An Empirical Study On Repetition As A Strategy In E-C Simultaneous Interpreting

This paper is an empirical study on the use of repetition as a strategy in English-Chinese simultaneous interpreting. It has reviewed the research efforts made by previous scholars on repetition as a strategy in SI and the related studies on the differences between English and Chinese. Based on the review, the author attempts to apply Vershueren's Adaptation Theory and Gile's Effort Model of Simultaneous Interpreting to study repetition as a strategy through contrastive analysis of the transcripts of a real-time E-C SI task.To reveal how repetition is employed in E-C SI, this paper will deal with four major research questions: 1) Why is repetition a desired strategy in E-C SI? 2) What are their major types and characteristics? 3) What are the benefits or functions of each type of repetition? 4) Do all repetitions contribute to or compromise SI performance in E-C?The study finds out that repetition is a product-oriented strategy adopted by interpreters adapting to the context, the linguistic structure of the SL and TL, and the dynamics in SI. It is also a process-oriented strategy employed by interpreters to cope with the difficulty arising in E-C SI. Thus, it is desired in E-C SI.. For Question 2, an observational study is conducted to identify the major types of repetitions and respective feature of each type. A successful case of English to Chinese simultaneous interpreting done by two interpreters for W company in a CEO-Executive Meeting is selected for analysis. Four types of repetitions are all identified among the output of two interpreters, and are found common in the materials. They are: Semantic Repetition, Grammatical Repetition, Repetition as a Repair, and Repetition as a Make-shift. The formal two types are far more frequently used than the latter in the materials and they contribute to interpreter performance, while the latter two have both merits and demerits relating to interpreter performance. This thesis concludes that repetition is a desired strategy employed by interpreters in E-C SI. Four major types of repetitions can serve various functions in an E-C SI task. Externally, they help interpreters adapt to the communicative and linguistic context, the linguistic structure of the SL and TL, the dynamics in SI. Internally, they facilitate interpreting in a way that they relieve burden on memory and production efforts, by shortening the EVS and making segmentation easier. With this research effort, the author hopes it can cast light on SI training in developing the skill of repetitions, and supplement to the inter-disciplinary study of SI.