C-E Consecutive Interpreting Strategies Based On The Effort Models

With the improvement of China’s international status,its cultural soft power plays an increasingly important role in the world arena.Cultural communication therefore exerts an irreplaceable influence on a nation’s global image and has significant cultural impact.Kunqu opera culture,which originated in Suzhou,Jiangsu province in China,is an embodiment of traditional Chinese culture.It represents the highest artistic achievements that traditional Chinese drama has ever accomplished,featuring unique repertoires,elegant and beautiful scripts,delicate tunes and elegant melodies.Moreover,it was listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.This paper reports a simulated C-E consecutive interpreting task for an interview on the Youth Version of Kunqu Opera The Peony Pavilion from the perspective of the Effort Models.The pre-interpreting preparation work,such as getting familiar with the theme,terminologies as well as the speaker’s accent and speech style,plays a crucial role in reducing the cognitive burden on the interpreter throughout this simulated consecutive interpreting process.This paper first reports the interpreter’s pre-task preparation,then outlines possible challenges for interpreting,followed by a discussion of interpreting strategies proposed under the guidance of the Effort Models.To be specific,the interpreter applies the following coping tactics: linear interpreting,conversion,addition,omission,splitting and combination,to reduce the cognitive burden on the interpreter in the phases of listening and analysis,memorizing and target language production so as to achieve a balanced energy distribution in interpreting.It is hoped that the interpreting strategies summarized in this report will enlighten interpreters in coping with similar tasks in the future.