The case study presented in our paper explores interpreter-mediated interaction in business settings,
with a focus on the competences and the role of a non-professional dialogue interpreter.
After defining the main features of dialogue interpreting, we investigate which competences a dialogue
interpreter needs in order to deal with intercultural business negotiations. Considering the
importance of specialist terminology and turn-taking management in business interpreting, the
analysis of four business negotiations mediated by a non-professional interpreter focuses on how a
non-professional interpreter manages some specialist terms as well as sequence organization. The
analysis shows two main results: on the one hand it shows that, despite the difficulties, a non-professional
interpreter may sometimes act as a professional one; on the other hand it underlines that
specialist terminology and turn-taking management should be considered as basic competences in
dialogue interpreting
