The development of coherence and quality of performance in conference interpreter training

摘要: Conference interpreters are made not born, as Herbert (1978) and Mackintosh (1999) point out. The increase in the number of interpreting schools worldwide only demonstrates demand for qualified but also highlights significance training ensuring quality service from conference interpreters. purpose training, ultimately, is to make competent interpreters who can deliver performance. Research on has tended focus issues professional circumstances (Buhler, 1986; Kahane, 2000; Kurz, 1993; Moser, 1996). Training also one most explored fields world research (Gile, 2000). Yet limited work been done investigate standards pedagogical purposes 2001). To produce interpretations, practice alone enough. Being reflective prime importance. Trainees' awareness vital them become reflective, yet this issue properly addressed literature. In addition, trainer-centred approach, trainees acquire skills from their trainers, they inherit way trainers describe quality. it often observed that do share a common meta-language discuss quality attributes interpretations. Such confusion inevitably passed trainees. To address these situations, I gathered criteria professional, linguistic devised feedback tool which spells out those attributes explicitly. This adopted raise trainees' help progress interpretations. Talking about interpreting, `making sense' generally held be important judging success given interpretation, both consecutive (CI) simultaneous (SI) (Hatim & Mason, 1997; Kopczynski, 1994; For CI particular, Hatim Mason (2002: 262) state coherence structure of the rendition especially (Peng Hartley, 2005). Therefore, should overlooked by Moreover, development interpretations useful measure progress. Building such coherence, process evolution trainees, systematic guidance facilitate (Peng, 2004). study, we question how observe interpreting. propose Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) (1986) suitably rich discourse framework exploring realised RST widely used for describing hierarchical organisation natural texts terms some 30 functional relations holding between text chunks, thereby characterising whole text. It proven describing spoken (Tappe Schilder, 1998). Its use Marcu (2000) automatic summarisation - introduces notions relevance and salience, principled basis progressively compressing message -provides further inspiration analysis my data. My data consist 66 eight three interpreters, Chinese English speeches. Each speech interpreted transcribed, segmented into units, mapped tree-like description. compare trees using three variables: 1) implicit/explicit marking; 2) (width depth) tree; 3) nature summary yielded Marcu's algorithm RST allows me account occurrence repair/self-correction explore whether disfluency would impede discourse. results from comparison trainee performances reveal differing approaches handling Trainees tend local cohesion while professionals emphasise global Furthermore, observing over time, I witness capacity dealing with complex rhetorical structures more diverse specific connectives. high frequency self-correction definitely affects few repairs guarantee good coherence. noted clear understanding attributes, helps develop capacities giving judgements My evidence suggests contributes improvement own performances. I believe offers very abstract concept worth introducing (or at least an RSTaware analysis) during training. enables capture better give coherent renditions ivtheir interpreting result. thesis exploratory approach interesting findings implications interpreter well as directions communities.