The usefulness of ICTs in interpreting practice

Drawing from recent developments and studies on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in interpreting practice, this paper is aimed at analysing and discussing the usefulness of Computer-Assisted Interpreting (CAI). The currently available technology will be explored in order to analyse the application of ICTs to interpreting practice, with the objective of assessing which technologies may assist interpreters in their real-life work, which forms of interpreting may benefit from these technological advancements, and to which extent interpreting rendition would benefit from the use of these new technologies. The author will also consider the possible future application of ICTs in interpreting and on the way in which this sector may change in the future, in light of the need for this professional field to look to the future of communication and adapt accordingly to the trends of the Third Millennium

English for Special Purposes used by and for Non-native English-speaking Interlocutors: The Interpreter’s Role and Responsibility

This chapter is aimed at exploring and discussing the role and responsibility of the interpreter, both liaison and simultaneous, at encounters where English is the main channel of communication and the interpreter is called to translate English for Special Purposes (ESP) between non-native English interlocutors. Discussion will be based on the analysis of several scenarios taken from the medical, technical and financial world where peer relations between the interlocutors involved as well as knowledge of ESP and/or standard language usage vary and affect communication accordingly. The analysis is aimed at discussing the interpreter’s intervention in the scenarios studied and how s/he can effectively facilitate communication, not only by providing a linguistically accurate translation, but also by understanding the parties involved and preventing disappointment in the clients’ expectations. The paper will also show how the form of interpreting used can largely influence the translation and, thus, comprehension among the parties