87842 - A Language - English Language for Interpreters

Learning outcomes

The student will learn how to analyze the fundamental elements of structure, function, and discourse of the English language. He/she will be capable of comprehending, analyzing and producing oral speech (but also written text) belonging to different genres and relevant types of text. He/she will also develop the ability to express him/herself spontaneously in a very fluent and precise way even in complex communicative situations.

Course contents

The course is based on the premise (deriving from the work of Prof. Robin Setton) that survival, then quality in interpreting, depend on three conditions: (1) reducing obstacles to comprehension and production of the language in question, (2) having enough knowledge of current affairs to make sense out of what is heard, and (3) developing communicative and pragmatic knowledge.

The course aims to give students the tools they need in order to work autonomously towards the enhanced comprehension and faster and more fluent speaking that are necessary in the work of the conference interpreter. As a first step towards improving listening comprehension we take a look at a research-based taxonomy of linguistic and other factors identified by students of interpretation as obstacles to clear understanding. Students can then use this list to evaluate their own comprehension and decide on priorities regarding what to study further. Given that one of the main listening obstacles is the cultural and geographical variability of spoken English, the course includes analysis of and exposure to a range of accents of English.

In terms of oral production, the objects of study are the main aspects of the suprasegmental system, which involves those elements of language that facilitate both speed and fluency of production and pragmatic effectiveness. The various phonological features are presented one by one. Each feature is followed by exercises that enable the student to put the language into practice and to evaluate whether they need to devote further time to work on it.

An important principle of the course is the dynamic relation between the interpreter, the context of interpretation, and the study of appropriate language. With this in mind, we examine the genre of conference openings, analysing the communicative structure and identifying recurrent and predictable language. Additionally, on the principle that professional interpreters constitute an example worth following, we study the phrasal verbs that are used by interpreters in the European parliament (as identified by research on the EPIC corpus).

Students will be asked to research certain social, political and economic issues and present the key concepts in class for discussion. To give a few examples, these subjects could include Brexit, migration, climate change, the power and influence of social media, economic and financial crises and the relationship between capitalism and inequality.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

A reading list (the items on which are optional) will be provided on the e-learning platform Moodle during the course.

Teaching methods

Lessons will take place in the language laboratory. There will be exercises and activities involving transcription, listening, oral summarising, matching, group and pair discussion, and group presentations.

Assessment methods

The exam will involve a research task, a listening task (in the laboratory), and an oral exam.

Teaching tools

Audio files, podcasts, videos, films. All the materials, as well as the (optional) reading list and instructions for the exercises and activities, will be posted on Moodle.

Office hours

See the website of Andrew John Cresswell