Recall and recognition among conference interpreters

Among the tasks usually carried out by conference interpreters, the question was which task demands most attention or is the deepest in terms of the depth of processing hypothesis proposed by Craik and Lockhart (1972). Simultaneous interpretation is a complex form of human information processing, involving the perception, storage, retrieval, transformation and transmission of verbal information. Shadowing involves the imediate vocalization of auditorily presented stimuli in the same language, whereas simultaneous interpretation involves translation of the incoming message. Mic consecutive interpreter listens to a message in L1, makes concurrent notes in L2, and then delivers an oral translation of the original speech by way of his notes. In Experiment I, conference interpreters (both trainee and professional) shadowed, interpreted simultaneously and consecutively, as well as listeneýd to French passages before (a) recalling in English and (b) answering three recognition tests in source language measuring lexical, semantic and syntactic retention. Listening and consecutive interpretation, which yielded significantly higher recall scores than did shadowing, were considered deeper forms of processing than shadowing. Also, simultaneous listening and speaking impaired recall of the material. A second experiment eliminated the translation variable. Subjects listened to, shadowed and interpreted consecutively, English passages, followed by retention ffeasures in the same language. Only consecutive interpretation (labeled as 'consecutive reiteration') yielded scores that were significantly higher than shadowing. Listening and recalling in the same language demands less processing or effort than listening in one language and recalling in another. In a third experiment designed to examine the role played by notes, subjects (a) listened to, (b) interpreted a text consecutively and (c) took notes but had their notes unexpectedly removed and were asked to recall the original without rehearsal. Consecutive interpretation with notes kept during delivery yielded significantly higher retention scores than either other condition. Listening is as good a form of attending to a message as note-taking when notes are an external form of encoding. Notes coupled with review represent a useful strategy for subsequent recall but note-taking alone is of questionable value

Is it what you inherited or what you learnt ? Intergenerational linkage and interpersonal inequality in Senegal

Institutional features of the African setting -- large extended families and imperfect credit and land markets -- matter to the equity and efficiency roles played by intergenerational linkages. Using original survey data on Senegal that include an individualized measure of consumption, this paper studies the role played by land inheritance, other bequests and parental background as influences on an adult's economic welfare and economic activities. Although intergenerational linkages are evident, the analysis finds a seemingly high degree of mobility across generations, associated with the shift from farm to non-farm sectors and the greater economic activity of women. Male-dominated bequests of land and housing bring little gain to mean consumption and play little role in explaining inequality, although they have effects on the sector of activity. Inheritance of non-land assets and the education and occupation of parents (especially the mother) and their choices about children's schooling are more important to adult welfare than property inheritance. Significant gender inequality in consumption is evident, although it is almost entirely explicable in terms of factors such as education and (non-land) inheritance. There are a number of other pronounced gender differences, with intergenerational linkages coming through the mother rather than the father.Population Policies,Gender and Law,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Rural Development Knowledge&Information Systems,Gender and Health

A micro-decomposition analysis of the macroeconomic determinants of human development

This paper shows how differences in aggregate human development outcomes over time and space can be additively decomposed into a pure economic-growth component, a component attributed to differences in the distribution of income, and components attributed to"non-income"factors and differences in the model linking outcomes to income or non-income characteristics. The income effect at the micro level is modeled non-parametrically, so as to flexibly reflect distributional changes. The paper illustrates the decomposition using data for Morocco and Vietnam, and the results offer some surprising insights into the observed aggregate gains in schooling attainments. A user friendly STATA program is available to implement the method in other settings.Primary Education,Education For All,Population Policies,Rural Poverty Reduction,Inequality

Politiques économiques dans les pays en développement

Sylvie Lambert, chargée de recherche à l’INRA Ce séminaire de recherche est organisé par thèmes. Chaque thème est abordé au travers de trois articles qui diffèrent par l’angle d’approche et/ou la méthodologie adoptée. La séance débute par une mise en perspective du sujet et des éléments de méthodologie quand cela est nécessaire. Les articles sont ensuite présentés par les élèves et discutés par l’ensemble du groupe. Nous nous efforçons d’en souligner à la fois l’intérêt et les limites. Les th..

Politiques économiques dans les pays en développement

Sylvie Lambert, chargée de recherche à l’INRA Ce séminaire de recherche est organisé par thèmes. Chaque thème est abordé au travers de trois articles qui diffèrent par l’angle d’approche et/ou la méthodologie adoptée. La séance débute par une mise en perspective du sujet et des éléments de méthodologie quand cela est nécessaire. Les articles sont ensuite présentés par les élèves et discutés par l’ensemble du groupe. Nous nous efforçons d’en souligner à la fois l’intérêt et les limites. Les th..

Templating as a Strategy for Translating Official Documents from Spanish to English

This article examines the case of translation of official documents from Spanish into English in Canada. The article begins by providing some background information about immigration in Canada and in the Ottawa region in particular, and discussing the impact that this is having on translation needs. It then describes the types of official documents that need to be translated (e.g., birth, death, marriage certificates). Next, a type of translation tool known as a Translation Memory is briefly introduced, followed by an explanation of why, contrary to expectations, such a tool is not necessarily suitable for translating official documents. Finally, an alternative strategy that entails the creation and application of templates is presented. This templating approach is being developed and taught in Spanish translation courses at the University of Ottawa in Canada.Cet article se penche sur la traduction de documents officiels de l’espagnol vers l’anglais. À la suite d’un bref aperçu de l’immigration au Canada, et dans la région d’Ottawa-Gatineau en particulier, ainsi que de sa répercussion sur les besoins en traduction de documents juridiques et officiels, cet article examine les genres de documents requis par Immigration Canada, tels les certificats de naissance, mariage et décès. En dépit de la prolifération de logiciels de traduction, le modèle ou grille de traduction est parfois plus apte à subvenir aux besoins de traducteurs dans de tels cas. Cette approche est non seulement développée mais aussi enseignée dans les cours de traduction espagnole à l’université d’Ottawa au Canada

Is it what you inherited or what you learnt intergenerational linkage and interpersonal inequality in senegal

Institutional features of the African setting -- large extended families and imperfect credit and land markets -- matter to the equity and efficiency roles played by intergenerational linkages. Using original survey data on Senegal that include an individualized measure of consumption, this paper studies the role played by land inheritance, other bequests and parental background as influences on an adult's economic welfare and economic activities. Although intergenerational linkages are evident, the analysis finds a seemingly high degree of mobility across generations, associated with the shift from farm to non-farm sectors and the greater economic activity of women. Male-dominated bequests of land and housing bring little gain to mean consumption and play little role in explaining inequality, although they have effects on the sector of activity. Inheritance of non-land assets and the education and occupation of parents (especially the mother) and their choices about children's schooling are more important to adult welfare than property inheritance. Significant gender inequality in consumption is evident, although it is almost entirely explicable in terms of factors such as education and (non-land) inheritance. There are a number of other pronounced gender differences, with intergenerational linkages coming through the mother rather than the father. Document type: Boo