The Interpreter’s Multiple Roles In Liaison Interpreting—From The Perspective Of Intercultural Communication

In the context of globalization,the international communication is increasingly frequent.With more and more foreigners coming to China for the purposes of entertainment,business,education and livelihood,the highlighted problem of language is much more prominent.Interpreting can be divided into conference interpreting and liaison interpreting in accordance with the interpreting occasions.Conference interpreting is formal and it is commonly used in the international meetings;while liaison interpreting is more flexible and it is widely used in daily lives.But it was not until 1970 s had people began to realize the important role of liaison interpreting in the cross-border communication events.The traditional thinking that liaison interpreter is invisible begins to change.In the light of Bradford J.Hall’s cultural identity theory,this thesis explores the roles which the liaison interpreter plays in the real situations.Through in-depth analysis,the conclusions and implications drew from this thesis are as follows.Liaison interpreters are visible and they are actively involved in the liaison interpreting process,and they are doing more than mere interpreting during the inter-cultural communication process.Though the roles played by liaison interpreter often overlap with each other rather than distinctly separate from one another,the different roles assumed by them are essential for the successful communication.The future liaison interpreting training should emphasis the liaison interpreter’s visibility and their service awareness,enhance liaison interpreter’s language competence and enlarge their knowledge base.