Who is speaking?
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Eva N.S. Ng
Abstract
This study examines how interpreters represent the voice of judges and counsel versus that of lay participants in the interpreted talk, using three interpreter-mediated criminal trials from the Hong Kong courts. The findings reveal a consistent shift from direct to reported speech or an omission of first-person reference when interpreting legal professionals’ utterances from English to Chinese – a phenomenon which existing literature does not seem to be able to explain satisfactorily. This study seeks to add a new dimension to the issue and argues that the differentiated interpreting styles may have stemmed from the interpreters’ uneasiness in assuming the voice of the powerful participants due to the power asymmetry in the courtroom. This study also discusses the impact of the interpreting styles on the role of the court interpreter and on the illocutionary force of the speech act.
Abstract
This study examines how interpreters represent the voice of judges and counsel versus that of lay participants in the interpreted talk, using three interpreter-mediated criminal trials from the Hong Kong courts. The findings reveal a consistent shift from direct to reported speech or an omission of first-person reference when interpreting legal professionals’ utterances from English to Chinese – a phenomenon which existing literature does not seem to be able to explain satisfactorily. This study seeks to add a new dimension to the issue and argues that the differentiated interpreting styles may have stemmed from the interpreters’ uneasiness in assuming the voice of the powerful participants due to the power asymmetry in the courtroom. This study also discusses the impact of the interpreting styles on the role of the court interpreter and on the illocutionary force of the speech act.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Interpreting in a changing landscape 1
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Part I. Political and economic changes
- Court interpreter ethics and the role of professional organizations 15
- Role playing “Pumpkin” 31
- A description of interpreting in prisons 45
- From chaos to cultural competence 61
- The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision 83
- From invisible machines to visible experts 101
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Part II. Interpreting vs. mediating/culture brokering
- Role issues in the Low Countries 117
- One job too many? 133
- Exploring institutional perceptions of child language brokering 149
- Natural interpreters’ performance in the medical setting 165
- The interpreter – a cultural broker? 187
- The role of the interpreter in educational settings 203
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Part III. Interpreting strategies in different interactional contexts
- Business as usual? 225
- Who is speaking? 249
- Changing perspectives 267
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Part IV. A changing landscape
- Training interpreters in rare and emerging languages 287
- From role-playing to role-taking 305
- Public service interpreter education 321
- Index 339
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Interpreting in a changing landscape 1
-
Part I. Political and economic changes
- Court interpreter ethics and the role of professional organizations 15
- Role playing “Pumpkin” 31
- A description of interpreting in prisons 45
- From chaos to cultural competence 61
- The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision 83
- From invisible machines to visible experts 101
-
Part II. Interpreting vs. mediating/culture brokering
- Role issues in the Low Countries 117
- One job too many? 133
- Exploring institutional perceptions of child language brokering 149
- Natural interpreters’ performance in the medical setting 165
- The interpreter – a cultural broker? 187
- The role of the interpreter in educational settings 203
-
Part III. Interpreting strategies in different interactional contexts
- Business as usual? 225
- Who is speaking? 249
- Changing perspectives 267
-
Part IV. A changing landscape
- Training interpreters in rare and emerging languages 287
- From role-playing to role-taking 305
- Public service interpreter education 321
- Index 339
