NAATI Interpretation Techniques and Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In sight translation, the interpreter reads a written document and renders it orally. Which skill is MOST critical for effective sight translation?
- Rapid reading comprehension combined with oral fluency (Correct answer)
- Memorizing the entire document before speaking
- Writing a summary of the document in the target language
- Using shorthand notation to transcribe the document
Correct answer: Rapid reading comprehension combined with oral fluency
Sight translation requires simultaneous reading and speaking, so rapid reading comprehension paired with oral fluency in the target language is essential.
Question 2: What is 'chunking' in the context of consecutive interpretation?
- Breaking source speech into meaningful segments for note-taking (Correct answer)
- Translating word-by-word in real time
- Grouping synonyms to vary vocabulary
- Dividing the workload between two interpreters
Correct answer: Breaking source speech into meaningful segments for note-taking
Chunking involves segmenting the source speech into logical, meaningful units so the interpreter can capture ideas cohesively in notes.
Question 3: A NAATI-accredited interpreter working in a medical setting encounters a term with no direct equivalent in the target language. The best approach is to:
- Provide a functional description of the concept in the target language (Correct answer)
- Leave a pause and ask the doctor to rephrase
- Use the source-language term with no explanation
- Skip the term entirely to maintain fluency
Correct answer: Provide a functional description of the concept in the target language
When no direct equivalent exists, interpreters use descriptive or functional equivalents to convey the meaning accurately.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes 'reformulation' as an interpretation technique?
- Expressing the source message's meaning in naturally idiomatic target-language form (Correct answer)
- Repeating the source message verbatim in the target language
- Correcting factual errors made by the speaker
- Adding cultural context not present in the original
Correct answer: Expressing the source message's meaning in naturally idiomatic target-language form
Reformulation means conveying the full meaning of the source utterance using natural, idiomatic target-language structures rather than a word-for-word rendering.
Question 5: During a simultaneous interpretation assignment, an interpreter loses track of the speaker for several seconds. The recommended technique is to:
- Resume from the next understood segment without fabricating the missed content (Correct answer)
- Stop interpreting and publicly announce the gap
- Fill the gap with a plausible inference based on context
- Ask the speaker to repeat the entire passage
Correct answer: Resume from the next understood segment without fabricating the missed content
Interpreters should resume accurately from what they can hear and must not fabricate or guess content they missed.
Question 6: The 'decalage' or EVS (ear-voice span) in simultaneous interpretation refers to:
- The time lag between hearing the source utterance and producing the target utterance (Correct answer)
- The volume difference between the speaker's microphone and the interpreter's booth
- The gap between a written text and its oral rendering
- The delay before an interpreter requests clarification
Correct answer: The time lag between hearing the source utterance and producing the target utterance
EVS (ear-voice span) is the deliberate lag that allows the interpreter to hear enough context before producing the target-language output.
Question 7: When interpreting for a Deaf client using Auslan (Australian Sign Language), a NAATI interpreter should primarily:
- Render messages in natural Auslan grammar and structure, not manually coded English (Correct answer)
- Sign every English word in the order it appears
- Speak aloud simultaneously while signing
- Use Signed Exact English (SEE) for accuracy
Correct answer: Render messages in natural Auslan grammar and structure, not manually coded English
Auslan is a distinct language with its own grammar; interpreters must use natural Auslan structure rather than manually encoding English word order.
NAATI Interpretation Techniques and Methods 2
In sight translation, the interpreter reads a written document and renders it orally.
Which skill is MOST critical for effective sight translation?