An Analysis Of TED Speeches(Social Sciences) Consecutive Interpreting From The Perspective Of Relevance Theory

This report analyzes the consecutive interpretation of three TED speeches related to social sciences from the perspective of Relevance Theory: Why Eyewitnesses Get It Wrong? Connected,but Alone? and Why You Will Fail to Have a Great Career,which explore human mind from different perspectives.In the process of interpreting,the interpreter found three main difficulties:(1)technical terms,(2)rhetorical devices,and(3)redundancy.The present analysis is based on Relevance Theory proposed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson.Originally used in Pragmatics,it was later applied in translation studies by their student Ernst August Gutt.The three important concepts of the theory,i.e.,cognitive context,ostensive-inferential process and optimal relevance are used to address the above-mentioned difficulties.Accordingly,this report proposes three solutions:(1)context enrichment,(2)associative inferences,and(3)deletion or reduction.After finishing the first version of interpreting,the interpreter reviewed the whole interpretation and revised some parts based on the analysis of the original text.By comparing the two translation versions,the interpreter expects to carry on the advantages and overcome shortcomings in future interpreting work.This report is also expected to serve as a reference to translation strategies for interpreters conducting consecutive interpreting of the same type.