from the consecutive interpretation illustrated in the earlier sections. Liaison interpretation bases in private outfits, organizations and the public. Consecutive interpretations may also differ in contextual basis because it may be conference consecutive interpretation. This is similar to simultaneous interpretation that bases in conferences and symposium situations. Consecutive interpretation is the general term but has similar properties with other subjects like liaison and conference consecutive interpretation. They are like interlocking circles. None is within another, but all contain elements of each other. They all reflect properties of the other, but do not contain the full meaning of either. In technical terms, liaison interpretation is similar to consecutive interpretation but with the use of both languages. It may resemble consecutive interpretation in the way that the speaker talks for a bit and the interpreter in turn gives the message afterwards... it can be fast also when the situation requires quick interactions in natural discussions. This is to reduce normal interference caused by regular, consecutive interpretation. Diriker (2004) proposes that conference interpreters who approach every job with suspense because of the pressure of spontaneity attached to the type of work. The situation exacerbates especially, if the speakers are more than one while the interpreter may be singular. How can someone possibly capture two sides of the equation in such a way that they illustrate and express the full context of either side of the story especially if it is a debate? They will be caught in the cross of emotions, which they will have to switch at will if they wish to do service to both parties. Dersot (2011) maintains that from the point of view of interpretation in the purest form, one can say liaison interpretation allows the flow of information between small and regulated groups of people like training situations. Conclusion One cannot say which form of interpretation is best because they are not comparable in the same situations. They both have pros and cons, for which either can have an advantage in one sector and a disadvantage in another. Consecutive interpretation may take time. However, it is precise and quite effective when it comes to natural public speaking. The objective is the general communication of the points. It allows both sides to consider the conversation and think as they contribute ideas. On the other hand, conference interpretation has the advantage of time consumption as well as the ability to communicate on a large scale to various language groups. Reference List Advantages of consecutive interpretation 2009, retrieved on April 6 2011 from Dersot, L 2011, What is Liaison Intrepreting, Interpreter for Technology and Commercial Corporations visiting Japan, retrieved on April 6 2011 from Diriker, E 2004, De and Re-Contextualizing Conference. Interpreting Benjamin’s. Translation Library, 53. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: retrieved on April 6 2011 from Interpersonal skills for liaison interpreters 2010, retrieved on April 6 2011 from Irvana, C. 2010, Consecutive or Simultaneous Interpretation? Retrieved on April 6 2011from Read More