Preface

It is quite usual to hear today’s society referred to as an information society or a communication society. One of the reasons Korea was able to enjoy such astonishing economic growth in the past as well as its current status on the international stage is precisely because it possesses a comparative advantage in information and communication, an important tool in modern society. During this process, Korea’s competent translators and interpreters certainly played a pivotal role. Following META’s special issues on Japan and China, Korea is proud to introduce a special issue on interpretation and translation in Korea. For those who are aware of the vibrancy of the interpretation and translation field in Korea, it is a natural corollary. This vibrancy is demonstrated in two aspects. From a practical aspect, 13 graduate schools and five undergraduate programs award diplomas to hundreds of interpreters and translators each year. These graduates provide the foundation upon which numerous international events can be held in Korea. The second aspect is the academic one. In 2000, Korea became the first Asian country and the fourth in the world after Ottawa, Paris and Geneva to offer a doctorate program in translation studies. Despite some initial misgivings, many with practical interpretation and translation as well as teaching experience have shown great interest in this program which is being further stimulated by exchanges through academic societies and journals. It is no longer rare to see scholars from Korea attending and presenting papers at large-scale international gatherings. In fact, in April 2005, six Korean scholars gave presentations at META 50 in Montreal. This special issue is a synthesis of Korea’s energy, showcasing the diverse dimensions in which interpretation and translation discussions are being held in Korea as well as the speed at which Western theories are being assimilated and adapted. This issue, consisting of 17 articles, is divided into two parts. Part one deals mainly with interpretation such as the interpretation of neologisms, simultaneous interpretation and delayed simultaneous interpretation, interference, interpretation training and metacognitive evaluation in consecutive interpretation. The seven papers address various issues in interpretation within the Korean context. Choi, Jungwha, a veteran conference interpreter and professor of interpretation, has witnessed the interpretation market evolve over the years. She was particularly struck by the emergence of neologisms, which led to her research on the formation of neologisms in Korea, how they are handled during interpretation and the pedagogical implications. Lee, Taehyung who has written numerous articles on EVS in English-Korean simultaneous interpretation, analyzed the difference between real-time and delayed simultaneous interpretation by employing statistical analysis of recorded sound data. This study provided insightful implications on simultaneous training preparation and training. Lim, Hyang-Ok conducted a comprehensive survey on interpretation and translation training graduate schools in Korea with detailed analysis of entrance examinations, curricula and graduation qualifications. This article will be of interest to those who are setting up a similar program. Cho, Junmo and Park, Hae-Kyeong discussed the possibility of including pronunciation training for English (the B language of most students) as part of the comprehensive interpretation curriculum to improve delivery and interpretation quality in English. The paper also includes a comparison of Korean and English phonological structures and processes. Kim, Hye-rim, with her experience as a Korean-Chinese interpreter, conducted an in-depth analysis of interference by cognate signifiants between the two languages. Since Korean uses a number of words with Chinese-character roots, an interpreter might be tempted to use those same words even though they are faux amis. Kim provided several strategies and pedagogical methods to avoid linguistic interference. Pyoun, Hyéwon, a Korean-French conference interpreter and researcher, was struck …