| Author: | Zha, Jianshe |
| Title: | Role(s) of interpreter in live-streaming E-commerce interpreting |
| Advisors: | Li, Dechao (CBS) |
| Degree: | DALS |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Subject: | Translators Translating and interpreting Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Faculty of Humanities |
| Pages: | x, 225 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Interpreting as a social activity has long been in existence with a long history recorded. As is stated by Pöchhacker (2007) that role of interpreter is pivotal in explaining the performance of interpreter. The role of interpreter is therefore one of the fundamental topics in interpreting studies. Aligning with the advancement of interpreting as a profession, new forms of interpreting come into existence. As a result of the recent development in ICT (information and communication technology), live-streaming e-commerce interpreting (LEI) emerges as one of the latest modes of interpreting practice. By investigating the role of interpreter in LEI with regard to the increasingly influential economic and social impact LEI has, this thesis attempts to ascertain the complexity and dynamism in the notion of role of interpreter in LEI. To this end, the notion of role of LEI interpreter is examined starting with a review of the state of the art of interpreting studies as the necessary prerequisite prior to the formal introduction of LEI as a novel form of interpreter-mediated event defined by the “multi-parameter” typology proposed by Alexieva (1997). Given that LEI is one form of social activity in which participants interact and communicate with each other, social-linguistic approach advocated by Goffman with two key notions participation framework and role framework is the theoretical framework for this thesis. A case study into the transcription of one LEI event is conducted to explore the complexity and dynamism embedded in the 3M LEI interpreter role. Findings reported from the study provide insight on how can the study of role of interpreter be conducted. Chapter 1 is a review of the state of the art of interpreting studies. Interpreting studies as a domain of academic research is investigated by reviewing the key notions of regarding interpreting as product, process and profession respectively. Theories, methodologies and research paradigms with respect to regarding interpreting as product, process and profession have also been scrutinized to situate the role and function of LEI as a new research domain. By focusing on the role of interpreter in LEI as the research topic, research questions pertaining to role of interpreter are proposed with research design attempting to reveal the complexity and dynamism in the notion of role of interpreter in LEI. Chapter 2 aims at defining LEI as a brand new form of interpreter-mediated event by following the notion of “multi-parameter” typology of interpreter-mediated events purported by Alexieva (1997). Five parameters, including mode of delivery and production, participants in interpreter-mediated events, the topic of an interpreter-mediated event, text type and text building strategies, spatial and temporal constraints and the goal of an interpreter-mediated event, have been utilized to justify the distinct features LEI boasts as a type of interpreter-mediated event. Chapter 3 poises to investigate into the theoretical framework from the socio-linguistic perspective proposed by Goffman (1981, 1961) with two key notions participation framework and role theory utilized to lay the theoretical foundation for further research as per how interpreters perform the task in LEI as a situated social activity. The participation framework in LEI is examined in combination with core ideas including ritualization in LEI, embedding in LEI, the production format of utterance in LEI, the reception format of utterance in LEI, and footing in LEI. Role theory in LEI is investigated by incorporating fundamental ideas such as role performance in LEI and role distance in LEI. Findings suggest that LEI as a novel type of interpreter-mediated event is under-investigated with great dynamism to be revealed. Chapter 4 attempts to examine the role(s) for interpreter in LEI by adopting the socio-linguistic perspective posited by Goffman(1981), who argues that a face-to-fact talk can be regarded as an interaction in which participants behave in accordance with their roles as speakers and hearer/recipient/listener respectively. Participation framework, ritualization, embedding and footing from the socio-linguistic perspective are the key notions proposed by Goffman (1979) to ascertain the roles for participants in social interaction. Through the lens of this paradigm, a case study regarding the role of interpreter in the LEI event in which the author of this thesis serves as the interpreter is conducted from both the speaker and hearer/recipient/listener perspectives. Findings suggest that the “multiple-role-performer” proposed by Goffman (1961) demonstrated as the hybrid of “mediator+moderator+manipulator” 3M LEI interpreter role is the most appropriate role for the interpreter in this LEI event considering the complexity and challenges the interpreter encounters. Chapter 5 continues to attest the notion that interpreter(s) in LEI perform the task(s) in accordance with the role(s) conferred. With the notion of “multiple-role-performer” proposed by Goffman (1961) as the most appropriate role for the interpreter in LEI verified and validated, considering that the interpreter undertakes multiple roles instead of single role in the LEI event with respective tasks to be fulfilled, role distance is thus to be formulated as a defense by the individual interpreter to offset the confusion or challenge triggered by multiple roles conferred to the interpreter. With the normative role acting as mediator to bridge the language barrier and facilitate communication among participants in LEI, situated roles such as moderator and manipulator are assumed to create role distance reflected in role-conception and role performance. By investigating into the interpreting of personal pronouns in the event in which the author serves as the interpreter, findings suggest that role distance does exist when the interpreter acts as multiple-role-performer in LEI. Three types of role-perception including commitment, attachment and embracement aligning with role performance as mediator, moderator and manipulator have been identified as being pertinent to the existence of role distance in this LEI event. Chapter 6 is a conclusion of this thesis based on the findings regarding the roles for interpreter in LEI. The implications of LEI as the latest development of interpreting practice are examined in the spectrum of both practice and research. It is suggested that research in role of LEI interpreter in the future can be administered in combination with the product, process and profession perspectives. The potential as well as the limitations of role of LEI interpreter as a topic for both practice and research are further discussed. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7077.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.57 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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