Analysis exercises for consecutive interpreting

Summary

In this video, Andy Gillis, a freelance conference interpreter and trainer, shares practical exercises to enhance consecutive interpretation skills. He introduces three key techniques: reintroducing context, which involves filling in background information from headlines to anticipate speech content; chunking, which helps interpreters break long, uninterrupted speeches into manageable sections; and mind mapping, a method to visually structure a speech for better analysis. These exercises combine preparation, analysis, and practical note-taking strategies, making them especially useful for early-stage interpreters looking to improve comprehension, organization, and delivery during consecutive interpretation sessions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Context reintroduction is an important exercise for consecutive preparation. It involves filling in missing background details from a headline to better anticipate the content and context of a speech.
• 😀 By using news headlines as examples, interpreters can practice adding context and background information, enhancing their understanding of the subject matter before interpreting.
• 😀 The exercise of reintroducing context helps interpreters anticipate what issues might arise and understand the perspective of different speakers.
• 😀 The 'chunking' exercise teaches interpreters to break a continuous flow of speech into logical, manageable sections, making it easier to interpret accurately.
• 😀 In the 'chunking' exercise, participants remove paragraph breaks from a text, and others must reintroduce them where they believe the logical pauses or transitions should occur.
• 😀 Comparing notes with others who have done the 'chunking' exercise reveals the subjective nature of speech segmentation, with small variations in where breaks are placed.
• 😀 The 'chunking' exercise helps to demystify the perception of uninterrupted speech, making it easier for interpreters to break it into parts for effective interpretation.
• 😀 Mind mapping is a useful tool for analyzing the structure of a speech before interpreting it. It helps interpreters visualize the major sections and sub-sections of the speech.
• 😀 Mind mapping allows interpreters to see the overall structure of a speech on a single page, which is helpful for understanding how different parts of the speech connect.
• 😀 While mind maps are useful for analysis, they are not always ideal for note-taking during consecutive interpretation, as they may run out of space depending on the length of the speech.

Q & A

Who is Andy Gillis and what roles does he fulfill?

Andy Gillis is a freelance conference interpreter, an interpreter trainer at ISIT in Paris, and the coordinator of the ICKES training and professional development group.

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose is to present exercises for practicing consecutive interpretation, focusing on preparation, analysis, and structuring techniques.

What is the 'Reintroducing Context' exercise?

It is an exercise where interpreters take a news headline and reconstruct the missing background information, including key figures, historical context, and relevance to current events.

Can you give an example used in the 'Reintroducing Context' exercise?

Yes, the example is a 2015 BBC headline: 'Argentina president has Iran cover-up charges dismissed by appeals court.' Participants identify the president (Cristina Kirchner), explain the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, and the legal and political context surrounding the case.

What is the 'Chunking' or 'Chop It Up' exercise?

It involves removing paragraph breaks from a text to simulate continuous speech. A partner then reinserts logical paragraph breaks to practice identifying natural segments in a speech.

Why is the 'Chunking' exercise useful for early-stage interpreters?

It helps interpreters manage continuous speech by learning to identify logical breaks, making consecutive interpretation less overwhelming and improving comprehension and structuring skills.

What is the purpose of mind mapping in consecutive interpretation?

Mind mapping is used to visualize the structure of a speech, helping interpreters understand the overall flow, the main points, and the relationship between different sections.

How is a mind map typically structured?

A mind map has a central circle representing the main topic, branches for each major section of the speech, and offshoots for subsections. It provides a visual overview of the speech.

What is one limitation of using mind maps for consecutive interpretation?

Mind maps on a single page may not accommodate long speeches, as the speaker might provide more content than there is space on the page. They are better suited for analysis rather than direct note-taking during interpretation.

How do these exercises collectively help interpreters?

They enhance an interpreter’s ability to anticipate content, segment continuous speech, and analyze the structure of speeches, which are essential skills for accurate and effective consecutive interpretation.

Who invented the 'Reintroducing Context' exercise?

The exercise was invented by Benoit Kramer in Geneva.