Conference interpreting in general and simultaneous interpreting in particular are practice-based activities. In training future interpreters, conference interpreter trainers rely heavily on practical exercises that enable students to apply the skills they previously learnt and acquired in class in interpreting situations. For various reasons, the latter, however, may not be as realistic as a simulated conference, thereby preventing students from fully experiencing the atmosphere of real-life conference interpreting. This study begins with the hypothesis that mock conferences such as Model United Nations (MUN) conferences are effective in the training of postgraduate student interpreters in simultaneous interpreting. To examine this hypothesis, and present an alternative view if possible, the researcher observes postgraduate students in the MA Applied Language Studies (option: Translation and Interpreting) at the University of Pretoria performing in the simultaneous interpreting mode during a Model United Nations conference organised by the University‘s United Nations Association. Using a setting such as this, which simulates United Nations General Assembly or Security Council conferences, the researcher observes the students‘ performances and the delegates‘ reactions and analyses trainees‘ perceptions regarding the opportunity to use their skills set in a more realistic environment. / Mini-dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Modern European Languages / MA / Unrestricted

New technologies, more specifically, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), are today indispensable in all professions. It is undeniable, however, that some professions have been affected to a greater extent than others. This study describes ICTs used in conference interpreting, in both professional and educational settings. It also records the interpreters' and interpreter trainers' perceptions of ICTs, especially in terms of improving the quality of their performance and their professionalism. The data has been collected through two global surveys, both conducted mainly through questionnaires and personal interviews, and triangulated with in situ observations. As to the results of the research, it was found that variation in use was not always due to generational or regional differences as had been expected. Conference interpreter trainers, on their part, are identifying different ways to overcome budgetary restrictions to allow students to learn about ICTs in order to better prepare them for the labor market. / Las nuevas tecnologías, especialmente las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICs), son actualmente un componente indispensable de todas las profesiones. Sin embargo, es innegable que hay profesiones que han resultado más beneficiadas por las TICs que otras. La presente investigación describe las TICs utilizadas en la interpretación de conferencias, tanto en el ámbito profesional como en el formativo. Registra asimismo la percepción y actitud de los intérpretes y de los formadores de intérpretes de conferencia hacia las TICs, en cuanto a mejorar la calidad de su desempeño y su profesionalismo. Para recoger la información, se llevaron a cabo dos encuestas a nivel global por medio de cuestionarios, complementadas con una serie de entrevistas y observaciones.En cuanto a los resultados de la investigación, se encontró que la variación en el uso no era siempre resultado de diferencias generacionales o regionales. Los formadores de intérpretes de conferencia, por su parte, están encontrando nuevas formas de superar las restricciones presupuestales para que sus estudiantes aprendan sobre el uso de las TICs, con el objeto de prepararlos mejor para su inserción en el mercado laboral.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T18:23:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Layla Penha.pdf: 3636004 bytes, checksum: 1250eb28a67e8200c80d85ca12e44e67 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-28 / This paper addresses the area of simultaneous interpretation, interpreting mode inserted in the field of Conference Interpreting. The purpose of this study is to verify the prosodic features of semi-spontaneous and interpreted speeches of a group of interpreters and analyze how such features may interfere in the assessment of quality and comprehension of the message delivered in interpretation. The subjects of this study were twelve female conference interpreters. The interpreters were recorded when producing a semi-spontaneous speech and during the simultaneous interpretation of a lecture. Three sampling segments representing the speech (extracted from the start, middle and end positions of the lecture) were selected. We conducted three types of assessment: an acoustic analysis of the selected speech samples, a perceptive assessment on the quality and comprehensibility of interpreters oral production, and an assessment on the quality of the content of the interpretation compared to the original lecture. Using the software Praat, we analyzed the prosodic features of interpreters semi-spontaneous and interpreted speeches acoustically, comparing them in terms of number and distribution of intonation groups and pauses; speech rate; and average, minimum and maximum fundamental frequency rates. By means of a questionnaire based on the Likert Scale applied to 90 judges, we assessed the impressive effects of interpreters oral production. Three interpreter trainers followed an assessment protocol to compare the speech produced by interpreters and the original lecture and verify completeness of original sense (S), errors (E) and omissions (O). Results were then compared for similarities and differences. This project was approved by the Brazilian Research Ethics Committee under no. 44465314.0.0000.5482 / Esta dissertação contempla a interpretação simultânea, modalidade inserida dentro da área de Interpretação de Conferências. O objetivo deste estudo é verificar as características prosódicas da fala semi-espontânea e da fala interpretada de um grupo de intérpretes e analisar como as características da fala interpretada podem influenciar a avaliação de qualidade e compreensão da mensagem produzida pelo intérprete. Participam como sujeitos da pesquisa doze intérpretes de conferência, do sexo feminino. As intérpretes foram audiogravadas em uma fala semi-espontânea e durante a interpretação simultânea de uma palestra. Três segmentos amostrais representativos do discurso (nas posições inicial, medial e final da palestra) foram selecionados. Foram realizados três tipos de estudo: um de natureza acústica, um de natureza perceptiva da qualidade e compreensibilidade da produção oral dos intérpretes e outro da qualidade da interpretação em relação ao discurso interpretado em termos de conteúdo semântico-discursivo. Com a utilização do software Praat, foram analisadas acusticamente as características prosódicas da fala semi-espontânea das intérpretes e dos extratos selecionados, comparando-os em termos de número e distribuição de grupos entoacionais e pausas, taxa de elocução e frequência fundamental média, mínima e máxima. Por meio de um questionário com base na escala de Likert aplicado a 90 juízes, foram avaliados os efeitos impressivos da produção oral dos intérpretes e através de um protocolo de avaliação aplicado a 3 profissionais da área de formação em interpretação foram comparadas as transcrições do discurso produzido pelas intérpretes em relação ao discurso interpretado para verificação da manutenção do sentido original (S), presença de erros (E) e de omissões (O). Os resultados foram discutidos para verificação de similaridades e diferenças entre as avaliações. Esse projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa sob o no. 44465314.0.0000.5482

(in English): The diploma thesis "The interpreter's neutrality when interpreting for high-level officials" is a theoretical and empirical work and consists of two parts. The theoretical part tries to look into the concepts of neutrality, impartiality and bias and to point out the multidimensional nature of interpreter's neutrality. It also provides an overview of existing approaches to interpreter's neutrality and highlights the essence of high-level interpreting. The empirical part is a research probe that maps how professional conference interpreters who interpret for high-level officials in the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation view the concept of absolute interpreter's neutrality. At the same time it inquires whether they sometimes face the absence of interpreter's neutrality. Lastly, it outlines factors that can influence interpreter's neutrality and examines possible impacts of neutrality absence on interpreting performance. The results of empirical part may become a springboard for further research in interpreter's neutrality.