Interpreting

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Sermon by Kazakhstan's Archbishop Novgorodov, translated by a Russian Lithuanian, St. Marien parish church (Plau am See)

The interpreting falls, as well as the translator , with the preamble of the language and culture averaging (translation). In contrast to the translator in the narrower sense, the interpreter in the narrower sense translates a non-fixed , i.e. usually spoken text from one language to another, orally or using sign language.

Word origin

The word interpreting is based on the Turkish word dilmaç (mediator, intermediary between two parties who speak different languages) . This word found its way into German via Slavic. In the sense of written translation, the word was already used by Martin Luther in 1530 in the letter from interpreting .

Modes of interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting

The simultaneous interpretation is still a relatively young Dolmetschmodus. When used between spoken languages, conference technology is required for this, whereas sign language interpreting usually works without technical equipment. With spoken-language interpreting, the interpreter sits in a soundproof interpreting booth and listens to the speaker through headphones. His interpretation, which takes place almost at the same time (i.e. simultaneously), is transmitted via microphone and can be heard by the conference participants in turn via headphones. Regardless of whether simultaneous interpreting takes place between spoken languages, spoken and sign languages ​​or between sign languages, this mode of interpreting is very strenuous mentally (high concentration) as well as physically (vocal stress) and requires sophisticated interpreting technology and high professional competence. Due to the high workload, simultaneous interpreters usually work in teams of at least two people who take turns at certain time intervals.

Consecutive interpreting

Presentation of a speech section by Garri Kimowitsch Kasparow by an interpreter at a reading at lit.Cologne 2007. Right: Klaus Bednarz

Consecutive interpreting is the oldest interpreting mode. The interpreting is delayed ( consecutive ): If necessary, the interpreter makes notes during the lecture using his note-taking technique and then produces the target-language text. With consecutive interpreting, the target language version should be streamlined and particularly well structured in order to relieve the audience, as this interpreting mode significantly increases the lecture time. The individual text passages can be of different lengths, but usually comprise a longer, content-related section.

With unilateral consecutive interpreting, interpreting is only carried out in one language direction and the text passages to be interpreted tend to be longer (usually up to ten minutes). In bilateral consecutive interpreting , usually called bilateral interpreting or conversation interpreting , one interpreter takes on both language directions and thus enables two interlocutors to communicate, e. B. in interviews or negotiations. The sections here are usually shorter, so that the interpreter mostly works from memory and only partially uses notes.

Due to the high time required, consecutive interpreting is now rarely used at conferences. It is more common at festive occasions (e.g. dinner speeches or receptions), high-level events such as bilateral meetings of heads of state and government, or cultural events such as author readings or film premieres.

Whispered interpreting

Whispered interpreting: an interpreter (left) whispers a translation to Garry Kasparov (center)

Whispered interpreting (also chuchotage , from the French chuchoter for "whisper") is a form of simultaneous interpreting, but does not require any technical aids. Interpreting is for a maximum of two people. The interpreter sits between or behind his audience and gives them the interpretation very quietly. This is extremely exhausting for the voice and therefore only possible for a limited time.

Today, whispered interpreting also means the use of a wireless microphone and around 10–20 radio receivers. The simultaneous interpreter sits in an area of ​​the corresponding language group, translates the original language into the desired language, whispering into the microphone. This mode may still be acceptable for small groups, but uncomfortable and unprofessional for multiple languages ​​and listeners (the whispering can be annoying). Compact sets are offered by corresponding providers in the rental business.

Sign language interpreting

Sign language interpreter on a stage at the CSD 2006 in Cologne

The interpreting of spoken languages ​​into sign languages and vice versa is referred to as sign language interpreting . Since there is no global sign language, but each country has its own language, interpreting from one sign language into another can also be used.

Speech interpreting

The interpreting of spoken languages ​​into written language is called written interpreting. This is unilateral interpreting. Different written interpreting procedures are used here. See Speech Interpreters .

Special forms

relay

Relay mode (or control booth mode) in simultaneous interpreting refers to a way of working in which the control booth translates from a smaller, less common language (e.g. Maltese) into a "larger" working language (e.g. English or French). and not only for the audience, but also as the source text for the other interpreting booths, which then “take off from the control booth” and interpret into their respective conference language. The interpreter in the control booth is also known as a pivot (French for "fulcrum").

Back

Return interpreting is interpreting from the mother tongue into the foreign language.

Types of interpreting

Conference interpreting

Conference interpreting is an umbrella term for interpreting at conferences, e.g. B. at international summits or specialist congresses. Various types of interpreting can be used at conferences. Simultaneous interpreting is particularly common, but consecutive interpreting or whispered interpreting can also be used, a type of simultaneous interpreting in which interpreting is carried out for very few listeners without any technical equipment.

Other forms

In the recent past, with new entertainment and information technologies and the increase in live performances in the cultural sector (festivals, galas, etc.), other types of interpreting have emerged.

  • With "media interpreting" (a form of simultaneous interpreting) on ​​radio and television, interpreting should be carried out as promptly as possible so that there is no broadcast gap. Voice guidance, intonation and the general sound of the voice play a special role in media interpreting. Only those interpreters who either have these additional qualifications as “natural talents” or who have taken part in special voice training, as they have to pass other professional speakers, are actually considered as media interpreters.
  • For interpreting situations in front of an audience, "stage interpreters" are increasingly being used, who have also often completed training as moderators or journalists.
  • Another important area is interpreting for the police and court, see interpreters .

History of interpreting

Interpreting probably started soon after the language emerged around 100,000 years ago. However, little research has been done into the history of interpreting. References to interpreters are known from the Egyptian Old Kingdom, later also from ancient Greece and Rome.

A famous figure in the history of interpreting, who repeatedly ignites the debate about the roles and loyalties of interpreters, is the Aztec Marina (La Malinche ), who interpreted for Hernán Cortés and is often portrayed as a traitor to the indigenous people.

In European diplomacy, there have been different lingua franca in which multilateral meetings have been held over the centuries. For example, French was known as the language of international relations until the First World War. However, bilateral meetings were also held with the help of interpreters in the languages ​​of the two parties.

In order to have interpreters available for oriental languages, European governments for a long time exchanged children (so-called “language boys” or enfants de langue ) with other courts who grew up there and learned the respective national language.

The types of interpreting described above only got their current form in the course of the 20th century. Simultaneous interpreting (with the exception of whispered interpreting, which presumably emerged earlier) is the youngest interpreting discipline. Simultaneous interpreters were used on a large scale for the first time at the Nuremberg Trials .

A well-known interpreter of the 20th century was Paul-Otto Schmidt , who worked in the Foreign Office in the Third Reich and headed the Languages ​​& Interpreter Institute Munich (SDI) after the war .

Associations

  • NAATI is Australia's national standards and accreditation body for translators and interpreters. Providing online and on-site services, NAATI aims to be a respected and recognized global leader in the provision of certification, interpreting and translation services. Nine Australian governments jointly own the company.
  • AIIC is the only global association for conference interpreters. Established in 1953, it acts as a conference interpreter advocate and promotes a code of ethics and professional standards that members should adhere to. Its headquarters are in Geneva (Switzerland). Applicants do not have to pass an exam as such, but require a minimum number of working hours and funding.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Interpreting  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: interpreting  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Etymological Dictionary of German, dtv 1997, p. 236
  2. ↑ MARTIN LUTHER Send letter of interpretation. In: literaturportal-bayern.de. Retrieved December 25, 2017 ( facsimile ).
  3. ↑ MARTIN LUTHER Send letter of interpretation. In: lernhelfer.de. Retrieved December 25, 2017 (text).
  4. ↑ NAATI
  5. ^ AIIC