Principles of Interpreting

Interpreting is a cognitive-linguistic skill as well as a socially informed discipline. This course provides an overview of the history and evolution, current best practices, and general pragmatics of professional interpreting as practiced today. Based on case studies and applied linguistic research, the course addresses the formulation of key principles and the industry standards, methodology, and mechanical processes that guide interpreting practice from the moment-to-moment delivery to larger issues of ethics, liability, credence and professional development for the career interpreter. Through readings and role-play scenarios, students will analyze the verbal dynamic and paralinguistics of interpreting in the consecutive, simultaneous, and community mode. While studying an array of interpreted materials in terms of communicative purpose and interlocutor roles, students will develop an articulate appreciation of performance criteria specific to the transient nature of interpreting (as opposed to translation) and the diverse situations and clients served.