Knowledge Complementarity in Simultaneous Interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting is initially based on verbal discourse which requires both linguistic and extralinguistic knowledge. Despite the categorization of two different knowledge types, linguistic and extralinguistic knowledge are two inter-dependable and complemental factors. It is possible for interpreters to overcome the lack of linguistic and/or subject knowledge through this natural complementarity to some extent. However, encountering some unknown words or subjects may hamper the comprehension stage and reduce the interpreting quality, particularly among student interpreters. To investigate the complementarity between linguistic and extralinguistic knowledge in simultaneous interpreting, a single group pretest/posttest research design was used in this study. The participants of the study, sixteen interpreting students, interpreted two different technical speeches, one involving unknown words and the other one delivered on an unfamiliar subject. Following the pre-test, training was offered to all participants on natural knowledge complementarity and the effect of the training was investigated with a post-test. The results of the study indicate that, prior to the training on the complementarity, the participants were capable of complementing the lack of linguistic knowledge with extralinguistic knowledge, yet not vice versa. The training offered helped participants to equally complement their lack of knowledge. The statistical data obtained in this study indicate that practices on complementarity between linguistic and extralinguistic knowledge should be applied in interpreter training along with terminology/word knowledge and subject knowledge practices.

Keywords

interpreting studies, interpreter training, linguistic knowledge, extralinguistic knowledge, simultaneous interpreting, subject knowledge, word knowledge