TRAM181

2011/2 Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Module Code: TRAM181

Module Title: PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING TRENDS AND ISSUES

Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies	Short Name: TRAM181
Level: M	Module Co-ordinator: BRAUN S Dr (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 15	Number of ECTS credits: 7.5

Module Availability

Semester 2

Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment	Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
Report on interpreting project (based on observation of practice, hands-on experience of interpreting or remote interpreting)	100%

Qualifying Condition(s): A mark of 50% is required to pass the module.

Module Overview

This module introduces students to the professional dimension of Public Service Interpreting (PSI) and to current trends in the interpreting landscape including remote interpreting. In addition, it provides students with opportunities for observation and/or hands-on experience of interpreting in real-life situations and hands-on exploration of different forms of remote interpreting (via telephone and videoconference link).

Prerequisites/Co-requisites

First degree in English, an appropriate language or equivalent. Near-native or native competency in English.

Module Aims

The module is designed to acquaint students with professional aspects of PSI, current developments and future trends including remote interpreting and its specific challenges. In addition, the module will provide opportunities for practice-based real-life experience.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will:

have a good insight into the professional environment in which Public Service Interpreters work,
have developed a thorough understanding of the role of a Public Service Interpreter, of the code of conduct and guide to good practice as laid down by the NRPSI,
have a good insight into the communication technologies and tools used in different forms of remote interpreting and into the specific challenges that these create for interpreting,
be able to evaluate in which communicative situations remote interpreting is/is not appropriate,
have acquired strategies to adapt to, and act professionally and competently in, environments of remote interpreting in legal contexts,
have gained practical experience of Public Service Interpreting/Translation.

Module Content

This module has three components. Firstly, it explores the professional dimension of PSI (its history, current trends and professionalization). It discusses the role and responsibilities of the interpreter in legal settings, with particular emphasis on the code of ethics and code of practice, and acquaints students with professional services, associations and opportunities for further professional development.

Secondly, the module provides a detailed introduction into remote interpreting via telephone and videoconference as an increasingly important modality of Public Service Interpreting. Students have the opportunity to practise in remote mode and to explore the specific difficulties of remote interpreting in comparison with face-to-face interpreting (such as the perception of interlocutors via technical channels, absence of visual clues, problems with control over technical equipment and communication management). Through in-class discussion and reflection upon practical experience, students will learn to evaluate when remote interpreting is an appropriate working mode and when it is not.

A third integral part of this module provides students with an experience of real-life situations including e.g. observation of practice, shadowing of professional interpreters (where possible) or placements in the voluntary sector (where possible) along with opportunities for reflection on this experience.

Methods of Teaching/Learning

Classes will consist of a mix of approx. 30% teacher-led input and discussion, and 50% practical exercise in the form of (simulated) practice and 20% practical project work. The projects will be co-ordinated by the module tutor and are subject to availability.

The module will normally involve twenty two hours class contact in semester 2.

Selected Texts/Journals

The professional context of PSI:

Bahadir, S. (2004). Moving in-between: The interpreter as ethnographer and the interpreting-researcher as anthropologist. Meta 49(4), 805-821.

Corsellis, A. (2008). Public Service Interpreting. The first steps. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

Foley, T. (2006). Lawyers and legal interpreters: Different clients, different culture. Interpreting 8(1), 97-104.

Hertog, E. / Beer, B. v. d. (Eds) (2006). Taking Stock: Research and methodology in community interpreting. Linguistica Antverpiensia NS 5. Antwerp: Hoger Instituut voor Vertalers en Tolken.

Schäffner, C. (Ed) (2004). Translation research and interpreting research. Traditions, gaps and synergies. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. (see esp. Cambridge, Inghilleri)

Online publications at http://www.agisproject.com.

Further material will be provided (incl. Relevant articles from professional journals).

Remote Interpreting:

Braun, S. (2007). Interpreting in small-group bilingual videoconferences: challenges and adaptation processes. Interpreting 9(1), 21-46.

Braun, S. (2006). Multimedia communication technologies and their impact on interpreting. In M. Carroll et al. (Eds), Audiovisual Translation Scenarios. Proceedings of the Marie Curie Euroconferences MuTra: Audiovisual Translation Scenarios Copenhagen, 1-5 May 2006. http://www.euroconferences.info/proceedings/2006_Proceedings/2006_Braun_Sabine.pdf.

Connell, Tim (2006). The application of new technologies to remote interpreting. Linguistica Antverpiensia NS 5, 311-324.

Hornberger, J., et al. (1996). Eliminating language barriers for non-English-speaking patients. Medical Care 34(8), 845-856.

Mouzourakis, P. (2006). Remote interpreting: a technical perspective on recent experiments. Interpreting 8(1), 45-66.

Kelly, N. (2007). Telephone interpreting: A comprehensive guide to the profession. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Niska, H. (1999). Quality Issues in remote interpreting. In A. Alvarez Lugris & A. Fernandez (Eds), Anovar / Anosar estudios de traduccion e interpretaccion. Vigo: Universidade de Vogo, 109-21. http://www.globallanguageservices.com.au/public_html/pdf/Remote%20interpreting.pdf.

Rosenberg, B.A. (2007). A data driven analysis of telephone interpreting. In C. Wadensjö et al. (Eds), The Critical Link 4. Amsterdam: Benjamins.

Wadensjö, C. (1999). Telephone interpreting and the synchronisation of talk in social interaction. The Translator 5(2), 247-264.

Last Updated

21 April 2011

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