module specification

The Research Project involves practical performance, theoretical reflection and and the postgraduate element of research. It offers students the opportunity to apply the acquired practical skills, theoretical understanding and knowledge of the profession in a field of specialisation and in relation to a chosen interpreting mode. This module includes two options: the research project based on an interpreting assignment and the dissertation.

The aims of the module are:
 

1. to introduce students to research methodologies and strategies specific to interpreting;
2. to undertake a detailed investigation on a topic related to the theory and/or practice and/or business of interpreting;
3. to develop the skills necessary to plan, research and execute a research project/dissertation based on observation and critical evaluation of interpreting performance;

And to enable students to:

4. specify a research proposal in terms of: interpreting brief; mode; subject field and material;
5. investigate the literature and theories on interpreting performance and standards and develop from this a methodology and criteria for observation and evaluation;
6. identify and produce appropriate material for observation and conduct a critical evaluation of interpreting performance according to the criteria specified in their methodology (Research project option only);
7. critically reflect on the relevance of the findings within the wider context of the subject field.

In the first four weeks students will be introduced to research methodology and research strategies.
Students will need to decide which option they are selecting for this module: research project based on interpreting assignment or traditional dissertation.

For the research project option, students will, with the assistance of the Module Convenor, present a proposal specifying their chosen interpreting mode (Public Service or Conference), subject field, the material to be interpreted and their identified interpreting brief. Students will then be allocated a supervisor once their proposal is approved. They will be responsible for contacting their supervisor and should agree a working timetable and consultation hours with them. Students will then be asked to produce a 9,000 – 10,000 word project which will also include a review of literature on the chosen interpreting mode, self-assessment criteria and interpreting briefs.

The original-research option (15,000-word dissertation) of the MA Research Module is designed to provide an opportunity for students to undertake an academic research project related to the theory and/or practice and/or business of interpreting. It may take the form of an original, independent empirical study, including evidence that the student understood the relevance of the underlying theoretical debate, or it may focus on a more theoretical-oriented discussion of interpreting models and/or professional issues. It is generally necessary to demonstrate an analytical and independent approach to the debate and a willingness and ability to arrive at substantiated conclusions, paying due regard to the relevance of the available empirical evidence

Before the first consultation, students should hand in an outline of organisation and contents as well as their review of literature (which will critically review the chosen interpreting mode, self-assessment criteria and interpreting briefs for the research project). Before the second consultation, students should hand in a revised version of their outline and the review of literature as well as a list of proposals and ideas contributing to the development of the paper (For the research project: their recorded interpreting performance, the critical commentaries on their performance in relation to booth etiquette, presentation and voice quality and the discussion of the problems encountered during the interpreting act, the solutions applied and the procedures used to solve them).

The project must be written in English and will contain a bibliography and an appendix which includes all material relevant to the research. A video recording of the interpreting performance should also be submitted with the project (research project only).

The module includes guidance on research methodologies as explained in section 13. These sessions are generic with seminars, discussions and debates.

This module requires a significant amount of independent study, under the guidance of the Supervisor.

Supervisions are organised on a one to one basis.

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

LO1. specify a research proposal;

LO2. plan an appropriate research programme;

LO3. undertake the collection of data relevant to their research question;

LO4. locate their research in the context of theoretical literature on interpreting and previous research in their area;

LO5. reflect on the interface between theory and practice;

LO6.  place issues of practice in a wider theoretical perspective.

See Syllabus

Interpreting

Bartlomiejczyk, Magdalena (2006) Strategies of Simultaneous Interpreting and Directionality Interpreting Vol 8 (2) pp. 149-174

Berk-Seligson, Susan (2002) The Bilingual Courtroom: Court Interpreters in the Judicial Process Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Carr, Silvana E. et al. (eds) (1997) The Critical Link: Interpreters in the Community: Papers from the First International Conference on Interpreting in Legal, Health, and Social Service Settings Canada, June 1995 Amsterdam: John Benjamins

Chernov, Ghelly V. (2004) Inference and Anticipation in Simultaneous Interpreting: a Probability-Prediction Model Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins

Chesterman, Andrew & Wagner, Emma (2002) Can Theory Help Translators? Manchester: St Jerome

Colin, Joan & Morris, Ruth (1996) Interpreters and the Legal Process Winchester: Waterside (also available as E-book)

Collado Ais, Angela et. al. (eds) (2007) La Evaluacion de la Calidad en Interpretacion Simultanea: Parametros de Incidencia Granada: Editorial Comares

Collados Ais, Angela et. al. (eds) (2003) La Evaluacion de la Calidad en interpretacion: Decencia y Profesion Granada: Comares

Corsellis, Ann (2008) Public Service Interpreting: The First Steps Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Diriker, Ebru (2004) De-/Re-Contextualizing Conference Interpreting: Interpreters in the Ivory Tower Amsterdam: John Benjamins

Gillies, Andrew (2004) Conference Interpreting - A New Students' Companion: Tertium Cracow

Gillies, Andrew (2013) Conference Interpreting: A Student’s Practice Book: Routledge - London

Gerver, David & Sinaiko, Wallace (eds) (1978) Language, Interpretation and Communication New York: Plenum Press

Gile, Daniel et al. (eds) (1992) Getting Started in Interpreting Research: Methodological Reflections, Personal Accounts and Advice for Beginners Amsterdam: John Benjamins

--- (1995) Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training Amsterdam: John Benjamins (revised 2009 edition available as E-Book)

Hale, Sandra & Napier, Jemina (2013) Research Methods in Interpreting. A Practical Resource. London: Bloomsbury

Hale, Sandra Beatriz (2007) Community Interpreting Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan – available as E-book

Jones, Roderick (2002) Conference Interpreting Explained (second edition) Manchester: St Jerome

Kalina, Sylvia (1998) Strategische Prozesse beim Dolmetschen. Tübingen: Gunter Narr

Kelly, Nataly (2008) Telephone Interpreting Victoria (Canada): Trafford

Lambert, Sylvie & Moser-Mercer, Barbara (eds) (1994) Bridging the Gap: Empirical Research in Simultaneous Interpretation Amsterdam: John Benjamins

Maryns, Katrijn (2006) The Asylum Speaker: Language in the Belgian Asylum Procedure Manchester: St. Jerome

Mason, Ian (ed) (2001) Triadic Exchanges: Studies in Dialogue Interpreting Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing

Mona, Baker (1997 or more recent, extended 2010 edition, which includes an interesting chapter on ethics) In Other Words London: Routledge – older edition available as E-book

Newmark, Peter (1988) A Textbook of Translation New York/London: Prentice Hall

Mouzourakis, Panayotis (2006) Remote Interpreting: A Technical Perspective on Recent Experiments” in Interpreting Vol. 8, No 1, 45-66

Nicodemus, Brenda and Swabey, Laurie (eds) (2011) Advances in Interpreting Research. Inquiry in Action. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins

Palumbo, Giuseppe (2009) Key Terms in Translation Studies London: Continuum International Publishing

Phelan, Mary (2001) The Interpreter’s Resource Clevedon: Multilingual Matters – available as E-book

Pöchhacker, Franz (2004) Introducing Interpreting Studies London: Routledge – available as E-book

---- & Shlesinger, Miriam (eds) (2002) The Interpreting Studies Reader London: Routledge

Roberts, Roda P. et. al. (eds) (2000) The Critical Link 2: Interpreters in the Community: Selected Papers from the Second International Conference on Interpreting in Legal, Health, and Social Service Settings Vancouver, Canada May 1998 Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins

Schäffner, Christina (ed.) (2004) Translation Research and Interpreting Research – Traditions, Gaps and Synergies Clevedon: Multilingual Matters – available as E-book

Seleskovitch, Danica (1994) Interpreting for International Conferences Washington D.C.: Pen and Booth

Setton, Robin (1999) Simultaneous Interpretation: A Cognitive-Pragmatic Analysis Amsterdam: John Benjamins

Shuttleworth, Mark & Cowie, Moira (1997) Dictionary of Translation Studies Manchester: St Jerome

Snell-Hornby, Mary et al (eds) (1995) Translation as Intercultural Communication Amsterdam: John Benjamins

Tayor-Bouladon, Valerie (2007) Conference Interpreting – Principles and Practice Adelaide: Crawford House Adelaide.

Wadensjö, Cecilia et al (eds) (2007) The Critical Link 4: Professionalisation of Interpreting in the Community: Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference on Interpreting in Legal, Health and Social Service Settings Amsterdam: John Benjamins – available as an E-book

Williams, Jenny & Chesterman, Andrew (2002) The Map, A Beginner’s Guide to Doing Research in Translation Studies Manchester: St Jerome