A Tentative Study On Formulaic Language In Chinese-English Simultaneous Interpreting—A Case Study

Formulaic language and its significance have won worldwide recognition and triggered waves of studies in linguistics and language pedagogy. But little research is done on the role of formulaic language in interpreting. This paper, with its argumentation based on Alison Wray’s theories and research findings about formulaic language, uses originally designed experiment and meticulous data analyses to demonstrate the influence of formulaic language on simultaneous interpreting (SI), especially Chinese-English SI per se. Through experiments, recordings, transcription, questionnaires and interviews, this case study shows that formulaic language plays a part in: processing of source information, time and energy allocated for sense analysis, interpreting output, working pressure, delivery, overall interpreting performance, etc. The author aims at calling for more attention to formulaic language in interpreting and interpreter training, thus providing a new approach to promoting interpreting pedagogy and talent cultivation.