A Taxonomic Analysis Proposal for Research in Diplomatic Interpreting

Abstract

This paper focuses on Diplomatic Interpreting (DI), a speciality often included either in the conference or dialogue interpreting branch, depending on geographic and modal variables. Historically, diplomatic interpreters resorted to bilateral interpreting or mediation, but in the modern day, they oscillate between short and full consecutive, and on occasion simultaneous (presidential press conferences). This diffuse affiliation and the relatively small job market niche – hence its absence from degree syllabi – might be two of the motives why DI has not captured more attention from scholars. One interesting avenue for researchers might be the identification and classification of those aspects DI has in common with other types of interpreting, and what makes it different. In my discussion, I recapitulate DI specificities, encompassing requirements, expectations and devices, among which optimisation (as a strategy to overcome barriers and ensure full communication) is pivotal. As an illustration, I analyse an example of optimisation in the case of Romanian PM Viorica Dăncilă’s political blunder on her first visit to Montenegro. Finally, I advocate the recognition of the specificity of DI and I call for focussed research in this area.

Developing and Using an Ad Hoc Corpus to Teach Specialized Interpreting: A Case Study of German Embassy Speeches

“…The situated practice of diplomatic interpreting (DI) requires explicit recognition of the setting(s) in which interpreters work as well as recognition of the types of genres, speeches, and texts with which they work. Gheorghiu (2020) provides a taxonomy for research in DI and attempts to identify what aspects of DI distinguish this type of interpreting from others. In Gheorghiu's proposal, broad concepts, such as responsibility, power, roles, ethics, and invisibility are particularly salient to understand DI.…”

Az egyházi tolmácsolás sajátosságai magyarról olaszra és angolra szinkrontolmácsolt beszédben

“…Ez is magyarázat arra, hogy mióta a tolmácsolástudományra önálló tudományágként tekinthetünk, a tudományterületen belül újabb és újabb részterületekre irányul a figyelem. Ilyen részterületek például a tolmácsolás speciális fajtái, amelyek csoportosítására számos tipológiát találunk a szakirodalomban, és a kutatások folyamatosak az egyes fajták sajátosságainak mind átfogóbb leírása érdekében (Setton 1999, Pöchhacker és Shlesinger 2007, Pöchhacker 2016, Jones 2002, G. Láng 2002, Szabari 2002, Horváth 2013, Seresi 2016b, Gheorghiu 2020.…”