On Nonverbal Communication In Interpreting

Communication is both verbal and nonverbal. Nonverbal communication, in a broad sense, includes everything used to communicate other than words. Interpreting is an intercultural communication activity. Nonverbal communication is involved and plays an important role in interpreting, which requires the interpreter's attention. In real cases, quite some interpreters pay little attention to nonverbal communication in interpreting. That will surely lead to an unsuccessful fulfillment of an interpreting task, fail the expectations of the clients and will eventually hinder the development of the profession as well as the research into it.This thesis consists of six chapters. In introduction, the background, purpose and scope of the study is clarified. The study begins with an overview of the research into NC in interpreted situations in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 contributes to elaborate the definition, classifications, functions, characteristics of nonverbal communication, and its importance in intercultural communication. In the last session of Chapter 3, nonverbal communication in interpreting is specified. In Chapter 4, the role of nonverbal communication at both comprehension and reformulation stages are developed respectively. Some coping strategies are presented in Chapter 5, including pre-interpretation preparation, some easily-neglected factors, and different strategies for different NC methods. And then in Conclusion, the role of NC in interpreting and coping strategies accordingly will be summarized to highlight the importance of NC awareness in interpreting.