| Interpreting is a very demanding kind of inter-lingual communication, the success of which depends largely on the performance of the interpreter. Researchers have looked into various aspects pertaining to the interpreter's performance, such as the qualification, process, quality and techniques of interpreting. However, not much progress has been made in cognition -- the mechanism that underlies the interpreter's performance. This is partly because how the brain works is still a mysterious black box to researchers. Though mainstream interpreting theories at home and abroad have looked into some cognitive problems, there is no independent cognitive interpreting theory so far.This thesis is an attempt to fill the theoretical void by laying out the framework of a new theory -- cognitive approach to interpreting. The theoretical rationale mainly comes from two disciplines: cognitive psychology and interpreting theories. The research achievements of cognitive psychology provide theoretical references concerning cognition, while existing interpreting theories serve as a platform for theoretical construction.The thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the definition and the basis for cognitive approach to interpreting. Chapter 2 is an investigation of cognitive issues covered by mainstream interpreting theories at home and abroad. Chapter 3 is the theoretical construction of cognitive approach to interpreting. Firstly, the nature of interpreting is analyzed from cognitive perspective. Secondly, interpreting cognitive mechanism is divided into cognitive basis, cognitive operation and cognitive regulating -- meta-cognition. Thirdly, analyses are made concerning the composition and the interaction of cognitive basis, cognitive operation and meta-cognition. Fourthly, the application of cognitive approach is discussed. The thesis ends with a conclusion that summarizes the innovation and application of cognitive approach to interpreting. |
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