Application Of Explicitation In Chinese-english Consecutive Interpreting Of Impromptu Speeches

An impromptu speech is a talk that a person delivers on the spot without preparation.Interpreting such a speech can be challenging because it often contains loosely connected sentences,vague expressions and words which,in some cases,deviate from the speaker's intention.Explicitation,however,can help rise to the challenges as it proves useful in making explicit the source language's conceptual,textual,and interpersonal meanings.This thesis is a case study on the mock conference of NSD Talk on industrial policy,for which the author provided interpreting services.As the speakers were talking while thinking,their language was highly colloquial and,to some extent,undermined the interpreter's performance.By conducting a case study,the author wishes to explore the application of explicitation in Chinese to English consecutive interpreting of impromptu speeches.Based on previous studies,the thesis starts with definitions of an impromptu speech and explicitation,and then outlines features of an impromptu speech and the challenges it poses to Chinese to English consecutive interpreting.The author points out that using explicitation techniques is not only important,but also necessary.The author therefore carries out a case analysis on the use of explicitation,touching upon both successful cases and problems caused by failure to apply explicitation.The problems are classified into four categories: ambiguity,redundancy,missing interpretation and misinterpretation.Causes of each problem are identified,followed by advice on a case-by-case basis.The thesis concludes with three explicitation strategies:(a)emphasizing key information by means of simplification and supplementation;(b)clarifying the speaker's interpersonal intention;(c)making the most of extralinguistic knowledge.