A Study Of The Conference Interpreter’s Role From The Perspective Of Turn-taking

As a special discourse process,conference interpreting is of particularity and complexity.This thesis makes an attempt to analyze and study the role which interpreters play during the conference interpreting process from the perspective of turn-taking.By recording,observing and examining the turn-taking as well as the interpreter’s choice of turn-taking strategies in a conference interpreting process,this thesis hopes to offer a relatively novel insight into conference interpreting:conference interpreting is characterized by a complex discourse process and the whole process will not exist without the participation,organization and management of the interpreter in terms of turn exchanges.The interpreter in a conference interpreting process acts as an active player and coordinator.This thesis consists of research on relevant theories of turn-taking,analyses of excerpts from one recorded conference interpreting event,and some statements by the interpreter herself about her choice of turn-taking strategies.Based upon what is mentioned above,this thesis holds the idea that conference interpreting is a complicated event.No conference interpreting can happen in a vacuum,and the idealized conference interpreting model(the interpreter and the speaker exchange turns smoothly)is not applicable to the whole process of the conference interpreting.In a real conference interpreting,the interpreter must face all the existing physical or non-physical conditions,deal with problems popping up during the interpreting process,and select proper turn-taking strategies such as taking a turn,ignoring a turn,stopping a turn and offering a turn under different circumstances so as to guarantee the satisfactory outcome of the interpreted conference.The study indicates:more than a message carrier,the conference interpreter is an active participant and coordinator.