This research is located within the framework of descriptive translation studies and corpus-based contrastive discourse analysis. Modern Translation Studies has growingly taken into account the complexities of culture-specific expressions in literary translation. Conference interpreting setting has paradoxically not been touched upon. Through an empirical case study of the interpretation of Chinese culture-specific expressions in ten Chinese Premier’s Press Conferences, this thesis aims to contribute to a better understanding of interpreting culture-specific expressions in a conference interpreting setting. Methodologically, this thesis integrates the linguistic approach with the culture-oriented approach, empiricism with interpretivism and quantitative with qualitative research. It began with a detailed transcription of ten unrevised press conference video recordings downloaded from Internet. With such transcription, the specialized corpora constituted by the Chinese culture-specific expressions and their interpretations were built and coded innovatively using the four translation strategies converted from the six kernel theories within the theoretical framework of this thesis. Contrastive discourse analysis of the specialized corpora was carried out against such extra-textual resources as the media coverage of the press conference, the lectures given by the government interpreters and so on. Translation norms that reflect the regularities of how the four translation strategies are used were derived from such large-scale case studies and tested against more cases before being qualitatively analyzed to explain why they exist and how they were manifested in the selection of translation strategies in the specialized corpora. This thesis claims contribution to existing literature in terms of theory and methodology. Theoretically, it proposed six translation norms of the use of four translation strategies for the five categories of the Chinese culture-specific expressions in the Chinese Premier’s Press Conferences with a core argument that the interpreters’ selection of translation strategies is subject more to contexts than to their subjectivity, which empirically confirms for the first time Eco-translatology Theory’s central claim that an interpreter selects translation strategies by adapting to contexts. In addition, as a pioneering study on cultural expressions under conference interpreting context, this research increases the explanatory power of relevant translation theories because it spans literary translation and conference interpreting. Methodologically, translation strategies were converted from relevant translation theories and used as descriptive categories for corpus-based contrastive analysis, which constitutes an originality in contrast to previous research that teem with researcher-named strategies and confuse translation strategies with translation methods. Furthermore, this research improves transcription coding and corpus building tactics, making data analysis not only more systematic but also more accessible to readers who do not know both languages.

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This dissertation examines the role of language directionality in conference interpret-ing in South Africa with the purpose of highlighting the need for bidirectional inter-preting in a South African context. Western mainstream doctrines prescribe for in-terpreters to work only towards their native (mother) tongue. However, in the multi-lingual South African context, where the majority of the population speaks at least two languages, the idea of language directionality has not been given much thought. Nevertheless, there seems to be a demand for bidirectional interpreters. The study aims to argue in favour of a language bi-directionality in interpreting through empha-sising its theoretical plausibility and practical evidence within the field of conference interpreting in South Africa. The dissertation is the result of an extended literature review and a survey carried out in South Africa in 2013 among conference interpreters working in the country. / Mini-dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Modern European Languages / MA / Unrestricted

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

Esta tesis doctoral aborda la situación actual de la Interpretación de Conferencias en el ámbito de las CC.SS. en España en la era del inglés como lingua franca (ELF) para la comunicación científica. Mediante un estudio cuantitativo y cualitativo, compuesto por más de 600 encuestas y 15 entrevistas en profundidad, se traza el mapa del mercado español actual en este sector para los intérpretes y se ahonda en las consecuencias que la prevalencia del ELF tiene para los científicos españoles. Las implicaciones del uso del inglés como lengua internacional se analizan desde la perspectiva de la Teoría de la Cortesía de Brown y Levinson (1987) y sus conceptos centrales de “imagen negativa”, “imagen positiva” y “acto amenazante a la imagen”. Los resultados de la investigación demuestran que, para los científicos españoles que no dominan el inglés, la ubicuidad del ELF constituye lo que llamamos una “circunstancia amenazante a la imagen” y que la Interpretación de Conferencias puede funcionar como acción compensatoria para preservar la imagen de este colectivo.

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[pt] O objetivo desse trabalho é melhor compreender a situação atual da formação de intérpretes de conferência de línguas orais-auditivas no Brasil. O primeiro objetivo é mapear o cenário diverso de formação de intérpretes no país e o segundo é comparar o currículo e as práticas desses cursos com as chamadas melhores práticas de formação de intérpretes recomendadas pela Associação Internacional de Intérpretes de Conferência (AIIC). Após a apresentação de algumas propostas para o ensino de interpretação, fundamentadas em textos de Danica Seleskovitch e Marianne Lederer, David Sawyer, Donald Kiraly e Rosemary Arrojo, é traçado um breve panorama da história da formação de intérpretes no Brasil e no mundo e o papel proeminente da AIIC nesse processo. Seguem-se os perfis dos cursos participantes da pesquisa: três de pós-graduação, três de graduação, um sequencial e quatro livres, que serão analisados à luz das melhores práticas da AIIC. O estudo desenvolvido nos permite concluir que, apesar de nenhum curso atender integralmente aos quesitos recomendados pela AIIC, o ensino de intérpretes no Brasil está no caminho para a profissionalização. / [en] The aim of this thesis is to better understand the current scenario of spoken-language conference interpreter training in Brazil. The first aim is to map out the diverse scenario of interpreter training and the second, to compare the curriculum and practices of these different courses with AIIC Conference Interpreter Training best practices. Some proposals for interpreter training were presented, based on the work of Danica Seleskovitch e Marianne Lederer, David Sawyer, Donald Kiraly and Rosemary Arrojo; and an overview of the history of conference interpreter training in Brazil and around the world was made, highlighting AIIC s prominent role in this process. These are the profiles of the courses that took part in the survey: three graduate-level courses, three undergraduate level, one extension course and four commercial courses. Their practices were analyzed according to AIIC s best practices for interpreter training. We concluded that even though no school has fully met all AIIC s recommended criteria, interpreter training in Brazil is on the path to professionalization.

Embora o ato de traduzir a interação oral entre duas ou mais pessoas seja algo infinitamente antigo, a interpretação de conferências, como profissão, remonta ao início do Século XX, com as Conferências de Paz realizadas em Paris, ao final da Primeira Guerra Mundial. A profissão se consolida com a criação da Liga das Nações e, posteriormente, da Organização das Nações Unidas e com o aumento do número de congressos e reuniões científicas internacionais, além da criação de diversos organismos internacionais após a Segunda Guerra Mundial. No Brasil, a interpretação desponta como profissão na segunda metade da década de 40 do século passado e vai-se consolidando aos poucos, ao longo das décadas seguintes. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo narrar e analisar criticamente a história da profissão no Brasil, a partir de depoimentos de seus diversos participantes, a saber intérpretes de conferência e formadores de intérpretes. O arsenal teórico que subsidia a coleta e análise das entrevistas parte de pressupostos da História Oral, sem, contudo, se limitar a tal abordagem teórica, inserindo-se na grade área de Estudos da Tradução, utilizando a visão do pesquisador insider proposta por Koskinen (2008). O ecletismo da metodologia abrange, ainda, a análise crítica de elementos da mídia, de correspondências por correio eletrônico e de informações de websites de alguns cursos de formação. A pesquisa inclui os primeiros eventos importantes e a criação da Associação Profissional de Intérpretes de Conferência (APIC), em 1971, em relato de sua idealizadora e primeira presidente, Ulla Schneider e das demais fundadoras vivas. O trabalho, tentando suprir uma lacuna nos Estudos da Interpretação no Brasil e em língua portuguesa como um todo, inclui ainda outras questões contemporâneas pertinentes à profissão, tais como o relacionamento entre intérpretes e desses com agenciadores e organizadores de eventos, além de apresentar uma visão de como a mídia brasileira vê os intérpretes. Inclui também uma panorâmica de grandes eventos internacionais realizados no Brasil, na voz de uma das principais coordenadoras de intérpretes, Simone Troula. Todo um capítulo é dedicado à formação de intérpretes no Brasil, não só em seu aspecto histórico, mas também no que tange à formação hoje em dia, comparando e contrastando os programas existentes no Brasil a seus congêneres internacionais. O trabalho finaliza com uma breve visão de possíveis cenários da profissão, a partir de novos elementos como a interpretação remota, a realização de eventos monolíngues, sobretudo em inglês, e a atuação cada vez maior de agenciadores de intérpretes. Conclui-se o estudo com algumas sugestões para pesquisas futuras em relação à área de estudo abordada. / Although oral translation between people interacting in different languages has existed since times immemorial, conference interpreting as a profession appears in the beginning of the 20th century, with the Paris Peace Conferences, at the end of the First World War. The profession develops at the League of Nations and, later, at the United Nation Organization. It is also fostered by the multiplication of international conferences and technical meetings, as well as the creation of a myriad international organizations, after the Second World War. In Brazil, conference interpreting appears as a profession in the 1940s and slowly grows in the following decades. This research aims at critically narrating the history of this profession in Brazil, from interviews given by its participants, namely conference interpreters and interpreter trainers. Interviews were carried out and analyzed under the light of Oral History methods. This work, however, does not confine itself to the Oral History methodology but rather fits into the field of Translation Studies, relying also on Koskinens (2008) view of the insider researcher. The several sources of data for this study also include samples from the press, e-mail correspondence and information gathered from websites of training institutions. This dissertation deals with the first interpreted events in Brazil and the creation of the Professional Association of Conference Interpreters (APIC), in 1971, from interviews by its main creator and first president, Ulla Schneider, and the other living founders. Trying to bridge a gap in Interpreting Studies in Brazil and in the Portuguese language in general, this work includes other present issues relating to the profession, such as relationships between interpreters and between them and translation agencies and event organizers, as well as a brief analysis of how the Brazilian press sees interpreters. It also includes an overview of some important international conferences held in Brazil through the voice of one of the most important chief interpreters in these events, Simone Troula. A whole chapter is dedicated to interpreter training in Brazil, covering not only its history but other issues pertaining interpreting training these days, comparing and contrasting Brazilian programs with their international counterparts. The work concludes with a brief view of possible future scenarios for the profession, focusing on new elements such as remote interpreting, monolingual conferences, held mostly in English, and the ever-growing role played by translation agencies and professional conference organizers. It closes with some suggestions for further research in interpreting as a field of study.

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.

This thesis aims to explore the complex role of consecutive interpreters in relation to context. Context shapes how interpreters are positioned within an interaction, conceived of as a multi-level framework comprising the textual level, the interactional level, and the institutional level. The empirical focus is interpreting in seminars run by a Turkish public institution and supported by an international organization in the framework of the country’s development towards EU accession. The case study relies on the triangulation of several types of data, different research methods and settings in order to provide a deeper understanding of the interpreter’s role in context. In accordance with the fieldwork strategy, the focus is on naturally occurring data, including user and interpreter surveys, interviews, and video-recordings of interpreted interactions. The findings of the study reveal that there may be a gap between the general role definitions of interpreters and the strategies they are expected to adopt. User expectations vary depending on situational factors and the role perceptions of interpreters do not necessarily match reality. The analysis of the interpreter’s role in two different events exhibiting a varying degree of formality and interactivity but sharing the same institutional context, interpreting mode, and interpreter, demonstrates the influence of context on the interpreter’s role.