The Structure Of Nonverbal Information And Its Role In Consecutive Interpreting

Students who wish to become professional interpreters need extensive practice,both in language laboratories and outside school.Since students have very few chances to practice interpretation in their workplaces,most of them pay more attention to the class exercises.Researchers have explored several strategies used in interpretation,and have developed various methods of improving students' linguistic ability.However,little attention has been paid to the impact of nonverbal elements on interpreter performance,and very few nonverbal cues are included in class materials.This thesis discusses the structure of nonverbal information in consecutive interpreting,and examines its impact on interpreters.In October 2018,the author worked as a consecutive interpreter for the Global Professional Tennis Coach Association Training Course,which was for training Chinese tennis coaches who want to improve their teaching skills.The teachers on this course were all active tennis coaches and referees.Their classes included a great deal of nonverbal information,which was presented in a rhythmic and lively atmosphere.The whole course was recorded on video,making it a convenient resource for study,so the interactions between the tennis coaches and me could be easily transcribed and analyzed in terms of head nods,gestures,facial expressions,postures and gaits.Analysis of the author's own interpretation indicated that nonverbal information from speakers is valuable,and can have a positive effect on interpreter performance.Nonverbal messages from speakers can calm interpreters' anxiety,improve the accuracy of their work,and speed up their output,especially in community interpreting.It is therefore recommended that students of interpretation have access to a greater range of visual materials,and that they should be made more aware of the importance of speakers'nonverbal information.