The Role Of The Interpreter From The Perspective Of Interpersonal Relationships

The present study is done against the backdrop of redefining the role of the interpreter characterized by a more integrated approach to interpreting and greater interest to view interpreting as an interpersonal activity.The present study is conducted to fulfill mainly two purposes.One is to narrow the gap between the studies on the translator and interpreter by drawing on findings from translation studies like the Skopos theory,cultural approach and discourse concepts.Another purpose is to illustrate the dynamic role of the interpreter in the interpersonal network of interpreting,and dilute the over-simplified and consequent marginalized image of the interpreter.The fulfillment of these two purposes is based on the central idea that a consecutive interpreter plays a central role in the interpersonal network of interpreting by coordinating each relationship towards cooperation for fulfilling the communicative purpose.The study is mainly qualitative,with descriptive and analytical methods employed.Studies on the interpreter's role from the interpersonal perspective are crucial in redefining the role of the interpreter,and can be a turning point for further development in interpreting studies.This dissertation will first illuminates the necessity of the present research from a historical perspective,that is,to review the major misunderstandings and prejudices against the interpreter as well as the insights provided by some schools of translation and interpreting studies for exploring the role of the interpreter.Then a theoretical framework incorporating Skopos theory,the cultural approach,Gile's model of interpreting as well as the discourse concept of turn-taking will be proposed to look at how the interpreter deals with each interpersonal relation(including the relationships between the interpreter and the speaker,the interpreter and the audience,and the interpreter and him/herself),as well as the entire interpersonal network for the fulfillment of the interpreting purpose. Finally,based on the proposed framework,a case study on the interpreting of Premier Wen Jiabao's Press Conference of the 2008 NPC & CPPCC Sessions will be conducted.And more efforts will be devoted to illustrate the interaction between the speaker and the interpreter,the most important relationship in the interpersonal network of interpreting.The present study as a whole is expected to facilitate the recognition and better understanding of the interpreter's role and to break down the time-honored research orientation of textual perspective and prescriptive approach in the studies of interpreters.