English as a Lingua Franca and Simultaneous Interpreting: Potential Challenges and Strategies Applied

• Thesis title in Czech: Angličtina jako lingua franca a simultánní tlumočení: možné problémy a používané strategie
• Thesis title in English: English as a Lingua Franca and Simultaneous Interpreting: Potential Challenges and Strategies Applied
• Key words: simultánní tlumočení|angličtina jako lingua franca|ELF|tlumočnické strategie|tlumočení pro instituce EU|nerodilí mluvčí angličtiny|Gilův model úsilí
• English key words: simultaneous interpretation|English as a lingua franca|ELF|interpreting strategies|interpreting for EU institutions|non-native speakers of English|Gile's effort model
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2019/2020
• Thesis type: diploma thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of the English Language and ELT Methodology (21-UAJD)
• Supervisor: Mgr. Tamah Sherman, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept.
• Date of registration: 13.02.2020
• Date of assignment: 13.02.2020
• Administrator's approval: not processed yet
• Confirmed by Study dept. on: 01.04.2020
• Date and time of defence: 26.01.2021 10:00
• Date of electronic submission: 06.08.2020
• Date of proceeded defence: 26.01.2021
• Submitted/finalized: committed by student and finalized
• Opponents: doc. Dr. phil. Eva Maria Luef, Mag. phil.
• Advisors: Mgr. Kateřina Ešnerová

Guidelines

Topic:
The theoretical part of the thesis will focus on establishing a working definition of ELF for the purposes of this study. By combining and contrasting findings of interpreting theoreticians and ELF researchers, a number of potential problems which may arise in ELF simultaneous interpreting situations (i.e. at least one of the speakers who is interpreted is not a native speaker of English) will be discussed. Data for the second part will be obtained via semi-structured interviews with professional simultaneous interpreters of Czech and English. These interviews will then be used to verify whether the predicted problems in fact arise, and how are they resolved or prevented. It is also to be expected that respondents may mention issues which they have experienced and which have not been inferred from the theoretical research. Another purpose of this work is to roughly map out the current situation on the Czech interpreting market as regards working from and into English. Lastly, the unique position of interpreters in ELF situations may provide new findings or knowledge to the area of ELF research.
Research questions:
1. Are there any strategies (online and offline) which interpreters use specifically to deal with an ELF interpreting situation?
2. Are ELF interpreting situations viewed or experienced as more demanding (as regards the cognitive load, endurance etc.) than native-native interpreting situations, and also than non-interpreting ELF situations?
3. Is there a difference when it comes to ELF interpreting situations at the domestic market versus the EU institutions (as regards the frequency and amount of ELF jobs, type of ELF speakers, topics etc.)?
4. How can these findings be applied in interpreter training to ensure that future interpreters are prepared for the current and future market?

This thesis will be written in English language.

References

Albl-Mikasa, Michaela. “ELF and translation/interpreting.” Jenkins, Jennifer (ed.) (2017) The Routledge Handbook of English as a Lingua Franca, edited by Jennifer Jenkins, 2017, pp. 369-383.

Albl‐Mikasa, M., “Conference interpreters and English as a lingua franca”. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 24, 2014, pp. 293-311. DOI:10.1111/ijal.12076.

Cogo, Alessia. "Accommodating Difference in ELF Conversations: A Study of Pragmatic Strategies". English as a Lingua Franca: Studies and Findings, edited by Anna Mauranen and Elina Ranta, Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009, pp. 254-273.

Cook, G. “ELF and translation and interpreting: common ground, common interest, common cause”. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca 1. 2, 2012, pp. 241-262.

Hewson, Lance. “Brave New Globalized World? Translation Studies and English as a Lingua Franca.” Revue française de linguistique appliquée, vol. vol. xiv, no. 1, 2009, pp. 109-120.

Jenkins, Jennifer. World Englishes: a resource book for students. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2009. Routledge English language introductions series.

Pöchhacker, Franz. Introducing Interpreting Studies. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2004.

Seidlhofer, Barbara. Understanding English as a Lingua Franca. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Taviano, Stefania. “English as a Lingua Franca and Translation. Implications for Translator and Interpreter Education.” The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 7:2, 2013, pp. 155-167, DOI: 10.1080/13556509.2013.10798849.

Yin, Robert K. Qualitative research from start to finish. New York: Guilford Press, 2011.