Dr Morven Beaton-Thome
Session 1









Introduction of staff and students
Language classification in Conference Interpreting
Definition and Demonstration of Consecutive
Interpreting
Brief historical overview
Situations where consecutive interpreting is used
Phases of Consecutive Interpreting

Listening & Analysis


Memory
Production
Discussion of Course Outline
Assessment and assessment procedures


“A Language:The interpreter's mother tongue (or another language strictly equivalent to a mother tongue), into which s/he interprets from all other working languages, generally in the two modes of interpretation, simultaneous and consecutive”. http://www.aiic.net
12.09.2007]
[ last accessed


“B Language:A language into which the interpreter works from one or more of her/his other languages and which, although not a mother tongue, is a language of which s/he has perfect command. Some interpreters work into B languages in only one of the two modes of interpretation”.
http://www.aiic.net
12.09.2007]
[ last accessed


“C Language: Passive languages are those languages of which the interpreter has complete understanding and from which s/he interprets. These are what interpreters call their C languages, according to AIIC classification”. http://www.aiic.net
12.09.2007]
[ last accessed


“the interpreter sits at the table with the delegates or on the platform next to the speaker and interprets the speech into the required language once the speaker has finished speaking. The interpreter takes notes to give an accurate rendering of the speech which may be delivered in sections, up to approximately 15 minutes” http://www.aiic.net
[ last accessed 12.09.2007]

“The interpreter listens to a speech segment for a few minutes or so, takes notes, and then delivers the whole segment in the target language; then the speaker resumes for a few minutes, the interpreter delivers the next segment, and the process continues until the end of the speech” (Gile 2000:41).


A brief history of CI





Origins of the concept as old as communication between peoples
First formal training programme developed at ETI in
Geneva during WWII
Systems of notetaking as a memory aid developed and introduced to interpreter training programmes
Despite the widespread use of Simultaneous
Interpreting (SI) since 1945, classic CI is widely used in smaller, more intimate meetings in a range of settings (diplomacy, government ministries, international organisations, business meetings)
CI proficiency is tested in all major organisations
(EU,UN) and government ministries as an integral part of interpreter competence.


Techniques of consecutive interpreting can also be used in

Courtroom interpreting



Guided tours
Liaison interpreting situations
(predominantly in business and diplomatic settings)
Community settings (police, medical, schools, religious etc.)


Techniques of Consecutive Interpreting
(CI) may vary according to setting (e.g. more verbatim rendition required in courtroom setting)

However, CI is NOT a literal sentence-bysentence rendition (pseudo-consecutive) but remains replication of ideas and argumentation structure.

Two Phase Model (Gile 1997)

Reception Phase

Reformulation Phase

CI=Consecutive Interpreting, L=listening and analysis, M=short-term memory,N=Notetaking,
C=Coordination
(Gile 1997:167)

CI=Consecutive Interpreting, Rem=recall from memory and notes, Read= Reading of notes,
P=Production
(Gile 1997:168)




Listening & Analysis

Identification of hierarchy and structure
Memory



Extended short-term memory
Strategic use of long-term memory
Note-taking skills
Production



Presentation and Public Speaking Skills
Intonation
Enunciation


Note-taking seminar

Please read in advance:

Section on Consecutive Interpreting in
Jones, Roderick (2002) Conference
Interpreting Explained, Manchester: St.
Jerome, Translation Practices Explained 6.




Gile, Daniel (1997) Basic Concepts and
Models for Interpreter and Translator
Training, Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John
Benjamins.
Kurz, Ingrid and Margaret Bowen (eds),
Special Issue on the History of Interpreting,
Interpreting 4(1).
Jones, Roderick (2002) Conference
Interpreting Explained, Manchester: St.
Jerome, Translation Practices Explained 6.