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Article published In:
Translation, Cognition & Behavior
Vol. 2:2 (2019) ► pp.305–322
Thematic section

Asymmetrical language proficiency in dialogue interpreters

Methodological issues

| Stockholm University | Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
| Stockholm University

Language proficiency of dialogue interpreters, who typically work in the public service sector, is an under-researched area. Unlike as in the case of conference interpreters, there is no generally accepted definition of proficiency levels of working languages for dialogue interpreters. This article discusses language proficiency in dialogue interpreting. It presents a methodological problem, namely, how to define and determine a given interpreter’s stronger and weaker working languages. We discuss different methods for determining the individual interpreter’s stronger and weaker working languages, such as self-assessment, demographic, socio-linguistic questionnaire and test score (Dialang). We conclude that there is a need for more research in this area.

Keywords: dialogue interpreting, language proficiency, language proficiency testing, Dialang, asymmetrical language proficiency
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Language proficiency in interpreting
    • 2.2Bilingual proficiency and interpreting
    • 2.3Testing interpreters’ language proficiency
    • 2.4Testing and self-assessing L1 and L2
    • 2.5Working definition and establishing criteria for test specifications
  • 3.Participants and testing
  • 4.Results: Language proficiency assessment on an individual level
  • 5.Discussion and final remarks
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 6 September 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tcb.00031.tis
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