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Why interpreting studies matters

  • Franz Pöchhacker
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Why Translation Studies Matters
This chapter is in the book Why Translation Studies Matters

Abstract

This paper takes up the theme of the Ljubljana EST Congress from the perspective of interpreting studies. The basic assumption that the existence of a distinct research community dedicated to the study of interpreting corresponds to an epistemological need is illustrated with regard to related work in psychology and sociology. On the assumption that the research output of interpreting scholars needs a ‘market’, interpreter education, professional practice, and institutional user contexts are examined as domains for which interpreting studies might matter. With special emphasis on community settings, the potential of interpreting research to shape social practices in relevant institutional contexts is discussed with reference to recent examples. Given the obstacles to interdisciplinary publication and impact, it is suggested that interpreting scholars need to invest also in ‘D’ (development) rather than ‘R’ if they wish their findings to matter to those who shape the social practices in which (community-based) interpreting is embedded.

Abstract

This paper takes up the theme of the Ljubljana EST Congress from the perspective of interpreting studies. The basic assumption that the existence of a distinct research community dedicated to the study of interpreting corresponds to an epistemological need is illustrated with regard to related work in psychology and sociology. On the assumption that the research output of interpreting scholars needs a ‘market’, interpreter education, professional practice, and institutional user contexts are examined as domains for which interpreting studies might matter. With special emphasis on community settings, the potential of interpreting research to shape social practices in relevant institutional contexts is discussed with reference to recent examples. Given the obstacles to interdisciplinary publication and impact, it is suggested that interpreting scholars need to invest also in ‘D’ (development) rather than ‘R’ if they wish their findings to matter to those who shape the social practices in which (community-based) interpreting is embedded.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Part 1. Does TS matter?
  5. Why interpreting studies matters 3
  6. What matters to Translation Studies? 15
  7. Part 2. Translation and society
  8. Translators as cultural mediators 29
  9. Censorship in the translations and pseudo-translations of the West 41
  10. A world without God 57
  11. Manipulating the matricial norms 69
  12. Knowledge in Translation Studies and translation practice 83
  13. Part 3. Language issues
  14. Is Translation Studies going Anglo-Saxon? 97
  15. Slowakisch: Brückensprache zur slawischen Welt? 105
  16. Translation Studies and mass media research 115
  17. Register shifts in translations of popular fiction from English into Slovene 125
  18. Getting the ACCENT right in Translation Studies 137
  19. Die Kirche im Dorf oder die Regierung im Wald lassen 153
  20. Part 4. Assessment and training
  21. Magnifying glasses modifying maps 167
  22. Effects of short intensive practice on interpreter trainees’ performance 183
  23. Corpora in translator training 195
  24. Part 5. Psychology
  25. Psycholinguistik, Übersetzungswissenschaft und Expertiseforschung im Rahmen der interdisziplinären Forschung 211
  26. Interpreting Studies and psycholinguistics 223
  27. fMRI for exploring simultaneous interpreting 237
  28. Part 6. Postscript
  29. Why Translation Studies matters 251
  30. Name index 263
  31. Concept index 267
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.88.02pc

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Part 1. Does TS matter?
  5. Why interpreting studies matters 3
  6. What matters to Translation Studies? 15
  7. Part 2. Translation and society
  8. Translators as cultural mediators 29
  9. Censorship in the translations and pseudo-translations of the West 41
  10. A world without God 57
  11. Manipulating the matricial norms 69
  12. Knowledge in Translation Studies and translation practice 83
  13. Part 3. Language issues
  14. Is Translation Studies going Anglo-Saxon? 97
  15. Slowakisch: Brückensprache zur slawischen Welt? 105
  16. Translation Studies and mass media research 115
  17. Register shifts in translations of popular fiction from English into Slovene 125
  18. Getting the ACCENT right in Translation Studies 137
  19. Die Kirche im Dorf oder die Regierung im Wald lassen 153
  20. Part 4. Assessment and training
  21. Magnifying glasses modifying maps 167
  22. Effects of short intensive practice on interpreter trainees’ performance 183
  23. Corpora in translator training 195
  24. Part 5. Psychology
  25. Psycholinguistik, Übersetzungswissenschaft und Expertiseforschung im Rahmen der interdisziplinären Forschung 211
  26. Interpreting Studies and psycholinguistics 223
  27. fMRI for exploring simultaneous interpreting 237
  28. Part 6. Postscript
  29. Why Translation Studies matters 251
  30. Name index 263
  31. Concept index 267
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