The Multiple Roles Of The Interpreter In Liaison Interpreting

Liaison interpreting is the most widely applied modes of interpreting. Compared with other forms of interpreting, it is more involved with interpersonal communications, cross-cultural exchanges, etc. Consequently, more complex roles have to be assumed by a liaison interpreter. The author, following the results of the studies home and abroad regarding the roles of the interpreter, conducted direct analysis on this regard, through means of combing theories with practices.The thesis is based on a series of liaison interpreting activities took place during a group of experts from Sesa Sterlite visiting the Guixi Smelter of JCC in July, 2015. The author, who had worked as a liaison interpreter in this task, first introduced the background of this visit, the involved specialties, and preparation works that had been done before the task.Through research and analysis on the relevant cases in this task, the author put forward four roles a liaison interpreter needs to perform, including information transmitter, cultural mediator, skopos mediator, and errands runner. Emphasis was laid on the role of a skopos mediator, in combination with German Functionalism theories, and a series of cases in the task.Finally, the author discussed several important factors which shall be considered while performing the role of a skopos mediator, including communicative goals, institutional influences, and other factors, based on the features of this task and studies conducted by foreign scholars. Taking fully into account these factors was a crucial premise for properly assuming this role.The author hopes the multiple roles of a liaison interpreter can be proposed in an objective and direct manner, providing guidance to the practical interpreting activities. Meanwhile, the author also hopes this report can offer references to relevant studies on liaison interpreting.