Liaison Interpreting In International Academic Cooperation Project

In the era of globalization, effective communication among countries and international academic institutions has become vitally important. Meaningful communication, however, may be impaired due to language and cultural barriers. Thus, the interpreter plays an important role in the process of overcoming whatever linguistic and cultural impediments may exist in achieving successful communication.This research project stems from my interactions with the Visiting Distinguished Professor Klaus-Uwe Panther, who has been invited by the School of Foreign Languages and Culture of Nanjing Normal University in 2012. The author acts as a liaison interpreter in this project and as an assistant to Professor Panther (and his wife). Specifically, the project focuses on the challenges that the interpreter meets in helping the professor and his wife in every-day transactions and, especially, with administrative and bureaucratic matters. Of particular relevance are terminology construction, professional knowledge accumulation and difficulties in cross-cultural communication. Focusing on these three aspects, the author has collected and analyzed authentic interactions and dialogues with Professor Panther and his wife, pointing out where miscommunications occur and suggesting possible solutions. The aim of the study is to provide some guidance and assistance for interpreters working in international academic interpretation projects.