70179 - Conference Interpreting from Italian into English

Learning outcomes

Students know and are able to use basic conference interpreting techniques (consecutive and simultaneous interpreting) from Italian into English in a series of professional scenarios.

Course contents

Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting requires several cognitive, linguistic, communicative and interactional activities be performed at the same time: listening, comprehension, processing, memorisation (and for consecutive interpreting note-taking to) of a speech delivered in the source language (SL) to be rendered in the target language (TL).

The course aims at further developing and improving basic skills acquired during the first year with special attention given to the communicative aspects of speeches given by students (register, style, prosody, etc.) through interpreting in class speeches taken from real life events and practice during multilingual conferences or meetings organised by the Faculty both in-house and outside. Speeches used during lessons will deal with topical issues such as migration flows, the economic and financial crisis, human rights, the European Union, Brexit, etc. Attention will also be paid to how to prepare to interpret specialised subjects.

During the academic year, there will be virtual classes (interpreting practice using videoconferencing) with other institutions.

During the academic year, there will be some focus on interpreters' professional approach meaning booth etiquette, punctuality, relationships with clients and users.

Readings/Bibliography

Bersani Berselli, Mack, Gabriele e Zorzi, Daniela (a cura di) (2004), Linguistica e interpretazione, CLUEB, Biblioteca della SSLMIT, Forlì.

Pöchhacker, Franz (2003) Introducing Interpreting Studies, London/New York, Routledge.

Interpretazione simultanea e consecutiva – Problemi teorici e metodologie didattiche (1999), a cura di Falbo Caterina, Russo Maria Chiara e Straniero Sergio Francesco, Milano, Hoepli.

Straniero Sergio, F. (2007). Talkshow interpreting: la mediazione linguistica nella conversazione spettacolo. Trieste: Edizioni Università di Trieste.

Teaching methods

Practice in the classroom and in the booths using audio and video files of real speeches on topical subjects such as migration flows, the economic and financial crisis, human rights, the European Union, etc. to further develop and improve basic skills acquired during the first year with special attention to communicative aspects of speeches given by students (register, style, prosody, etc.). By the end of the academic years, students should be able to interpret professionally so that any user can actually understand their interpretation. Self-assessing skills by students will be emphasised and improved during the year.

Assessment methods

Continuous assessment will be carried out throughout the academic year to measure progress in learning simultaneous and consecutive skills. The exam at the end of the year will be the interpretation of a real speech. The first part will be in consecutive (around 4 minutes) whereas the second part will be in simultaneous (around 8-10 minutes). Both parts will be from Italian into English. Speeches will be on topical issues.

Teaching tools

Paper documentation, audio and video files as well as every material used in class published on Moodle, the e-learning platform, together with any other material that can be used to practice and study in further details.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Cortucci