In-House Interpretation Accreditation Test: Communicative Approach And Practical Considerations

The author of this thesis begins with the discussion on the status-quo of China's interpreting testing systems in comparison with NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters), the national accreditation test of Australia, focusing its attention on in-house interpretation accreditation test that provides market access for would-be interpreters. The theory of communicative language testing that Lyle F Bachman advocates has great influence on language testing around the world, which should serve as the theoretical framework for interpreting testing, since interpreting is by nature a complex act of communication. In an effort to relate Bachman's principle of language testing to the content and format of interpreting testing, three renowned interpreting testing systems are involved, namely, China Aptitude Test for Translators and Interpreters (CATTI)-Consecutive Level II, Shanghai-based Business Interpretation Accreditation Test (BIAT) and Shanghai-based Advanced English Interpretation Test(AEIT). On this established theoretical ground, comparative study is also made in detail among the existing in-house interpreting testing systems, and solutions are proposed where the existing testing systems have not yet done enough, which will hopefully be of some value to the perfection of existing interpreting testing systems. In addition, the author addresses evaluation in the in-house interpretation accreditation test in China in terms of evaluation theory,communicative approach to evaluation and the status quo in existing systems. An in-house interpretation accreditation test with improved test format and evaluation, assisted with its related training is expected to help bring up more qualified interpreters to meet market demand at this broad–based level.