A Report On The Interpreting For International Visiting Delegation

It has been a hot topic for decades in the interpreting circles to define the role ofinterpreters. Thanks to it, interpreters have been commonly regarded as, during aninterpreting practice, should perform always more than merely translating, which is agreat leap in interpreting theories. Interpreters nowadays, no matter what kind they are,are generally metaphorized as helper, conduit and cultural mediator. There is, however,not yet much in-depth discussion particularly centered on the role of liaisoninterpreters. Furthermore, the author found that such descriptions and metaphors arejust simplification and generalization of interpreters’ role, not effective enough todirectly instruct interpreting practices.German Functional Translation Theory only started to thrive since the1980s.German theorists at that time transcended the researches on the formal equivalencebetween original and target texts, and redirected their interest to target texts instead oforiginal ones. Therefore, the purpose of target text and the role of translators andinterpreters have been highlighted.Different from conference interpreting and simultaneous interpreting, liaisoninterpreting is applied into more diverse occasions. Usually engaged in closelyface-to-face communication liaison interpreters are faced with more unpredictablypotential problems. Naturally they ought to take on more roles and claim moreresponsibilities in communication interactions. Most importantly, either simultaneousinterpreters or consecutive interpreters maintain absolutely invisible, converting theoriginal text to targeted one. They translate intactly, retaining not only the informationbut the packaging as well. Whoever they represent on site, they would assume thegrammar person of the speaker. So the identities of them have seemed never to be anissue. The identity of liaison interpreters, however, could be more difficult than theabove two kinds of interpreters. Sometimes the identity of a liaison interpreter is definitely defined by whoever they stand for. The report aims to explore tentativelysuch identity, or root role, of liaison interpreters under the German FunctionalTranslation Theory.Trough describing and analyzing the liaison interpreting practice for the visitingdelegation from University of Bedfordshire, the report is expected to shed some lighton functional appropriateness in interpreting practices and provides new ideas as atrigger for more studies on liaison interpreters’ role and how to maintain it, whichwould ensure professional interpreting and a satisfactory outcome duringcommunicative interactions.