Impacts Of Chinese Topic-Comment Structures On C-E Simultaneous Interpretation And Coping Strategies

Based on Daniel Gile’s Effort Model, the author attempts to discuss impacts of Chinese topic-comment structures on interpreters’performance and coping strategies in Chinese-English simultaneous interpretation (C-E SI), so as to inspire interpretation teaching and practice.In the study, eight second-year students from the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation of BFSU were invited to interpret President Xi Jinping’s address at the Parliament of Australia. The analysis focuses on three aspects:Do Chinese topic-comment structures affect subjects’perfoimance? How does each type of Chinese topic-comment structure affect the quality of target language output? What are the coping strategies adopted during the process?Based on the quantitative analysis, the author has found that the quality of target language output of a topic-comment sentence is likely to be compromised. Moreover, subjects adopt coping strategies like segmentation, waiting, anticipation, reformulation, omission and simplification during the process. The more strategies one adopts, the higher quality of target language output is likely to be.Based on the qualitative analysis, the author has found that, when interpreting a topic, subjects tend to formulate target language output according to the principle of syntactic linearity. They first identify the structural marker in the topic, then interpret the marker with its equivalence in English. Usually a Chinese topic can be reformulated into an English subject, and helps the interpreter to anticipate the following comment. When interpreting a comment, subjects tend to adopt omission and simplification strategies. The abilities to use anticipation and waiting strategies are yet to be improved.Therefore, the use of different strategies are common and necessary in C-E SI. However, the interpreter should consider what the interpretation circumstances require, make a reasonable assessment of his/her capabilities, balance the pros and cons, and make a fast and wise decision.