The Liaison Interpreter's Role In Commercial Exhibitions

In the early research on interpreter's role,interpreter is deemed as conduit,machine and cultural mediator.Liaison interpreting is an interpreting form different from conference interpreting.Liaison interpreters enjoy more flexibility and influences communication to a greater extent than conference interpreters.Hence,liaison interpreters are more likely to assume multiple roles in communication.Commercial exhibition comprises of various activities which present different need for interpreting,and liaison interpreting is an important part of interpreting in commercial exhibitions.Because of the ever-changing environment in commercial exhibitions,liaison interpreters in the events do not only assume the role as a language converter,but others to facilitate the understanding of both sides.Based on the author's interpreting practice in the Vienna Road Show held in Guangzhou on March 22^nd,2017,this report analyzes the liaison interpreter's role in commercial exhibitions with case study.The author finds that the interpreter was not only a language converter but also assumed the roles as an adviser,an information gatekeeper and a product specialist.After finishing this task,the author realizes that multiple roles are assumed by the liaison interpreters in the communication in commercial exhibitions,and the interpreters should consciously assume different roles.