The role shift of the interpreter to a cultural mediator: From the perspective of cultural orientations and contexting
Babel: Revue internationale de la traduction/International Journal of Translation, (2012)Abstract
The interpreter-mediated communication is always an instance of intercultural communication. As the significant influence of cultural differences on the interaction is fully recognized, it is proposed that cultural mediation be included as part of the interpreter’s responsibility. Nevertheless, many researchers and researchminded practitioners in interpreting studies have failed to account for the complex nature of intercultural interactions and so research efforts to date have mostly directed towards an investigation of “what role the interpreter should take”, yet with less attention paid to why and what the interpreter should do as a mediator or where he should step in. This article therefore attempts to extend a theoretical focus to cultural orientations, contexting, and communication, so as to lay down a framework to address the role shift of an interpreter.