Practice section 8

Questions for discussion

1. Give the definition of simultaneous interpretation.

2. What is the difference between professional simultaneous interpretation and other kinds of interpretation?

3. What are the main requirements to professional simultaneous interpretation?

4. What types of special equipment for simultaneous interpretation exist today?

5. Why simultaneous interpreting is considered to be a “high pressure job”?

6. What are main features of “interpreter friendly” speakers and “listener friendly” interpreters?

Assignment 1. Give Ukrainian words and expressions equivalent to the following English ones from Text 8.1. Compare your options with the keys.

Mr President; accession to the Council of Europe; to open up the path; Rapporteurs; Mrs Severinsen; Mr Kelam; in-depth analysis; the rule of law; the respect of human rights; to underscore; wide-spread economic crisis; obligations and commitments; Framework Convention; European Charter of regional and minority languages

Assignment 2. Listen to the phonogram of Text 8.1, which is a sample of real-life simultaneous interpreting of a speech at the Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe performed by a British interpreter. Comment upon what you have heard focusing on the following:

a) the interval between the initial words of the French SL speaker and the start of

interpretation into English;

2. the use of special terms and the way the interpreter renders them;

3. the speed of speech and the ability of the interpreter to keep up with the speaker;

4. the level of coherence of the interpretation (the word order, compliance with the rules of grammar, completeness of sentences, ability to fill in the gaps, etc).

Having done the above-mentioned, try to interpret this text into Ukrainian in a simultaneous mode and then rewind the tape at your workstation and listen to the result of your interpretation.

Text 8.1 Transcript of simultaneous interpretation of the speech of Mr Stialeu (Rumania) at the Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (January 1999)

President: And now I call Mr Stialeu from Rumania.

Speaker: Monsieur le Président, chères collègues!

Interpreter: Mr President, colleagues! The accession of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, which occurred in November 1995, was an important event for Europe, important for all countries of the region, for my country, Rumania, as a neighbouring state. It was an event, which opened up the path to participation of Ukraine in building the new Europe. I appreciate very much the work of our Rapporteurs Mrs Severinsen and Mr Kelam, I much appreciate the specific and in-depth analysis of the development of democratic life and the building of the constitutional state in Ukraine and particularly over the last, recent period. The aspects of consolidation of the rule of law and the respect of human rights, the development in this section sometimes takes place rather slowly, as our Rapporteurs have underscored, but they are very closely linked, no doubt, to economic and social conditions, which are very difficult and which are caused by the transition towards a market economy. This transition is very difficult; it’s very complicated and complex not only in Ukraine, but in all the ex-Communist countries. We have to underscore the fact that, despite all the difficulties to which … err … it’s …which it has to face up to in the last few years, Ukraine has been fairly successful in preserving its internal stability and in contributing to regional stability. On the other hand, it is quite clear that at the moment this country is undergoing a widespread economic crisis. There are few essential factors, which have got to be born in mind, and which to some extent make the mark on the rather slow way in which Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations and commitments. With regard to the rights of minorities, the ratification of the Framework Convention on the protection of national minorities on the 9-th of December 1997 and its entry into force beginning from the 1^st of May 1998 has sent out a positive signal. I consider that the impetus and encouragement given by my parliamentary colleagues to the process of ratification of the European Charter of regional languages or minority language will be an important step – one which should be followed up by measures at executive level to implement this, measures which no doubt will be appreciated by the members of the thirty minorities in the country. We are talking about the same rights, which must be granted to the Rumanian ethnic minority whose members … err … constantly show themselves to be loyal Ukrainian citizens. I am referring particularly to the organisation of public schooling using the mother tongue in order to ensure that Rumanian minority is able to study in its language throughout the whole duration of the schooling period including at … University level after school by setting up groups, sections, faculties, whose teaching language is Rumanian, at the University of Chernivtsy – University, which until 1944 functioned in Rumanian. At the same time we have to shed light on the ambiguity, which is quite unacceptable, of the existence of two different languages, which is Rumanian and Moldovan. We must give support to cultural and scientific associations, which must receive the heritage, which they had before 1944, we must support the restoration and rebuilding of churches, monuments, historical sites, we must support press and the printing of journals and magazines. The case of Rumania, where minorities, including Ukrainian minority, have real rights, can constitute a good example. These are factors, which are stemming from the normal development in Ukraine and the commitment of Ukrainian authorities to ratify the European Charter of regional and minority languages as well as other documents of the Council of Europe should be mentioned in the report. And I would like to mention this in the European Parliament, as well as all other documents, which have been mentioned. Thank you very much, Mr President!

http://www.coe.int

Assignment 3. Give English words and expressions equivalent to the following Ukrainian ones from Text 8.2. Compare your options with the keys.

Литвин Володимир Михайлович (колишній Голова Верховної Ради України, 2002-2006); Олександр Бондаренко; гілки влади; Закон про Кабінет міністрів; найгарячіша новина; оприлюднити закон; де-юре (юридично); “Голос України”; “Урядовий Кур’єр”; політичний підтекст; антикризова коаліція; неол., проф. *перемовини (переговори); набрати чинності (про закон); паліативне рішення; подолати вето; розм. внутрішні *розборки; політична реформа; неузгодженості; призвести у відповідність (до); неол., проф. *ветувати (накласти вето); недовіра; ультиматум; освоювати владне поле; криза влади; відбирати повноваження; Універсал національної єдності; вносити кандидатуру, Партія регіонів; Юрій Єхануров (виконувач обов’язків Прем’єр-міністра України, 2004-2005); виконувач обов’язків Прем’єр-міністра; передбачуваність; взаємодія гілок влади; система стримування і противаг; “керований хаос”; круглий стіл; розм., проф. позитив (= позитивний розвиток подій); громадянське суспільство; за великим рахунком; імперативний мандат; “кондовий” закон; пропорційна основа; триматися політичного прапора; БЮТ (Блок Юлії Тимошенко); “Наша Україна”; ідіом. вловити вітер у свої вітрила ( використати можливість, скористатися із ситуації); Помаранчева революція; заручник політичного протиборства

Assignment 4.

Step 1. Fist Listen to the phonogram of Text 8.2 looking into its transcript.

Step 2. Interpret Text 8.2 into English in a simultaneous mode this time without looking into its transcript. Having done this, rewind the tape at your workstation and listen to the results of your work focusing on your mistakes and thinking of how to improve the quality of your interpretation.

Text 8.2