Principles of Consecutive Interpreting: Strategies and Techniques

Introduction

Conference interpreting occurs when one person provides an "exact and faithful reproduction" of an original speech by another person — or conveys an accurate reproduction of what one person is saying to another (Jones). When cultural gaps exist, it becomes all the more important that the interpretation of what one person is communicating to another — from different cultures using different languages — is accurate and clearly understood by the person receiving the information. This paper discusses the strategies used in consecutive interpreting.

The basic principles of consecutive interpreting, according to Roderick Jones, are Understanding, Analysis, and Re-Expression, though Jones also devotes considerable attention to the importance of note-taking in conference interpreting. Another scholar, J.F. Rozan, takes the position that there are seven principles in consecutive note-taking. While there are clearly several frameworks in the scholarship, Jones serves as the primary source for this paper.

Understanding

"Understanding" implies not just specific words but ideas, according to Jones. Clearly the interpreter must use key words in the translation, but when the interpreter is fully cognizant of the grammar, syntax, and nuances of the speaker's specific language, that knowledge goes a long way toward providing understanding for the receiver. When the interpreter is not fully aware of a given word the speaker has chosen, the interpreter nonetheless has the responsibility to give context and meaning to the point being made. Essentially, the interpretation can proceed even when certain words are not understood, Jones explains.

The strategy for navigating such a situation is illustrated by Jones through the example of the word "toll" — as in highway tolls in Norway. This is where "Understanding" comes into play in consecutive interpreting. Jones explains that because the interpreter, working consecutively, has heard the whole speech and knows the context in which "toll" is being used, he or she has the right "clues" to deduce the word's meaning (Jones).

In Rozan's "Seven Principles," he uses the heading "Noting the idea and not the word," which parallels Jones' concept of "Understanding." Rozan describes an interpreter who encounters the word chance and, not knowing the exact French equivalent, uses probable instead — a matter of style, but one that demonstrates how a skilled interpreter can find a meaningful substitute for an unfamiliar word.

Jones also emphasizes that within the framework of "Understanding," another key strategy is attentive listening — which is quite different from the passive experience of listening to a radio. The consecutive interpreter "cannot afford" the "luxury" of simply being a good listener; he or she must consciously register and process each and every word.

Analysis

Jones explains that the interpreter must be totally aware of the kind of speech being delivered by the presenter. It may be a narrative speech following a "purely chronological sequence," or it could be descriptive in substance — simply describing a scene, an event, or an economic situation. A speech could also be "polemical," giving the speaker latitude to use any reference, however illogical, to hammer home a point. It could be "rhetorical" — elegant in style but vague in substance — and Jones even notes that a speech can be a form of "stonewalling," in which the speaker conceals true information.

In each of these cases, the strategy for the consecutive interpreter is first to identify which style is being used, in order to adjust and remain flexible in conveying the speaker's points. It will be easier to render an accurate interpretation from a "logical, reasoned speech" with a clear point A and point B than from a speech in which the speaker changes direction midway through. The interpreter's strategy in the latter case is to pay very close attention to transitions, so that listeners can follow the shift.

Conclusion

The important work of a consecutive interpreter has many facets and several important principles to be familiar with and employ. In particular, when a consecutive interpreter is involved in an important diplomatic or business meeting between two people from different cultures who speak different languages, wholly accurate interpreting is essential. Without it, the two parties will not be able to understand the communication between them.