法定语文事务署通讯OFFICIALLANGUAGESAGENCYNEWSLETTER.doc

法定語文事務署通訊 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES AGENCY NEWSLETTER 文訊 WORD POWER 第六期 二零零一年八月 Issue No.6 August 2001 也談接續傳譯 傳譯是兩種語言的轉化，牽涉的卻往往不只是語言因素。即時傳譯也好，接續傳譯也好，要求頃刻之間耳到、心到、口到，不容巧思細量，考驗的已不僅是語言工夫。《文訊》連續三期刊載談論傳譯的文章，希望可以讓讀者對傳譯工作多一點認識，對即時傳譯與接續傳譯的異同多幾分了解。 Consecutive Interpretation in Focus If asked what types of interpretation (or oral translation) services are available in Hong Kong, one would probably come up with the answer ‘simultaneous interpretation’. However, people who have used our Chinese Language Officers’ interpretation service at meetings, hearings, presentation ceremonies or field trips would invariably add ‘consecutive interpretation’. How does a consecutive interpreter deliver his service? Is there any difference between simultaneous interpretation and consecutive interpretation? A consecutive interpreter translates when the speaker pauses. The speaker and the consecutive interpreter take turns to speak, and there is no overlapping of voices. As to simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter is required to translate at the time when the speaker speaks. A simultaneous interpreter needs a purpose-built booth with sophisticated equipment. For details regarding how a simultaneous interpreter works, please refer to the article entitled “The Invisible Link” in Issues No.4 and 5 of Word Power. But in providing services, both types of interpreters are required to possess a high level of linguistic proficiency and a wide range of knowledge. They should also be capable of chopping the utterances into sensible groups or logical components, subordinating the ‘parts’ to the ‘whole’ without losing the speaker’s thread of thought, and producing the best transference and delivery that are marked by the dialectical unity of accuracy and smoothness. And all this has to be done in seconds! Chinese Language Officers and Interpreters (Simultaneous Interpretation) of the Official Languages Agency are responsible for providing consecutive interpretation and simult