Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research (May 2009)
Interpreter’s non-rendition behaviour and its effect on interaction: A case study of a multi-party interpreting situation
Abstract
By analysing a recorded naturalistic interpreting situation, this study examines how and why the overall structure of the interaction changes when an interpreter does not provide interpreting. The data on which the study is based is a segment of a business meeting where there are eight participants, including the interpreter. As a theoretical framework, the notions of frame and schema have been utilised. When previous information was not conveyed by the interpreter, a shift from the default interactive frame was identified. However, at the same time, an effort by participants in the interaction to restore and maintain the default frame was also recognised. The study shows that the behaviour of the interpreter in this study has an effect on the behaviour of other participants, as well as on the structure of the interaction.
