TRENDS

1. TRENDS languages -technology -status General introduction Main trends that are changing interpreting and hence require adaptability from interpreter training courses. Interpreters defined by language combination and this is also most obviouos change. Increased use of English with globalisation is the most obvious feature. Technology � increasingly visual world, also characterised by huge amounts of information. Concern about remote interpreting and video conferencing. Status � the former two trends spawn fears about loss of status. Undoubtedly, interpreters less ��part of the meeting�� than before, interpreting is more banal. Also more women coming in to the profession.General introduction Main trends that are changing interpreting and hence require adaptability from interpreter training courses. Interpreters defined by language combination and this is also most obviouos change. Increased use of English with globalisation is the most obvious feature. Technology � increasingly visual world, also characterised by huge amounts of information. Concern about remote interpreting and video conferencing. Status � the former two trends spawn fears about loss of status. Undoubtedly, interpreters less ��part of the meeting�� than before, interpreting is more banal. Also more women coming in to the profession.

2. Training suited to new needs? ��..un �cart tendait � se creuser entre la demande des employeurs et l�offre d�interpr�tes produite par les fili�res d�enseignement�� La rel�ve Question I wish to address: given these changes, Is there a widening gap between training available and market requirements? Pass rates are low everywhere. Lots of selection, only small output. Despite severe selection procedures, high failure rates at Institutional tests (80% at EU). Quality of interpreting inconsistent. Yet language combination gaps � English A, English B with Russian and Chinese. Why do applicants fail � admittedly some no formal training. Most frequent problems seem to be quality of A language and background knowledge, rather than interpreting skills proper. Are we attracting the right candidates? Also some graduates not trained in certain widespread techniques, such as sim with text.Question I wish to address: given these changes, Is there a widening gap between training available and market requirements? Pass rates are low everywhere. Lots of selection, only small output. Despite severe selection procedures, high failure rates at Institutional tests (80% at EU). Quality of interpreting inconsistent. Yet language combination gaps � English A, English B with Russian and Chinese. Why do applicants fail � admittedly some no formal training. Most frequent problems seem to be quality of A language and background knowledge, rather than interpreting skills proper. Are we attracting the right candidates? Also some graduates not trained in certain widespread techniques, such as sim with text.

3. Globish?Badly spoken English?Lingua franca? 85% of scientific, technical or academic papers More than 80% of home pages on Web 750 million non-native speakers master English well enough for business or computing Predominance of English everywhere, includingin international meetings. Cf Phil Smith�s English booth sketch at AIIC 50th and comparison by insightful colleague � like percussionist in symphony orchestra. Predominance of English everywhere, includingin international meetings. Cf Phil Smith�s English booth sketch at AIIC 50th and comparison by insightful colleague � like percussionist in symphony orchestra.

4. ENGLISH role range retour Consequences of widespread use of English for interpreter training: students must have good English. They must have expression skills in keeping with expectations of educated person. Students must be encouraged to understand different brands of English. Pooling resources may be required. Diversified student intake to be encouraged whenever possible. Use of speech banks. Consideration of different types of English in terms of speech structure. For private market, growing importance of English retour + national languageConsequences of widespread use of English for interpreter training: students must have good English. They must have expression skills in keeping with expectations of educated person. Students must be encouraged to understand different brands of English. Pooling resources may be required. Diversified student intake to be encouraged whenever possible. Use of speech banks. Consideration of different types of English in terms of speech structure. For private market, growing importance of English retour + national language

5. Diversification . Multilingualism . International organisations . Actual communication abilities Perhaps what is most surprising is that there are still so many conferences with interpreting. Also that interpreting continues to be used as routine in all international organisations and many regional ones. Not because people can get by that they can participate in an international conference in English. People often over-estimate both listening and speaking skills. Also fatigue. Sense in political arenas that using ones mother tongue is an advantage and an entitlement (df EU policy). If use evidence rather than chich�s and preconceived ideas, actually apparent that number of languages is in many places on the increase and number of interpreted conferences also. Therefore, in terms of intake, courses need to observe closely demand patterns. Probably two strands � national language plus strong English, mix of languages used in international or regional bodies.Perhaps what is most surprising is that there are still so many conferences with interpreting. Also that interpreting continues to be used as routine in all international organisations and many regional ones. Not because people can get by that they can participate in an international conference in English. People often over-estimate both listening and speaking skills. Also fatigue. Sense in political arenas that using ones mother tongue is an advantage and an entitlement (df EU policy). If use evidence rather than chich�s and preconceived ideas, actually apparent that number of languages is in many places on the increase and number of interpreted conferences also. Therefore, in terms of intake, courses need to observe closely demand patterns. Probably two strands � national language plus strong English, mix of languages used in international or regional bodies.

6. Technology Internet Remote interpreting Visual aids

7. Remote interpreting Convenience Room Cost Environment Video conferencing and remote interpreting � frequently quoted changes and major source of anxiety amongst established interpreters. Students seem more relaxed. Cf experience with mock conferences at ESIT. Undoubtedly, improvements in sound and image. Also much cheaper. Again, perhaps surprising not used more than is case. Many advantages : reduces travelling, may not be room for all interpreting booths (RI), fewer mission expenses (VI) and interpreter-related expenses (RI), less polluting. Of course, these are advantages for organisers, not for interpreters.Video conferencing and remote interpreting � frequently quoted changes and major source of anxiety amongst established interpreters. Students seem more relaxed. Cf experience with mock conferences at ESIT. Undoubtedly, improvements in sound and image. Also much cheaper. Again, perhaps surprising not used more than is case. Many advantages : reduces travelling, may not be room for all interpreting booths (RI), fewer mission expenses (VI) and interpreter-related expenses (RI), less polluting. Of course, these are advantages for organisers, not for interpreters.

8. Consequences- status interpreting increasingly remote- ��unnatural��, ��irrational�� (SI, comments by Seleskovitch & Lederer); same fears again - ��artificial, inconsistent, virtual environment�� - teaching � factoring in new technologies-advantages � resource pooling Also Internet � profoundly affected way in which interpreters and students prepare for conferences. Just continuation of past trend : from the liaison interpreter to CI, then to SI and now possibly RI. Int increasingly remote from meeting. Same fears re-surfacing as for SI. However, for time being, RI rather unusual (WEU, trials at EP and UNESCO). P. Mouzourakis probably sums up interpreters� qualms: ��intense physical and psychological discomfort experienced by interpreters�� due to an ��artificial, inconsistent, virtual environment��. RI is a completely different modus operandi. Would be interesting to compare with views of young, novice interpreters who have grown up with computer games. Teaching purposes � students ideally some exposure. Can be good for organising mock conferences with other schools or other centres. Also shared classes. Resource pooling generally.Also Internet � profoundly affected way in which interpreters and students prepare for conferences. Just continuation of past trend : from the liaison interpreter to CI, then to SI and now possibly RI. Int increasingly remote from meeting. Same fears re-surfacing as for SI. However, for time being, RI rather unusual (WEU, trials at EP and UNESCO). P. Mouzourakis probably sums up interpreters� qualms: ��intense physical and psychological discomfort experienced by interpreters�� due to an ��artificial, inconsistent, virtual environment��. RI is a completely different modus operandi. Would be interesting to compare with views of young, novice interpreters who have grown up with computer games. Teaching purposes � students ideally some exposure. Can be good for organising mock conferences with other schools or other centres. Also shared classes. Resource pooling generally.

9. Internet Before too little information, now information overload Bias Preparation in the internet environment Internet has led to profound change in preparation, glossaries, type of knowledge available. Quicheron quote: 1981, using computers for preparation probably an unrealistic dream. 25 years later hard for most interpreters and a forteriori students to imagine any other way. All interpreters questioned � used Internet regularly for preparation. Hardly any still use reference books. Students need to be taught to sift through the information available. Also to recognise and take advantage of bias. Care with glossaries. Internet has led to profound change in preparation, glossaries, type of knowledge available. Quicheron quote: 1981, using computers for preparation probably an unrealistic dream. 25 years later hard for most interpreters and a forteriori students to imagine any other way. All interpreters questioned � used Internet regularly for preparation. Hardly any still use reference books. Students need to be taught to sift through the information available. Also to recognise and take advantage of bias. Care with glossaries.

10. Status Major source of worry for interpreters � tendency to gloom and despondency ��this almost schizophrenic mental and physical exercise�� (Keiser) feminisation ��The status of interpreters cannot be enhanced if the only people involved in the profession are women�� LIM Hyang-Ok greater distance between participants and interpreters : physical but also cultural cf move to B Must be surprising to people outside profession just how gloomy interpreters are. Negative attitudes. Status rather difficult to define in absolute terms. Admiration, but also ignorance. As not protected, widespread confusion. Students must be strongly discouraged from accepting badly-organised voluntary work which will reinforce misunderstandings. Cf report � B into C with bidule� Feminisation � surprised to learn that UN-sponsored course in Moscow only men (more trustworthy, less likely to gossip?), first interpreters mainly men. SI opened doors to more women. Gender-matching on TV etc.. Widely documented by sociologists that feminine professions lose status. (cf S. Lafont on medical professions in former Eastern block). But no consensus, cf comments following Prof Carol Black�s statement about doctors. Also men still continue to play a role in interpreting. Positive discrimination at intake? Distance can be measured physically. CI � SI -remote interpreting. But also in terms of shared culture. Recruitment of interpreters now different from conference participants. Separate interpreting culture? Shift to B can only compound difference. Interpreter not from TL community. Informal survey: loss of status? Future? Recommend interpreting as profession? Can probably guess the answers.Must be surprising to people outside profession just how gloomy interpreters are. Negative attitudes. Status rather difficult to define in absolute terms. Admiration, but also ignorance. As not protected, widespread confusion. Students must be strongly discouraged from accepting badly-organised voluntary work which will reinforce misunderstandings. Cf report � B into C with bidule� Feminisation � surprised to learn that UN-sponsored course in Moscow only men (more trustworthy, less likely to gossip?), first interpreters mainly men. SI opened doors to more women. Gender-matching on TV etc.. Widely documented by sociologists that feminine professions lose status. (cf S. Lafont on medical professions in former Eastern block). But no consensus, cf comments following Prof Carol Black�s statement about doctors. Also men still continue to play a role in interpreting. Positive discrimination at intake? Distance can be measured physically. CI � SI -remote interpreting. But also in terms of shared culture. Recruitment of interpreters now different from conference participants. Separate interpreting culture? Shift to B can only compound difference. Interpreter not from TL community. Informal survey: loss of status? Future? Recommend interpreting as profession? Can probably guess the answers.

11. Gloom justified? Chief interpreters�alarm � how to fill posts? Number and quality of applicants. Objective status benchmarks. Future: seems very likely. Number of meetings with interpreting on increase. Of course, much hinges on decisions at EU and UN. Hard to identify objective benchmarks for status, but.. Still large numbers of highly-educated applicants for interpreting courses, so profession seems to have retained appeal. Future: seems very likely. Number of meetings with interpreting on increase. Of course, much hinges on decisions at EU and UN. Hard to identify objective benchmarks for status, but.. Still large numbers of highly-educated applicants for interpreting courses, so profession seems to have retained appeal.

12. Conclusions Changes afoot Therefore, courses must be flexible Must be run by practising professionals in touch with market Resource sharing, both more feasible and more necessary Profession more demanding � quality. Also need flanking policies � language learning, funding and status of interpreter training, policies on language use by official delegations. I always seem to end with the word ��quality��, but simply no getting away from it. Course organisers cannot do everything. Public policies must be supportive. If secondary schools stop teaching languages, there will be few candidates. If official delegations systematically use English, even when interpreting is available, the job will become less gratifying. I always seem to end with the word ��quality��, but simply no getting away from it. Course organisers cannot do everything. Public policies must be supportive. If secondary schools stop teaching languages, there will be few candidates. If official delegations systematically use English, even when interpreting is available, the job will become less gratifying.