Abstract:

For interpreters, the consensus has been that they shall be guided by the norms governing their profession in the form of professional ethics or codes of conduct. One set of such norms is that of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC).  Article 8 of the AIIC’s professional ethics states that interpreters should interpret on the basis of ‘principles of independence, impartiality and responsibility’ (AIIC, 2022). Article 10 states that they shall ‘strive to translate the message to be interpreted faithfully and precisely’, and that they shall ‘endeavour to render the message without embellishment, omission, or alteration’ (AIIC, 2022). Against this backdrop and drawing upon major linguistic models for studying politeness (Brown and Levinson, 1987) and impoliteness (Culpeper 1996; Culpeper, Bousfield & Wichmann, 2003; Bousfield 2008), I will discuss the implications for interpreter training and interpreting research. I will then examine what existing interpreting studies have revealed regarding how interpreters interpret politeness and impoliteness and the significance of relevant findings for interpreter trainers and interpreter governing bodies. I will also point to some directions for future interpreting research. Examples of politeness and impoliteness scenarios will be cited for live discussion.

Speaker’s Bio:

Prof. Wang holds a PhD in Pragmatics from Loughborough University, UK, and a Master degree in General Linguistics and Applied Linguistics (with Distinction) plus a Bachelor degree in English for Science and Technology, both from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. She is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. She has been freelancing translation and interpreting for many years in addition to her academic work. She was a distance-learning tutor for the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) course of the Chartered Institute of Linguists for many years. Her professional work also includes teaching scientific/technical translation and Consecutive and Liaison Interpreting as well as research and supervising PhD at UCL's Centre for Translation Studies (formerly housed at Imperial College). Her research interests are empirical studies of translation and interpreting, and applied linguistics in general, and she has published in all the three areas. Her co-edited book Empirical Studies of Translation and Interpreting: The Post-Structuralist Approach by Routledge is listed in the Routledge Advances in Translation and Interpreting Studies series. At the moment, she is co-editing a book for Bloomsbury and a special issue for Benjamins' Translation and Interpreting Studies.

Speaker: Prof. Caiwen Wang

Time & Date: 18:30-20:30, October 17^th, 2022 (Monday)

Zoom Meeting ID: 994 5751 6676 (Passcode: hss)