Using interaction as a fundamental springboard, Addressing Methodological Challenges in Interpreting Studies Research showcases the major breakthrough in interpreting studies made by investigating community interpreting and the inherent high degree of participant interaction. The book adds a ‘reflexive’ twist, and espouses the notion of the analyst as not separate from the context under study. After looking at dialogue interpreters, cast away from the carpeted walls of sound-proof booths and deprived of the spotlighted lectern-podium position at high level fora, it has become clear that the interpreter’s invisibility, not to mention their neutrality, is uppermost in the minds of both users and providers in terms of expectations. Among all the participants in any ‘mediated’ communicative situation, it is the interpreter who is exceedingly visible and potentially most influential in shaping and coordinating the ongoing exchanges. The book proposes that a similar view be applied to researchers engaged in interpreting research, especially in empirical investigations. Different forms of ‘interaction’ between researchers and the data in their studies are inevitable. This applies to every stage of their work, ranging from all the pre-analysis activities to the analysis itself, and the post-analysis stage, in which results are disseminated in the research community and, possibly, the target population. This volume will stand to benefit all those who work with researching language issues, not only because of the various approaches covered in the volume, but also because of the ways in which they are reframed as a result of shifting contextual constraints.

Introduction, Daniel Gile et al; selecting a topic for PhD research in interpreting, Daniel Gile; critical reading in (interpretation) research, Daniel Gile; reporting on scientific texts, Yves Gambier; writing a dissertation in translation and interpreting - problems, concerns and suggestions, Heidrum Gerzymisch-Arbogast; MA theses in Prague - a supervisor's account, Ivana Cenkova; interpretation research at the SSLMIT of Trieste -past, present and future, Alessandra Riccardi et al; small projects in interpretation research, Ingrid Kurz; doctoral work on interpretation - a supervisee's prespective, Peter Mead; beginners' problems in interpreting research - a personal account of the development of a PhD project, Friedel Dubslaff; a manipulation of data - reflections on data descriptions based on a product-oriented PhD on interpreting, Helle V. Dam; approaching interpreting through discourse analysis, Cecilia Wadensjo; working within a theoretical framework, Franz Pochhacker; reflective summary of a dissertation on simultaneous interpreting, Anne Schjoldager; conclusion - issues and prospects, Daniel Gile.

As an interdisciplinary area of research, translation studies attracts students and scholars with a wide range of backgrounds, who then need to face the challenge of accounting for a complex object of enquiry that does not adapt itself well to traditional methods in other fields of investigation. This book addresses the needs of such scholars – whether they are students doing research at postgraduate level or more experienced researchers who want to familiarize themselves with methods outside their current field of expertise. The book promotes a discerning and critical approach to scholarly investigation by providing the reader not only with the know-how but also with insights into how new questions can be fruitfully explored through the coherent integration of different methods of research. Understanding core principles of reliability, validity and ethics is essential for any researcher no matter what methodology they adopt, and a whole chapter is therefore devoted to these issues. Research Methodologies in Translation Studies is divided into four different chapters, according to whether the research focuses on the translation product, the process of translation, the participants involved or the context in which translation takes place. An introductory chapter discusses issues of reliability, credibility, validity and ethics. The impact of our research depends not only on its quality but also on successful dissemination, and the final chapter therefore deals with what is also generally the final stage of the research process: producing a research report.

With the growing emphasis on scholarship in interpreting, this collection tackles issues critical to the inquiry process — from theoretical orientations in Interpreting Studies to practical considerations for conducting a research study. As a landmark volume, it charts new territory by addressing a range of topics germane to spoken and signed language interpreting research. Both provocative and pragmatic, this volume captures the thinking of an international slate of interpreting scholars including Daniel Gile, Franz Pöchhacker, Debra Russell, Barbara Moser-Mercer, Melanie Metzger, Cynthia Roy, Minhua Liu, Jemina Napier, Lorraine Leeson, Jens Hessmann, Graham Turner, Eeva Salmi, Svenja Wurm, Rico Peterson, Robert Adam, Christopher Stone, Laurie Swabey and Brenda Nicodemus. Experienced academics will find ideas to stimulate their passion and commitment for research, while students will gain valuable insights within its pages. This new volume is essential reading for anyone involved in interpreting research.

A unique and balanced combination of translation and interpreting studies, edited and written by leading voices in the fields In Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies, accomplished scholars Aline Ferreira and John W. Schwieter have brought together a detailed and comprehensive introductory-level textbook covering the essential aspects of translation and interpreting studies. Through chapters authored by leading voices in the field, this book covers topics of theoretical and conceptual relevance—such as the history of the development of the field and methods for understanding gender, society, and culture as aspects of the role of the interpreter—as well as critical topics in the application of theory to real world practice. Beginning with an authoritative treatment of the theoretical developments that have defined the field since the early 1970s, this textbook first describes the influential work of such figures as Jakobson, Holmes, and Toury, thus ensuring students develop a thorough understanding of the history and theoretical underpinnings of the fields of translation and interpreting studies. The text then begins to introduce grounded discussions of interpreting in specialized fields such as legal and healthcare interpreting and sign language translation. Learning is reinforced throughout the text through pedagogical features including reflection questions, highlighted key words, further readings, and chapter objectives. Instructors will also have access to companion website with PowerPoint slides and multiple-choice questions to support classroom application. Truly a unique work in translation and interpreting studies, this essential new textbook offers: A thorough introduction to the fields of translation and interpreting with discussion of applications to interdisciplinary topics Explorations of translation machines and technology, including their history and recent trends Practical discussions of culture, gender, and society in the context of translation and interpreting studies, as well as training and pedagogical issues in translation and interpreting A concise examination of translation process research and methods, including the mental processes and actions that people take while translating Complementary web materials including PowerPoint slides and practice questions Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in programs in such as linguistics, language studies, and communications, or for those who plan to work in translation and/or interpreting, Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies will earn a place in the libraries of anyone interested in a reader-friendly translation and interpreting resource.

This volume offers a comprehensive view of current research directions in Translation and Interpreting Studies, outlining the theoretical concepts underpinning that research and presenting detailed discussions of the various methods used. Organized around three factors that are responsible for shaping the study of translation and interpreting today—post-positivist theoretical approaches, developments in the language industry, and technological innovations—this volume is divided into three parts: Part I introduces the basic concepts organizing translation and interpreting research, such as the difference between qualitative and quantitative research, between product-oriented and process-oriented studies, and between prescriptive and descriptive approaches. Part II provides a theoretical mapping of current translation and interpreting research, covering the theories underlying the current conceptualization of translation and interpreting, from queer studies to cognitive science. Part III explores the key methodological approaches to research in Translation and Interpreting Studies, including corpus-based, longitudinal, observational, and ethnographic studies, as well as survey and focus group-based studies. The international range of contributors are all leading research experts who use the methodologies in their work. They present the research aims of these methods, offer sample research questions that can—and cannot—be addressed by these methods, and discuss modes of data collection and analysis. This is an essential reference for all advanced undergraduates, postgraduates, and researchers in Translation and Interpreting Studies.

The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Methodology provides a comprehensive overview of methodologies in translation studies, including both well-established and more recent approaches. The Handbook is organised into three sections, the first of which covers methodological issues in the two main paradigms to have emerged from within translation studies, namely skopos theory and descriptive translation studies. The second section covers multidisciplinary perspectives in research methodology and considers their application in translation research. The third section deals with practical and pragmatic methodological issues. Each chapter provides a summary of relevant research, a literature overview, critical issues and topics, recommendations for best practice, and some suggestions for further reading. Bringing together over 30 eminent international scholars from a wide range of disciplinary and geographical backgrounds, this Handbook is essential reading for all students and scholars involved in translation methodology and research.