17.3. Official Two-way Interpreting Without Note-taking (Liaison Formal Interpreting)

It is the translation of conversation/interview of two or more people with comparatively short utterances in different languages on a special topic.

Task of interpreter: sharp attention; accurate comprehension of spoken language; correct, clear speaking in native language; idiomatically clear language in English with minimal losses of precision information; conveying different shades of language, correct interpretation of allusions, understanding quotations with basing oneself on basic knowledge, appliance of universal note-taking if necessary.

Factors complicating the interpretation process:

• Official character of communication;

• Great number of figures, terms, proper names and other precision information;

• Careless language of the speaker, elliptical constructions, allusion, intended for knowledge of the interlocutor, sometimes confused articulation – tongue-tie;

• Incorrect use of terms, etc.;

• Reluctance/disability of the speaker to “speak for interpretation”. Take into account the peculiarities of inter-lingual and intercultural communication;

• Maladapted atmosphere, noises, technical disturbances, etc.

Factors which facilitate the process of interpretation:

• Comparatively short utterances;

• Direct participation of the interpreter in conversation, possibility to establish personal contact, sometimes even to clarify and ask to explain unclear points as a last resort, “if worst comes to worst”;

• Audience is not very numerous;

• Possibility to get comfortable with documents, the issue background in advance, etc.

17.4. Two-way Interpretation (with Note-taking)

This type of interpreting (called “Consecutive interpreting (Formal Plus)”) is translation of formal conversations, interviews, speeches and press-conferences, etc., on international topics (general political topics with comparatively long utterances (up to 3-5 minutes).

Task of interpreter:

Knowledge of the given topic, first of all on the basis of preliminary lingual-regional geographical preparation, through studying and learning basis information, ability to freely orient oneself in general political matters, knowledge of names (positions) of political and state leaders, other persons, mastering terms; easy comprehension of fluent speech (including contaminated one with strong accent, etc.); correct interpretation of quotations; familiarity with diplomatic units or turns of speech, used in practice of international communication (in Latin, French, partially – in Greek); general culture and erudition; knowledge of basics of international law, diplomatic protocol and etiquette.

Factors, complicating the process of interpretation:

• a big volume of the information coming from both sides;

• official character of interview, talk, speech;

• individual features of the speaker;

• accentuated official nature of atmosphere, tension and unpredictability of situation, special relationship between the sides (dislike or enmity, hostility, conflict, etc.);

• distracting factors (sometimes entire discomfort of the place – e.g., in disaster area, in zone of military actions, state of emergency, operation of peacemaking forces).

Factors, which facilitate the interpretation process:

• possibility to see the documents, which disclose the sides’ positions in advance, consult with the participants and study the materials on topic;

• possibility to contribute to creating favorable atmosphere of communication (to the best of the interpreter’s ability);

• good business contacts, knowledge of local traditions and customs, appropriate physical and psychological training.