Liaison Interpreters’ Visibility Consciousness

This report describes a liaison interpreting task entrusted by the project team of Lancaster China Catalyst Program in which the author worked as a liaison interpreter for a British entrepreneur from a hi-tech start-up specializing in graphene.The discourses between the entrepreneur and four Chinese representatives from different organizations in the business matchmaking meetings are transcribed for the case study.In this report,the features and whole process including pre-task preparation,on-site interpreting and post-task evaluation of the task are reviewed and covered,based on which the author analyzes how visibility consciousness has been leveraged to overcome the three major difficulties in the task and thus promote effective communication.After reflection,analysis and assessment under Cooperative Principle and Politeness Principle,a conclusion is drawn that performance of the roles as gate keeper,co-interlocutor and coordinator driven by interpreters’ visibility consciousness can improve the effectiveness of communication in business matchmaking meetings.This report is expected to enhance understanding of liaison interpreters’ visibility consciousness so as to improve quality of interpreting service in business matchmaking meetings.