英→日同時通訳作業に必須とされるtime lagの,翻訳の合理化による短縮とその裨益
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概要
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What the author of this article must say first is that the term simultaneous interpretation is, strictly speaking, a contradiction in verbal expression. The main linguistic reason why simultaneous interpreting was first conducted between English and French was the great extent of similarity between the syntax and word order of the two languages. However, even between them there are some differences in word order, such as the French pronoun used as an object word being placed before the verb concerned or the French attributive adjective after the noun concerned, which shows nothing but the impossibility of simultaneous interpreting in the strictest sense of the term, even between English and French. Furthermore, even when an original speech is only repeated by the other person, realizing simultaneity between the original and repeated speech is impossible in the strict sense. It goes without saying, therefore, that between English and Japanese, each belonging to a different family of languages, realizing simultaneous interpreting cannot but be unthinkable, due to the terrible difference or oppositeness in syntax and word order between them. Based on this fact, Japanese simultaneous interpreters have been made to believe that they are obliged to take a so-called time lag of 2-3 seconds and maintain the lag to the end of their translation. The time lag, of course, is indispensable just to dispose of the above-mentioned differences between English and Japanese. Having this time lag, however, is at the same time an hindrance to the translating job of a Japanese simultaneous interpreter, since by having it he is forced to endure the discomfort or painstaking task of simultaneously hearing the two different voices of the original speaker and his own translating a bit preceding part of the original speech. These two different voices make a kind of vortex of sound just between his ear and mouth, which creates a hindrance to the interpreter's concentration on translating the original speech. The author thinks that in order for a Japanese interpreter to significantly improve the result of his interpreting both qualitatively and quantitatively in spite of an alleged conventional limit in the feasible result of interpreting, the above-mentioned time lag should be shortened as much as possible, as in the case of simultaneous interpreting between English and French. The shortening of time lag, then, requires a drastic improvement in the way to dispose of the difference in syntax and word order between English and Japanese. In other words, a Japanese interpreter must try to follow, as best he can, the word order of the original English speech, when he is translating it into Japanese. For this trial to be fruitful, there ought to be a great change in his fundamental attitude toward the conscious and unconscious way of English-Japanese translation, where he is obliged to get away, as far as possible, from the so-called 'going backward' type of English-Japanese translation, which for so long has controlled the mentality of nearly all Japanese whose English is strongly influenced by 'school English.' This 'going backward' type of translation in 'school English' has had its own merit in the sense that it has contributed so much to the beating of English syntax and word order into the head of Japanese learners of English, but today the purpose of Japanese studying English has changed and something more than the correct but slow grasping of the content of an English passage or paragraph is required for Japanese needing English for any purpose. They are expected to be able to understand English spoken by native speakers of English even if they are not expert interpreters, or expected to be able to read and understand English passages or even paragraphs much faster than before. To meet such expectations, they have no other choice but to make the utmost access to the inborn and natural mechanism of English listening and reading of native speakers of English, where comprehension of content proceeds as each word appears and comes into their ears or eyes in consecutive order. Thus, the conventional 'going backward' type of English-Japanese translation should cease, and a 'going forward' one must be the target of the effort to create a new type of English-Japanese translation by Japanese. Here, the deep-rooted problem of Japanese since the middle of the Meiji era, the difficulty of understanding English, can see a possible solution for the first time. Furthermore, the very apparent and characteristic style of Japanese as translated from English, which has been so definitely prevalent since translation of books written in English began in Japan, will naturally be required to change into something new, a little more genuine, a little nearer to the natural style of Japanese. This may lead to the urging of an effort to establish a new autonomy of Japanese culture in its acceptance of Western culture.
- 桃山学院大学の論文
- 1991-12-30
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関連論文
- Invited as a Guest Speaker at the International Issues Seminar in the 24th International Congress on Arts and Communications
- 英→日同時通訳作業に必須とされるtime lagの,翻訳の合理化による短縮とその裨益