6. Process of Sight Translation
This is the procedure the interpreter follows when performing a typical ST, step by
step: first, the interpreter takes a few moments to scan the document to determine the
subject matter, context, style, and country of origin, and to discern the overall meaning
of the text (Edwards, 1995). An interpreter who is adept at ST will be able to grasp the
meaning and intent of the document by immediately identifying the subject and predi
cate of each sentence. The interpreter is also alert to and makes a mental note of common
pitfalls that are unique to the SL, such as dangling participles, and features such as par
enthetical statements and embedded clauses that can pose problems for ST in any language.
Utilizing features such as punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes), the interpreter
skims passages quickly and identifies key features. Gile (1995) recommends actually mark
ing the text during this initial reading as a means of visually segmenting sentences in an
ticipation of the restructuring that will be necessary, and even writing down TL equivalents
of difficult terms. Court interpreters may not have the freedom to write on the docu
ments they are asked to sight translate, however.
Then the interpreter begins translating sentence by sentence, focusing on one unit of
meaning at a time. As the interpreter is uttering the translation of one unit, her eyes are
scanning the next unit and she is analyzing its meaning in preparation for translating it. As
we noted in Chapter 32, however, units of meaning are not always conveniently lined up
one after another; they may be divided up. For example, in a typical criminal complaint,
the interpreter will see a phrase like this: “did willfully, unlawfully and feloniously commit
an assault’ The predicate in this sentence is “did commit an assault”; those four words are
a single unit of meaning. The experienced interpreter wifi recognize that “did” is a past tense
marker, will know that the words between it and the verb are adverbials, and will then search
for the verb after the adverbials before attempting to translate the sentence.
It is important to maintain a steady pace when sight translating. One unit of mean
ing may be very easy to translate because it has a direct equivalent in the TL, while the
next unit requires some mental gymnastics and takes a little longer. Interpreters should
not hurry through the first one, only to be bogged down on the next. Rather, they should
utter the TL rendition of the first unit slowly and evenly, buying time to concentrate on
how they are going to handle the next unit.
7. Exercises
The novice interpreter can do a variety of exercises to build the skills required for ST.
These exercises are grouped according to the particular skill that they emphasize. They
should be performed in all of the interpreter’s working languages.
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36 SIGHT TRANSLATION 903
7.1 Public Speaking Exercises
(1) Reading aloud: Take a magazine, newspaper, or book (a law textbook or legal form
book would be helpful to practice reading legal language) and read passages aloud. It
helps to have an audience, but if you do not have one, standing in front of a mirror is suf
ficient. Record yourself (audio or video), and as you play bck the recording, listen to
yourself critically as if you were someone in the audience. Pay attention to your voice,
posture, and speech mannerisms.
(2) Controlling emotions: Choose texts with a high emotional content (humor, anger,
sadness) or with very controversial themes and read them aloud as in Exercise (1). Prac
tice controlling your emotions, making sure that you convey the emotion the author
would have, not your personal reaction to the text.
(3) Public speaking Look for opportunities to speak in public (school board meet
ings, city council meetings, church groups). Speaking before a group of people you know
in a nonthreatening situation helps you “break the ice” and gain confidence, so that speak
ing in an interpreting situation will no longer seem so intimidating.
7.2 Reading Ahead in Text
(1) Extensive reading Build up your reading speed by reading as often as possible in
a wide variety of fields (this also helps build vocabulary).
(2) Analyzing After reading a text, analyze its content. Practice picking out the sub
ject and verb of each sentence to find the basic kernels of meaning.
Example: Although less influential than in Argentina, migration from Europe
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries affected the development of
Chilean political culture.
Subject: migration Verb: affected
(3) Identifying sentences and embedded sentences: Read a text aloud, and as you are
reading, break up long sentences into smaller, more manageable units.
Example: Juvenile delinquency, which is seen more often among minority youths
in urban ghettos, nevertheless cannot be attributed to the urban environment alone,
as it plagues the suburbs as well.
There are three embedded sentences in this complex sentence: