Scribd
Upload
146 views13 pages

Sight Translation Intro

This document discusses oral translation of written source texts. It notes that oral translation is an essential skill, especially in healthcare, community, and legal interpreting. It provides tips for oral translation in different settings like medical, legal, and sight interpreting. The document emphasizes comprehending the full meaning of source texts, producing coherent and fluent translations, and adjusting the register based on the purpose and audience. It also identifies challenges of oral translation and provides an example to practice.

Uploaded by

Michael Jin
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
146 views13 pages

Sight Translation Intro

This document discusses oral translation of written source texts. It notes that oral translation is an essential skill, especially in healthcare, community, and legal interpreting. It provides tips for oral translation in different settings like medical, legal, and sight interpreting. The document emphasizes comprehending the full meaning of source texts, producing coherent and fluent translations, and adjusting the register based on the purpose and audience. It also identifies challenges of oral translation and provides an example to practice.

Uploaded by

Michael Jin
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

What?

Why?
How?

Michael Jin 04/10/2010


 Oral translation of a SL text
 An essential skill (healthcare, community,
court interpreting, etc.)
 Admission, diagnosis,
hospitalisation, operation
preparation, procedure
explanation, prognosis, fiancial
and legal document (billing,
consent forms), patient
education, prescription,
discharge instruction.
 However, ask first whether there
are translated forms/instructions.
 Record clients’ answers verbatim
when necessary.
 Indictments, probation
conditions, sentences (during trial
or not)
 Don’t add or explain anything
 A critical process in all modes of interpreting -
Comprehension
 More efficient in text analysis in other mode of interpreting
or translation
 Useful when speech transcripts are available in SI (sight
interpreting)
 Read for sense – be flexible in language comprehension

 Be coherent and fluent. Read on while you are delivering the


TL output

 Register! ST should sound as if the interpreter were merely


reading a document written in the TL – or should it?
Read for sense

 SL texts are double-edge sword – they’re always there for


your reference – they are always there to hijack your
attention too.

 Be prepared to combat the ‘lure’ and don’t fall into the trap
of figurative, flowery, idiomatic use of language.
Be coherent and fluent

 Be coherent – be aware of the links between sentences, keep


monitoring your delivery – does it sound logical?

 Be fluent – read on before you finish translating the clause or


phrase you read earlier.
Register
ST should sound as if the interpreter were merely reading a
document written in the TL – or should it?

 Adjust the register of your translation by taking in


consideration of the purpose of the material and literacy
capacity of your clients.
Types of ST and coping tactics

• ST proper – no preparation at all


• Prepared ST – limited time is given prior to your ST
• Summary ST – a very condensed ST
• ST in SI – sight interpreting
Oops…

Potential challenge – handwritten text, ungrammatical sentences, poor


organisation, texts with graphs, complex and technical content
Now let’s try something

Ex. 1

Environmental services provide a pest-control service to deal with a


variety of common pests including rats, mice, rabbits, wild cats, moles
and a range of insects including ants, fleas and wasps but not slugs,
spiders, or woodlice.

More practice material in your handout.


Next week

Topic – health care ST

Focus – text formality and delicate non-linguistic issues

You might also like