The Efficacy of the Subskills Training Approach on the Rendition of Numerical Data, Proper Names, and Abbreviations in the Teaching of Simultaneous Interpreting from English into Arabic

Abstract

Many different approaches can be employed in the training of simultaneous interpreting (SI). As SI is a complex process that includes several inter-dependent subskills, it is worthwhile to explore the efficacy of a subskills training approach in the teaching of SI; it is an approach that targets specific SI micro-skills such as split-attention, fluency, self-monitoring, output control, interpreting of numerical data, proper names, or abbreviations. Thus, two experimental studies were conducted at Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia on a sample of undergraduate translation and interpreting students from English into Arabic to investigate the impact of a subskills training approach on the rendition of numerical data, proper names, and abbreviations in the teaching of SI. This research aims to (1) To investigate the extent to which the subskills approach would impact students’ performance and accuracy rate when interpreting numerical data from English into Arabic, (2) investigate the extent to which the subskills approach would impact students’ performance and accuracy rate when interpreting proper names and abbreviations from English into Arabic, (3) propose a successful interpreter training approach that has been tested to be used in SI university level training, for the specific language combination of English > Arabic in order to improve curricular design and planning in the teaching of SI, and (4) contribute to new findings in interpreting pedagogy research. Results of the research studies show that the experimental group receiving the subskills training approach achieved higher accuracy and lower omission rates in their renditions compared to the control group. Thus, the subskills approach could indeed optimize the teaching of simultaneous interpreting from English into Arabic, and it is of significant value to investigate it further to help create and develop effective interpreting pedagogical approaches. Keywords: Interpreter training, interpreting pedagogical approaches, interpreting subskills training.