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.

If possible, the lecturer will take his students to listen to him during an interpreting assignment so that students can better understand how to deal with an interpreting situation. 

As well as topics chosen by the teacher, the Course Council has agreed that the following general areas will be taught in every single interpreting module (expect specialised interpreting): social, environmental, political and historical, economic, energy, technical-scientific areas.

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. Exams are assessed with a detailed matrix to evaluate Content (flow of speech, accuracy, completeness, pragmatic and rhetoric aspects), Target language (grammar, syntax, vocabulary, presentation) and Management and Technique (general management, management of difficulties, management of microphone, appearance and duration).

Marks are assigned as follows: Insufficient (0-17): unreliable content: not very coherent, numerous mistakes, distortions, additions and/or omissions of important parts; unclear target language: grammar/syntax/pronunciation and lexicon mistakes undermining understanding. Sufficient (18-20): content that is not always reliable: some mistakes, omissions, additions and/or contradictions; target language at times not very clear: grammar/syntax/lexicon/pronunciation mistakes affecting understanding at times. Fair (21-24) reliable content in spite of some inaccuracies, generalisations, additions and/or omissions; clear target language in spite of some grammar/syntax/lexicon/pronunciation mistakes/flaws. Good (25-27): reliable content fundamentally coherent and correct; some inaccuracies; clear target language: good and clear grammar, lexicon, syntax and pronunciation. Excellent (28-30): highly reliable content: coherent, accurate and complete; very clear target language: excellent grammar, syntax, lexicon and pronunciation.

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