4.4. Specifics and situations in interpreting process

We should always remember three main commandments of the interpreter are as follows:

1) He does not influence the source information of a sender and is not responsible for it, but he has professional, moral and even judicial responsibility for his translation;

2) He never feels panic or gives up in any situation;

3) He is supposed to translate the thoughts, not words.

Objective difficulties of interpretation are caused by the fact, that information is immaterial and exists as sound waves, is not fixed on the career (paper, display, film, diskette, etc.) if compared with written translation or translation from the sheet, when information is material, “tangible” and does not “slip away from the interpreter.

Objective complexity of interpretation is intensified by subjective factors: specificity of general situation and the model of interpretation, peculiarities of a sender’s speech and a recipient of information, as well as by individual professional and psycho-linguistic features of interpreter, other circumstances of objective and subjective character.

The task can be facilitated by:

a) the use of universal translation notes, which makes information material, creating support for memory, data base for analysis and synthesis of the data received;

b) the development and training of operational memory; here one should take into account, that its capacity is limited by objective factors and, unfortunately, diminished with age;

c) elimination of the negative effect of π-factor.

4.5. Factor of time

Consecutive interpretation extends the time of talks minimum by 1.5 2 times. Therefore, when interpreting the factor of time should be taken into account, i.e. one should strive, if possible, to save precious minutes without delaying a tiresome talk, which demands tremendous efforts both from the sides making agreements and a translator. It’s easier to make translation shorter if it is made into English, but when translating into Ukrainian it’s expedient to direct the time factor to the good, primarily by accelerating the tempo of speech, avoiding unnecessary pauses, repetitions, “mumbling” and stumbling, striving to pick up the shortest, meaningful words and constructions.

In some cases it is possible (if mutually agreed) to edit and simplify the translation or even to render main thoughts without specific details. Good translation is laconic and speedy! The old adage says: “Wise people make language short”. It is applied to interpretation, too.

Chapter 5: Precision and Basis Information, Their Distinctions and Importance for Interpretation Adequacy

Woe to the makers of literal translations, who by rendering every word weaken the meaning! It is indeed by so doing that we can say the letter kills and the spirit gives life.

Voltaire

5.1. Constituents of precision and basis information

There are two types of information every interpreter should distinguish: precision information (PI) and basis information (BI). In its turn PI is subdivided into: numerical PI which includes figures, dates, numerals, etc., and letter PI, which includes proper names, titles, positions, etc.

Precision information is the basis and essence of interpretation, without its precise delivery communication becomes very difficult.

PI in written translation and in translation from the sheet of paper does not cause any difficulty, but in oral interpretation it is the most difficult for remembering and reproduction. This is explained by the fact that it is immaterial. In order to increase the interpretation adequacy in rendering PI one should focus his attention just on precision words and create foundation for his memory by using symbols/signs of interpretation note-making. One more difficulty of PI is in the fact, that it almost always is something new, unknown – after all the variants of combinations of figures and letters are unlimited. PI usually does not subject to any lexical or grammatical transformations; it should be rendered with maximum precision.

Basis information (BI) includes notions, concepts, news and data, well known and easily recognized, understood and remembered in interpretation. BI arouses concrete associations and makes the most important part of erudition (background knowledge) of an interpreter.

As distinct from PI, basis information is something familiar, known and serves as a helper and support in interpretation.

Basis information is divided into:

In letter: familiar and recognized proper names, titles, terms, trade marks;

Numerical: well-known dates, economic and mathematical formulas, indices, and readings, data, etc.

Unlike PI basis information is more subjective and specific: someone knows more in one sphere, someone (interpreter) else – in another, somebody has broader erudition and deeper and so on.

It is necessary in every way to broaden and diversify the volume and quality of BI, aspiring for the new precision information become basis, familiar. This process should go on constantly.

Basis information is obtained from different sources, both in the sphere of main activity (interpretation or another), and outside it, with using different channels (audio, text, visual, etc.) in order to have more diverse information on the tip of your tongue.