Discussion
Guided tour interpreting has received little attention since it seems easier than on-site interpreting. The context of it is not the international convention, and the content is a daily conversation rather than an academic field. However, guided tour interpreting is not an easy method. Both the linguistic and behavioural aspects are challenging for interpreters. Guided tour interpreting contains several aspects of skills such as interpersonal, communicative and public speaking skills. Moreover, the whole interpreting assignment is conducted while walking and sometimes the environment is not quiet. These factors can influence interpreter’s performance and distract them. The difference between guided tour interpreting and business-liaison interpreting is that the former is that one party asks the question while another offers an explanation and the amount of explanation is more than the question; however, the latter mode is that two parties are negotiating and their amount of delivery are similar.This difference helps interpreters to choose either listening carefully or taking notes.
In order to prepare for this assignment, there were a series of class practices of guided tour interpreting. The first one was a tour of Old Bushmills Distillery. I was the interpreter voluntarily so that I could acquire the feedback from the tutor. I found out I started to interpret too soon in the beginning. I must wait for one more second to make sure the speaker finishes the sentence. Besides, I did not use gestures to point out the painting on the wall and guide the direction for the speaker. On the other hand, this practice contained the history of the factory and the ingredient of Whiskey. Unfortunately, I did not do enough background research, so I could not interpret this ingredient. From this practice, I knew the aspects I have to improve. The second practice was the tour in a plastic surgery clinic. At the beginning of the semester, each of us had to offer a suggested topic for practising with classmates. My suggested topic was the situation of NHS and wrote the script for it. It was a conversation between a Chinese-speaking surgeon and an English-speaking patient. I practised it with my classmates. I used the gestures properly in practice. However, after seeing my video diary, I found out I did not smile when interpreting. I bore this in mind, besides showing the professional performance on recall my aspect, I will express the friendliness when having my assignment.
I did the initial preparation and prior research before the last in-class practice because it would be the similar one as the assignment. It was a tour of a printed circuit board factory, and the English-speaking manager explained the fabrication process. Firstly, I watched the guide in the museum. I focused on the gestures, voice projection, tone and facial expression the guide had. Next, I did the research. Since I had little background knowledge of printed circuit boards, I read the introduction on Wikipedia in Chinese while thinking the English translation. Afterwards, I read the English version of Wikipedia. To acquire more understanding of PCBs, I read the manufacturing process on the website in both United Kingdom’s and Taiwan’s electronic companies. Also, I drew a flowchart and noted down the machines’ names; however, it was difficult for me to memorise them all. I watched the video of PCB factory guided tour on YouTube to understand the specific terms used in this field and also wrote down vocabularies as the glossary. The last in-class practice’s script was adapted from the video I watched. This seemed a good sign because I thought my research was on the right track. Before the assignments, I recorded the script and practised in front of a full-length mirror to ensure I will not keep looking at my notes. Moreover, I watched several relevant videos on the Internet and memorised the glossary. This assignment made me recall my working experience, the forty-minute guided tour interpreting in the factory of Japanese Motor Company, YAMAHA, I noticed that the noises of the machines were annoying and it was crucial to follow the direction on the ground for safety reason. Besides, I used the microphone to deliver my interpretation to the participants who wore earphones. Because of the signal problems, I had to test every time before interpreting. These details were all the reminders for me towards the assignment.
Improvements for Future Assignments
During the exam, I walked into the room with a smile and introduced myself to the Chinese speaker. Suddenly, I found out my voice was not louder enough to let the video recorder record clearly, so I increased my voice immediately. In the beginning, I smiled at them when delivering my interpretation and I showed the happiness and politeness through my voice. When the Chinese speaker was asking the question about humidity machine, I did not know why and could not come up with the term. In the end, I interpreted it as ‘controlling the wet degree and temperature’. The English speaker explained a lot about their professional equipment. When I was interpreting this statement, I could not make sure the certain details. Based on last assignment’s experience, I should not be nervous because the tutor was recording my performance and another instructor was observing my performance and grading. Moreover, I should not make up the details according to my memory, therefore, this time I informed Chinese speaker without hurry that I had to clarify with the English speaker. On the other hand, I used proper gestures to guide the Chinese speaker and point the equipment when delivering my interpretation. The other serious problem was note-taking because, during their conversation, I did not understand several terms such as machine’s name or the description of the process. This made me had difficulties in taking notes. My strategies were I listened carefully to what they said and interpreted with paraphrase. It was the reason why my notes were very few this time. To be honestly, I was extremely nervous, but I did not the express nervousness on my face. The Chinese speaker asked a question about one kind of machine. I did know the translation. As a consequence, I informed the English speaker that I had to clarify. Unfortunately, I did not figure out the translation. I told the English speaker directly that I could not interpret this machine’s name. At the end of the tour, I smiled at them and walked out of the room with confidence. I knew I missed several details; however, lots of preparation gave me confidence. During the whole tour, I kept the eye contact with the two speakers when I interpreted.
There are several improvements that I will make for future assignments. First, I have to use another way to express that I cannot figure out the translation rather telling the speaker directly that I cannot figure out the translation. The second clarification I made was useless. The reason why I told the English speaker that I had to clarify with the Chinese speaker was that I would like to use this pause to come up with the translation of the machine. Unfortunately, this strategy failed. It is acceptable that I correct the errors and immediately. However, “if these slips and errors are not corrected and contribute to the stating of factual errors or the omission of information that was uttered by one of the parties in the dialogue then interference could be deemed to have occurred” (Baraldi and Gavioli, 2012:24). If I encounter this condition next time, I will clarify with one of the speakers and tell him/her that I do not know the translation, but ask the speaker to explain the functions and features of this machine. Then, the other speaker can figure out what the machine I am referring to after knowing the explanation. I think it is a better way to solve the stalemate and embarrassment. As a result, I, as an interpreter, can bridge the communication. Second, the prior research I made was not sufficient. I paid most of my attention on the script that the tutor offered. I made myself to understand the process of the scenario in the script. However, I forgot the technology is changing from time to time. Even though I have watched several videos, they are not the most recent technology. I will search for the past and the most recent information for future assignments. The last one is the expression of nervousness. When I am nervous, I tend to mumble. After the training of previous assignments and practices, this situation is not as severe and obvious as before. However, I noticed this situation appearing in this assignment slightly. The only way to remove this condition is to get used to the video recording. Each week, we have to do one practice with video recording. This offers me to check apparently all my behaviour.
Conclusion
This assignment makes me examine my research and interpreting strategies and interpersonal skills. It belongs to the electronic genre which totally unfamiliar to me. Although I did lots of background research, it was not comprehensive enough. The information I searched was still the primary level. Therefore, I could not deal with several terms in the assignment. However, the preparation gave me confidence that I did not reveal obvious nervousness and could stay calm to maintain professional status. This assignment proved that interpreters could be “surprised” to the content that is different from what they prepared. I will do the research to deeper and board level no matter the field I am familiar with or not.
Baraldi, C & Gavioli L (ed.) 2012, Coordinating Participation in Dialogue Interpreting, John
Benjamins Publishing Company, Philadelphia.
Weiler, B. and Black, R., 2015. The changing face of the tour guide: one-way communicator to choreographer to co-creator of the tourist experience. Tourism Recreation Research, 40(3), pp.364-378.
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