Résumés
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the compilation of the Chinese-English Conference Interpreting Corpus followed by an outline of research findings based on data obtained from the corpus. It is argued that interpreting corpora, including the Chinese-English Conference Interpreting Corpus, are called to play an increasingly important role in the study of linguistic features of interpreted texts, interpreting norms and the cognitive process of interpreting. Research based on the Chinese-English Conference Interpreting Corpus suggests that the use of English passive construction, optional connective ‘that’ and the infinitive particle ‘to’ in interpreted texts is demonstrably more frequent than in the translated English texts of the Chinese government’s work reports and the non-translated English texts of press conferences. In a broader sense, interpreted texts exhibit greater tendency towards normalization and explicitation than written translated texts. This paper also touches on the limitations that have been observed while working with interpreting corpora. These limitations are in a large measure related to the difficulty in transcribing nonverbal aspects of the interpreting activity, including the speaker’s tone and facial expressions, as well as the audience’s facial expressions. These aspects have a clear effect on interpreter’s choice/use of interpreting strategies and methods, so they merit careful consideration in interpreting studies.
Keywords:
- Chinese-English conference interpreting,
- interpreting corpora,
- compilation,
- uses,
- limitations
Résumé
Le présent article offre un aperçu de la compilation du corpus constitué par les interprétations des conférences sino-anglophones (CECIC ; selon l’acronyme anglais), suivi d’un exposé des résultats des recherches basées sur les données de ce corpus. Les auteurs soutiennent que les corpus d’interprétations – y compris le CECIC – sont appelés à jouer un rôle croissant dans l’étude des caractéristiques linguistiques des textes interprétés, des normes en matière d’interprétation et des processus cognitifs entourant l’interprétation. Les recherches basées sur le corpus d’interprétations des conférences sino-anglophones montrent que l’emploi de la voix passive, de la conjonction optionnelle that et de la particule infinitive to propres à l’anglais est significativement plus fréquent dans les textes interprétés que dans les textes traduits à partir de rapports provenant du gouvernement chinois et les textes anglais non traduits des conférences de presse. Généralement, les textes interprétés tendent plus fortement vers une normalisation et une explicitation que les textes traduits par écrit. Le présent article aborde également certaines limites intrinsèques aux corpus d’interprétations. Celles-ci sont en grande partie reliées à la difficulté de transcrire les aspects non verbaux de l’acte interprétatif, y compris le ton et les expressions faciales de l’orateur, ainsi que la réaction de l’auditoire. Ces éléments ont un impact visible sur le choix et l’emploi de stratégies et de méthodes par l’interprète, d’où l’intérêt qu’ils représentent dans le cadre d’études sur l’interprétation.
Mots-clés :
- interprétation de conférences sino-anglophones,
- corpus d’interprétations,
- compilation,
- emplois,
- limites
Parties annexes
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10.7202/004136ar