Comprehension Barriers Caused By Lack Of Extra-linguistic Knowledge In Escort Interpretation And Their Coping Tactics

The 21st century is a new era featured by a growing trend towards economic integration and trade liberalization. Undoubtedly, since the reform and opening-up, China has been playing a vital role on the world stage unprecedentedly, which boosts an even greater demand for high-quality interpreters. It is extinct that not everyone who is bilingual can be a competent interpreter. Apart from linguistic knowledge which is the essential requirement, extra-linguistic knowledge is also indispensable, or comprehension barriers would stand in the way of successful interpretation during the interpreting process.This report intends to illustrate the comprehension barriers caused by lack of extra-linguistic knowledge in an interpretation project and puts forward some practical solutions. Findings can be summarized as follows:firstly, sufficient extra-linguistic knowledge can pave the way for successful interpretation; secondly, once comprehension barriers occur, interpreters should take initiatives and mobilize themselves to solve problems with a series of tactics.This report consists of five chapters. Chapter One is the description of the interpretation project including the background and preparation work of the project. Terminologies on music and a diagram are also included in this chapter. Chapter Two introduces escort interpretation and extra-linguistic knowledge respectively, including the definition, features of escort interpretation and the definition, classification of extra-linguistic knowledge. Chapter Three is the main part in which comprehension barriers are divided into three categories, namely knowledge barriers, cultural barriers and situational barriers. Besides, several examples are offered to analyze the manifestation of different comprehension barriers in the project. To solve the comprehension barriers discussed in Chapter Three, corresponding tactics are proposed in Chapter Four as follows:imitating the pronunciation, asking, pause, restructuring the sentences in a logic way, communicating with the speaker in advance and strengthening psychological quality. Chapter Five is the assessment of the interpretation project. Feedbacks from the employer and the client, self-assessment and suggestions for interpreters are discussed in this chapter.The author hopes that through the systematic analysis of this interpretation project on the basis of extra-linguistic knowledge, this report may expand the scope of interpretation studies and give the would-be interpreters more inspirations and suggestions.