Training-Scientific-Production Complex

“Academy of Intellectual Property”

Ministry of education and science of Ukraine

Institute of Intellectual Property and Law

G.I. Sydoruk

CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETATION THEORY IN THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SUBLANGUAGE

Training manual

Kyiv

IIPL

2007

УДК 81'253 (042.4)

ББК Ш107-923

С 92

Reviewed by: A.G. Nikolenko, candidate of philological Science, assistant professor of the English philology and translation chair, NAU, and T.E. Nekryach, candidate of philological Science, assistant professor of the chair of theory and practice of translation from English, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv national University.

This lecture synopsis was approved by the editorial council of the Institute of Intellectual Property in January 9, 2007.

Sydoruk G.I.

C 92 Consecutive Interpretation Theory in the Intellectual Property Sublanguage: Training manual. – K.: IIPL, 2007. – 116 p.

Lecture synopsis is compiled according to the program developed in the Institute of Intellectual Property and Law. The problems of interpretation theory and universal translational note-taking are briefly covered in it. It is intended for students studying English language and specializing in interpretation at the higher educational establishments and the language courses.

Сидорук Г.І.

Теорія послідовного перекладу в підмові інтелектуальної власності: Навчальний посібник (англійською мовою). – К.: ІІВП, 2007. – 116 с.

Навчальний посібник укладено відповідно до програми курсу, розробленого Інститутом інтелектуальної власності і права. У ньому стисло викладено окремі питання теорії усного перекладу та універсального перекладацького скоропису. Для студентів, які вивчають англійську мову та спеціалізуються в усному перекладі в вузах та на мовних курсах.

© Г.І. Сидорук, 2007

© ІІВП

Introduction

Theoretical course “Consecutive Interpretation Theory in the Intellectual Property Sublanguage” is one of the fundamental disciplines, studied by the students of various departments of the Institute of Intellectual Property and Law. The main goal of this training manual is to give students basic knowledge of the professional consecutive interpretation and universal translational note-taking, its linguistic and psychological aspects, major features of precision and basis information. The material compiled in succession assists in training qualified experts in the interpretation theory and practice, which is difficult to overestimate in our time of rapid globalisation and acute necessity to eliminate language barriers on the way of Ukraine’s entering the European Union, world trade organization and others.

The material unfolds a versatile theoretical foundation of the profession, its history, methodology, psychological and ethical aspects outlines the main linguistic issues, basic lexical, grammatical and stylistic problems of interpretation, analyzes types of specialized interpretation, morphology and syntax of universal note-taking, etc.

The course “Consecutive Interpretation Theory in the Intellectual Property Sublanguage” will help students to understand the interpreter’s mission, intellectual requirements, various methods of interpretation, sufficient ways of interpretation, make adequate translation of the stylistically dissimilar texts, correctly apply proper translational transformations. Students will learn the “secrets” of the profession in such nuances as breath and voice, gestures and accent, culture of speech, room manners, team work, adapting to circumstances, etc. The topics proposed are diverse and promote interest, desire to investigate and excel; they develop linguistic conscience, scientific thinking, creativity and practical skills.

The lectures help to systematize and extend the knowledge gained at other practical and theoretical classes, assimilate special linguistic and translational terminology, to coordinate theory with practice.

It is foreseen that the students write three tests on different interpretation problems, write home work on one of the topics proposed, make notes of ten basic scientific sources on the subject which add to the material presented at the manual. At the test the students are supposed to answer three questions, two of them covering theoretical material and the third containing practical assignment.

Chapter 1: Theory of Interpretation

З того часу, як винайшли мову, люди не можуть домовитись між собою.

Генрік Яґодзинський

1.1. Background of interpretation theory (it)

One of the experienced and well known interpreters Chuzhakin A., who contributed a lot into interpretation theory, practice and universal interpretation note-taking said, „Якщо ви вважаєте, що вчитесь перекладати, то помиляєтесь – ви вчитесь говорити російською мовою!“. He also gave the definition of oral translation, „Усний переклад – це пошук простих рішень складних завдань в складних ситуаціях, що відбувається зі швидкістю думки“.

In his book “The Interpreter’s Handbook” [16:1] Jean Herbert writes, “The profession of interpreter is a very old one, which came into existence when the first contacts were established between human groups speaking different languages. It is also one of the finest of professions, since its aim is to draw men together and enable them to establish a closer understanding of one another. By eliminating the language barrier that separates them, the interpreter directly ushers men into the thoughts of others, and thus performs the function of an intermediary, enabling their minds to achieve intellectual communion.”

As long ago as one and a half million years ago in the primitive informational society in order to communicate with different groups of people there was a need in bright and sharp people, understandable people with excellent memory, high language skills, capable of expressing their thoughts clearly, understand their interlocutor and interpret his speech into his own dialect or language. Therefore we may guess that a primitive type of interpretation had appeared long before the written language originated, and we may claim that interpreter is one of the most ancient professions.

Theorist of interpretation V. Komissarov in his book „Сучасне перекладознавство” cites some interesting data, “Численні факти свідчать про те, що [усний] переклад має тисячолітню історію. У древньому Вавилоні й Ассирії існували групи перекладачів, що доводили повеління властителів до відома підкорених народів. Взагалі без перекладачів було б неможливим існування древніх імперій, що виникали в результаті завоювань багатьох країн, населених різномовними народами. А в древньому Єгипті вже була спеціальна школа, що готувала перекладачів для контактів з сусідами“.

There is a story in the Bible which tells about Joseph and his brothers, who were very envious of Joseph for his multicolor coat presented by his father who loved his son more than any other child born from other women. So, brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, where later on he became an honorable figure at the court of Egyptian pharaoh. Some time later in the homeland of Joseph disastrous famine happened, and his brothers left for Egypt to get some bread. They did not recognize Joseph when first saw him, and he did not disclose himself either and was talking with them through an interpreter.

The apostle Paul (I Cor. 24:27-28) realized the importance of this activity when he advised the Corinthians to have recourse to interpreters, if their gatherings comprised devotees speaking two or three different languages; and he added that, if there were no interpreters among them, it would be preferable that no one should speak, “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence…” [19:265-266].

Such records about interpretation and interpreters can be found in many old sources.

By V. Komissarov’s hypothesis women were the first trainers and specialists in the sphere of language and dialect study, as being captured or given in marriage to the representative of another pride they willy-nilly learned the language of their husband. In fact they assumed the obligation of an interpreter on themselves in the process of communication and mutual understanding. Besides, women were teaching their children to speak their own dialect, and the children were developing kind of primitive bilingualism.

Interpretation was developing in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ancient Greece and especially in multilingual Roman Empire.

Unfortunately we do not know about serious investigations on this matter because interpretation is non-material and could not be reflected in the written records and ancient chronicles. Written translation is luckier in this respect.