Computer-Assisted Interpreting (CAI) Technologies Application In The Three Phases Of Interpreting Practice

Information technology has become an essential part of interpreters’ work nowadays.However,many interpreters are still not aware of the existing computer-assisted interpreting(CAI)technologies.Besides,even some tech-savvy interpreters seem to be at a loss when they have a wide range of options.However,there have been relatively few empirical research on the impact of CAI technologies.In this way,it is of significance to examine the impact of CAI technologies on interpreting tasks and to provide interpreters with necessary instructions on how to apply them.In this paper,the effectiveness of the main CAI technologies and the need for interpreters’ adoption will be discussed.The author aims to explore two main issues through two mock consecutive interpreting practices:(1)What CAI technologies can interpreters apply to improve their work efficiency during the three phases,i.e.,before-interpreting,while-interpreting,and after-interpreting?(2)What impact may each CAI technology exert on interpreters’assignments during the three phases?To meet the two research aims,this report adopts comparative analysis and inductive summary to study and demonstrate the effectiveness of each CAI technology.The results are as follows:(1)before interpreting,in order to circumvent limitations of existing databases and to ensure efficient information retrieval,interpreters should acquire search skills for all-around and targeted preparatory work;(2)during interpreting,in order to transcribe without delay for further reviewing,interpreters should use Automated Speech Recognition(ASR)technology,and information retrieval is impracticable in this phase;(3)after interpreting,interpreters should adopt terminology management technologies to feed back into the following performance.In the future,the effectiveness of CAI technologies can be further explored from the perspective of the technologies’ application in the three phases of interpreting practice.Thus,the development of CAI technologies can meet users’ needs.