• 8.1 Interpreting strategies: "Translatorese"
• 8.2 Two interpreter types

8 The relationship between interpreting and translator-
variants

8.1 Interpreting strategies: "Translatorese"

In the present case, then, we might discuss a specific variant of translation applicable to translation from Finnish into Swedish and vice versa. We might also assume that there is reason to talk about "translatorese" as an idiolectal description of variants used by individual translators, one of the main ingredients of which would be the individual strategies used by an interpreter to solve "acute" translation problems — i.e. in a general sense the product presented by individual interpreters and which is different, in specific respects, from the way other interpreters solve corresponding problems (including individual features of style, personal "stereotypes").

Interpreting is affected by many things including, for example, the language competence level of the interpreter, his or her personal language biography, ability to comprehend the source language and to produce cohesive, coherent texts in the target language.

8.2 Two interpreter types

In our study, we have also observed two distinct strategies, although the "dragging" principle was not present. Instead, the two main forms of "translatorese" that we found was, indeed, the "forcing" type, and the "analytical" type.

Interpreter 1 (analytical)

This interpreter waits a couple of seconds before starting the interpretation, which is performed in a calm, even pace. She uses an analytical strategy with reductions and generalisation (and even explications) without loosing the main content. There are few mistranslations.
 

Swedish original	Translation of original	Finnish interpretation	Translation of interpretation
eeh sen kan de ju också vara bra att ha de här seminariet dokumenterat på band efteråt för oss alla som får vara med	eh then it may also be good to have this seminar documented on tape afterwards for all of us who are able to be here	ja tietysti on hyvä ehkä että meidän kaikkienkin osalta että tämä seminaari dokumentoidaan ja nauhoitetaan	and of course it is good perhaps for all of us that this seminar is documented and taped
och om kontakterna / dem skulle jag också vilja presentera för di kommer att finnas här framme i salen så småningom / di sitter också längst bak just nu (SN 3)	and about those contacts / I would like to introduce them too because they will be here in the front of the room eventually / and they are right at the back just now	ja niistä yhteyksistä haluaisin esitellä nämä yhteishenkilöt sillä hekin tulevat olemaan täällä / he nyt tällä hetkellä ovat tuolla kauempana takaosassa	and about those contacts I would like to introduce these contact persons since they are also going to be here / they are at the moment further away over there at the back

Italics: deletion
Bold: construction

Figure 8-1 Analytical interpreter type

Note that the interpreter adds yhteishenkilöt ’contact persons’ in order to clarify the ambiguous ’contacts’.

Interpreter 2 (forcing)

The forcing type interpreter attempts at translating "everything", and starts interpreting after a very short delay in a fast, almost forced pace. There is a lot of false starts and additions; and there are more mistranslations and linguistic errors than in Interpreter 1’s performance.
 

Swedish original	Translation of original	Finnish interpretation	Translation of interpretation
ja tycker att de e väldigt viktigt att vi klart sätter vårt mål / framåt (SN 5)	I think it is very important that we clearly set our goal / forward	ja mielestäni on erittäin tärkeää / jotta me selkeästi ajattelemme / eeh tavoitettamme sikäli että se on tulevaisuudessa	and in my opinion it is very important / that we clearly think / eh about our goal so far as that it is in the future

Figure 8-2 Forcing type interpreter